Estonia and Japan Partner to Build Housing for Displaced Ukrainians

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) have launched a joint initiative to provide permanent housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr Region.

Under the agreement, Japan will support Estonia’s housing construction project in Brusyliv by supplying façade materials for an 18-unit modular apartment building. The materials will be sourced from NICHIHA Corporation, a leading Japanese producer of fibre cement, as part of JICA’s new programme to encourage private sector involvement in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The partnership was announced during the Ukraine Business Forum in Tokyo, attended by senior representatives from Japan, Ukraine, and Estonia. The collaboration highlights how both Estonia and Japan, long-standing supporters of Ukraine, are now combining resources and expertise to deliver practical assistance on the ground.

The Brusyliv project will feature a modern, eco-friendly timber-frame apartment building constructed according to Passive House energy standards and equipped with solar readiness. Alongside the housing units, a bomb shelter will also be included. ESTDEV is responsible for the design, procurement, and execution of the project, with Estonian modular construction company Harmet OÜ awarded the €1.99 million contract for production. Completion is scheduled for spring 2026.

This initiative goes beyond emergency shelter by providing sustainable, long-term housing solutions for Ukraine’s displaced population. It also creates opportunities for knowledge transfer between Japanese and Estonian companies, strengthening local construction capacity in Ukraine and setting the stage for further collaboration in reconstruction efforts.
According to the International Organization for Migration, Ukraine has around 3.7 million IDPs, with the Zhytomyr Region still hosting approximately 56,000.

Source: Embassy of Estonia in Japan