Swisscontact has been active in Ukraine since 2020 and opened a country office in Kyiv in 2023. The portfolio supports Ukraine's recovery by addressing skills shortages, labour market disruption, agricultural resilience, women's economic participation, export promotion, and inclusive livelihoods in war-affected regions.
In vocational education and training, Swisscontact implements EdUP, the Public-Private Partnership for Improved Vocational Education in Ukraine. The project works with vocational schools and businesses to improve the quality and labour market relevance of training, strengthen school management and private sector cooperation, and support reconstruction-related skills. Since the start of the full-scale war, EdUP has supported the creation of safe learning spaces in nine vocational schools, ensuring continuity of education in war-affected regions. Eleven additional safe learning spaces are planned by the end of the current project phase.
The broader portfolio includes Empower AgriWomen, which supports women farmers and small-scale agricultural producers with training, business services, access to resources, market linkages and financing; SIPPO, which strengthens business support organisations so they can deliver better export promotion services to Ukrainian SMEs; and BLOOM, implemented with Mercy Corps and partners, which supports skills, livelihoods and market-based resilience for households, small businesses and communities affected by the war.
