On July 1, 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the Republic of Korea inaugurated a groundbreaking global initiative named REVIVE – Relief, Employment and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies. Unveiled at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, REVIVE is designed to bridge the critical gap between immediate emergency relief and sustainable recovery from day one of a crisis. With an estimated 310 million people projected to require humanitarian assistance in 2025—many trapped in protracted crises lasting over a decade—REVIVE aims to act swiftly, scale effectively, and adapt responsively to the evolving needs of vulnerable populations worldwide.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Crisis Response
The global humanitarian landscape has long struggled with a disconnect between emergency aid and long-term recovery. Immediate relief efforts often save lives but rarely build the foundations for resilience and sustainable development. REVIVE seeks to fill this void by combining catalytic financing, nationally led planning, and local solutions to support transitions that sustain both peace and development.
As Haoliang Xu, UNDP Acting Administrator and Associate Administrator, emphasized at the launch,
“REVIVE fills a critical gap in the international system of development cooperation. It brings together catalytic financing, nationally led planning, and local solutions for transitions that sustain both peace and development.”
This approach reflects a strategic shift toward integrated crisis management that prioritizes early recovery as a vital phase, not an afterthought.
Funding and Reach: A Significant Commitment
Backed by a substantial USD 64 million contribution from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, REVIVE is positioned to support early recovery efforts in some of the world’s most fragile and conflict-affected countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, and others where UNDP has a strong operational presence. Within its first year, REVIVE aims to reach approximately 5.8 million people, with 2.5 million directly benefiting from its interventions. This ambitious scale underscores the urgency and magnitude of the global humanitarian crisis, as well as the commitment of UNDP and Korea to catalyze meaningful change.
Three Pillars of REVIVE: Restoring Infrastructure, Revitalizing Economies, and Reestablishing Services
REVIVE’s strategy is anchored on three interrelated pillars that collectively foster resilience and sustainable recovery:
- Restoring Damaged Infrastructure: This includes rebuilding critical facilities such as medical clinics, schools, water systems, and homes. Infrastructure restoration is foundational to enabling communities to regain normalcy and access essential services.
- Creating Emergency Jobs and Revitalizing Small Businesses: Economic recovery is vital to breaking cycles of poverty and displacement. By generating employment opportunities and supporting local entrepreneurs, REVIVE aims to jumpstart local economies and empower communities to sustain themselves.
- Reestablishing Essential Services: Access to electricity, clean water, healthcare, and waste management is crucial for health, dignity, and social stability. REVIVE prioritizes restoring these services to improve quality of life and reduce vulnerabilities.
This integrated approach recognizes that recovery is multidimensional, requiring simultaneous attention to physical infrastructure, economic livelihoods, and social services.
Focus on Crisis Hotspots: Tailored Interventions in Fragile Contexts
REVIVE’s initial focus includes countries and regions severely impacted by conflict and disasters, where recovery needs are acute and complex.
Ukraine: A Critical Case of Early Recovery
Ukraine, ravaged by ongoing war since the Russian full-scale invasion, exemplifies the urgent need for early recovery. UNDP announced a dedicated $20.79 million contribution from the Republic of Korea in January 2025 to support early recovery and area-based development projects in conflict-affected regions such as Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kherson.
These projects aim to restore essential services, including energy, water, and waste management systems, and rehabilitate critical infrastructure damaged by hostilities. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Kherson, for example, has severely compromised water management, exacerbating humanitarian challenges. In Zaporizhzhia, civilians endure daily aerial assaults causing trauma and displacement, while Sumy hosts around 30,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The initiatives also emphasize inclusivity and sustainability, targeting vulnerable groups such as the Roma community, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ individuals. By integrating green recovery principles, these efforts seek not only to rebuild but also to enhance resilience against future shocks. Korean Ambassador Kim Hyeong-tae highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating,
“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s recovery, addressing immediate needs, and fostering long-term resilience.”
Other Crisis-Affected Regions
In Gaza, REVIVE will focus on rubble clearance, service restoration, and support for displaced families. In Afghanistan, the initiative targets food security and winter preparedness in hard-to-reach communities. In Syria, efforts will facilitate safe returns for displaced families through mine clearance and rebuilding. In the DRC, the program will assist survivors of violence in accessing vital services and rebuilding stronger communities.
This geographic diversity reflects REVIVE’s adaptability to varied crisis contexts, from conflict zones to natural disaster-affected areas, ensuring that interventions are locally relevant and impactful.
UNDP and Korea: A Partnership Rooted in Experience and Shared Vision
The Republic of Korea’s involvement in REVIVE draws on its remarkable national development journey—from a low-income country devastated by war to a leading global economy within four decades. This experience informs Korea’s approach to supporting early recovery and sustainable development internationally.
UNDP, with its presence in over 170 countries and deep expertise in fragile settings, serves as a critical implementing partner. Together, they leverage catalytic financing, risk-informed investments, and national ownership to transform disruption into opportunity. This partnership exemplifies a model of international cooperation that combines financial resources, technical expertise, and local leadership.
Broader Context: Aligning Recovery with Sustainable Development and Innovation
REVIVE aligns with UNDP’s broader commitment to ending poverty, reducing inequality, and combating climate change. The initiative complements recent efforts such as the Human Development Report 2025, launched in the Republic of Korea, which underscores the importance of human choices in shaping a future where technology, including artificial intelligence, enhances human capabilities rather than exacerbates inequalities3.
Moreover, REVIVE’s emphasis on green recovery principles resonates with global efforts to build back better after crises. The “building back better” approach promotes recovery that is sustainable, resilient, and inclusive by addressing climate and disaster risks, strengthening access to sustainable energy, and ensuring marginalized groups participate fully in recovery processes.
South Korea’s own Green New Deal, which plans to invest approximately USD 144 billion by 2025 to create nearly 1.9 million jobs focusing on digital and green transitions, serves as an inspiring example of how recovery strategies can integrate economic growth with environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
The Human Impact: From Emergency Relief to Empowerment
At its core, REVIVE is about more than infrastructure or jobs; it is about restoring dignity, hope, and agency to millions affected by crises. By focusing on early recovery, the initiative aims to reduce humanitarian needs and enable people to not only survive but thrive.
The program’s focus on inclusivity—addressing the needs of vulnerable populations such as displaced persons, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ communities—ensures that recovery efforts do not leave anyone behind. This is essential for building social cohesion and lasting peace in fragile contexts.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While REVIVE represents a significant advancement in global crisis response, challenges remain. The scale of humanitarian needs worldwide is staggering, with millions trapped in protracted crises and complex emergencies. Ensuring that funding reaches those most in need, that programs are effectively coordinated with local authorities and communities, and that recovery efforts are sustained beyond the initial phases will require continued commitment and innovation.
Moreover, the political complexities in conflict zones, such as Ukraine and the DRC, pose risks to implementation and require careful navigation to maintain neutrality and inclusivity.
Nonetheless, the launch of REVIVE signals a promising shift toward more holistic, integrated, and locally led recovery processes that can transform the lives of millions.
A New Paradigm for Crisis Recovery
The UNDP and Republic of Korea’s launch of REVIVE marks a critical evolution in humanitarian and development cooperation. By bridging the gap between emergency relief and sustainable recovery, REVIVE offers a model for how the international community can respond more effectively to the growing scale and complexity of global crises.
As Haoliang Xu aptly stated,
“REVIVE fills a critical gap in the international system of development cooperation,”
bringing together financing, planning, and local solutions to sustain peace and development. This initiative demonstrates that early recovery is not just a phase but a strategic opportunity to rebuild better, greener, and more inclusively.
With strong partnerships, targeted investments, and a commitment to human dignity, REVIVE has the potential to reshape crisis recovery and help millions of vulnerable people worldwide rebuild their futures.
