NSPS and ESTDEV: donor support, infrastructure development and new opportunities for Ukraine’s reconstruction
On April 23, 2026, in Tallinn, Oleksandr Pietushkov, Director of International Cooperation and Development of NSPS, held a meeting with representatives of ESTDEV — Estonia’s state development organisation that implements international aid projects on behalf of Estonia.
The meeting was attended by Tarmo Needo, Programme Manager for Infrastructure Development, and Jaanus Saarlaid, Project Manager.
ESTDEV operates under a mandate from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and serves as the official operator of Estonian Official Development Assistance (ODA).
ESTDEV (estdev.ee) is a key instrument of Estonian development cooperation: it implements projects in governance, digitalisation, education, healthcare and infrastructure development in partner countries, primarily Ukraine, Georgia and other Eastern Partnership countries.
Ukraine is one of ESTDEV’s priority directions — particularly in the context of reconstruction and reform support.
The meeting covered current and potential areas of cooperation between NSPS and ESTDEV in infrastructure development and Ukraine’s architectural and design sector: involvement of NSPS in technical assistance projects, support for design standards and regulatory frameworks, capacity development of architectural and design organisations, and participation in joint reconstruction initiatives.
Tarmo Needo shared experience in implementing infrastructure projects under resource constraints while ensuring the long-term sustainability of outcomes.
For NSPS, the meeting marked an important step in building a direct channel with Estonia’s development system — an organisation that not only funds projects but also brings a systemic approach tested through its own experience of transformation.
Key meeting topics:
- ESTDEV — official operator of Estonian Official Development Assistance (ODA) under a mandate from Estonia’s MFA
- Ukraine — one of ESTDEV’s priority directions in the context of reconstruction and reforms
- Technical assistance: involvement of NSPS in ESTDEV projects in Ukraine
- Support for design standards and the regulatory framework of the architectural sector
- Capacity development of Ukrainian architectural and design organisations
- Joint reconstruction initiatives and long-term sustainability of outcomes
Meeting outcomes:
Direct channel with ESTDEV
- Established a direct line of communication between NSPS and Estonia’s development system with its systemic approach to transformation
Joint initiatives
- The parties agreed to maintain contact and explore specific opportunities for joint initiatives in the near term
Partnership for reconstruction
- Laid the foundation for NSPS participation in technical assistance projects and support of design standards in Ukraine’s reconstruction process
