On 24 March 2026 the Swiss development organisation Skat Consulting presented its Ukrainian branch office, SKAT Ukraine LLC. While SKAT has been a cornerstone of Ukraine’s development landscape for over 20 years – notably laying the foundations for the nation's pivotal local government and territorial organisation of power reform – this launch signals a formal transition from project-based support to a permanent, locally rooted entity: SKAT Ukraine LLC.

The event gathered representatives from the international donor community, expert circles, and local self-government to discuss how SKAT’s specific expertise can contribute to the demands and challenges of Ukraine’s recovery and long-term redevelopment of its territorial communities. The discussion moved beyond the immediate need for emergency repairs, focusing instead on a transition to a sustainable, high-standard "build back better" approach.

During the dialogue, SKAT presented a detailed overview of its current activities and strategic plans for the future.

 

 

Rupa Mukerji, CEO of Skat Consulting Ltd., outlined the firm’s multidimensional technical strategy:

“SKAT has over 48 years of experience in implementing projects, providing technical advice, and facilitating partnerships, knowledge networks, and collaboration among various stakeholders. We bring all of this competence to Ukraine, complemented by our thematic expertise in the areas of water and environmental services, as well as energy and climate within the building sector – specifically focusing on circular reconstruction, energy-efficient building materials, and energy efficiency in buildings.

Governance is a very important topic that cuts across all three of these thematic areas. We also address specific governance-related topics that we have worked on through the DESPRO project – now a well-established entity in Ukraine –, and we maintain similar programs worldwide. The registration of Skat Consulting LLC reflects our commitment to contributing to the reconstruction and redevelopment of Ukraine, enabling us to invest in ideation, new ideas, and innovations, and to create projects that contribute in diverse ways to the needs of the country.

Instead of maintaining a single project focus, we aim to implement a range of projects and partnerships with donor agencies, NGOs, municipalities, and associations, opening up the potential for collaboration to achieve greater impact.”

 

 

Oksana Garnets, Director of Skat Ukraine LLC, emphasised that innovation must catalyze socio-economic stability:

“The presentation of SKAT Ukraine to a broad audience of donors and partners is extremely important, as the organization is re-entering the country with innovative approaches and technologies. These methods are crucial during this period in Ukraine’s history, when rebuilding and reconstruction have become essential.

However, it is vital not to leave aside the issues of governance and socioeconomic development. All technological advancements and efforts to build back better should ultimately serve the country's further development through its territorial communities. From this perspective, renovation and reconstruction must lead to the long-term socioeconomic development of Ukraine, a process we believe will continue.”

 

 

Providing a regional perspective on infrastructure resilience, Matthias Morgner, Team Leader of the “Mă Implic” project, detailed the technical benchmarks established in Eastern Europe:

“SKAT is also very active in the Republic of Moldova. SKAT’s biggest project is called "Mă Implic," which means "I engage” and this project is very much modeled on the approach and building on the experience of the DESPRO project in Ukraine. It is also financed by the Swiss government. The Mă Implic project supports the government in the reform of local government structures and the improvement of framework conditions. Simultaneously, it provides tangible solutions for better communal service delivery in rural communities—mostly waste collection and water supply—with a very strong emphasis on citizen participation and people engagement.

The second big project, which is the longest-running in Moldova, is called APASAN, meaning water and sanitation. This project provides water supply solutions and promotes decentralized sanitation systems in rural communities. SKAT is not only focusing on the hardware, such as water pipes, but also putting emphasis on explaining to people why a decentralized sanitation system is more sustainable in a rural community than a centralized one, which is not even economically viable where there is less and less population. The project also works on the capacity development of service providers to allow for the sustainable implementation of water supply services.

The third area of activities, which is growing in importance, involves introducing energy efficiency measures in private rural houses and public buildings. These interventions are fairly simple but have a relatively big effect for the investment, focusing mostly on thermal insulation, fixing chimneys, and heating systems. Additionally, SKAT is implementing solar-powered technology and photovoltaic generation for water supply mechanisms and service provision.”

Explore SKAT’s initiatives and expertise at https://skat.ch/