Agriculture remains a critical pillar of Ukraine’s economy, particularly for rural communities where it shapes livelihoods, employment, and local development. At the same time, the full-scale invasion has placed additional pressure on the sector — especially in de-occupied territories, where communities face disrupted value chains, limited access to markets, loss of human capital, and weakened economic resilience.
In this context, targeted support for small producers, development of local processing, and strengthening cooperation mechanisms have become essential for recovery and long-term sustainability. The Empower AgriWomen project, implemented by Swisscontact, is designed to address these challenges by supporting entrepreneurship, fostering economic inclusion, and strengthening local agri-food systems.
On April 2, 2026, the Chernihiv Regional Forum “Cooperation and Craft: The Economy of Rural Territories of Chernihiv Region” took place in Nizhyn, bringing together around 70 participants — including representatives of rural communities, agri-food producers, processing businesses, educational institutions, local authorities, and business support organizations.
The Empower AgriWomen team actively contributed to the organization and implementation of the forum, as well as to its expert discussions. The event created a platform for identifying practical solutions to strengthen rural economies through cooperation, development of craft production and processing, and expansion of market access for local producers.
The forum program covered key topics shaping the future of rural economic development, including:
Among the speakers and participants were representatives of the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, the Regional Development Agency, Mercy Corps, local businesses, vocational education institutions, and industry experts, reflecting a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing regional challenges.
The forum combined panel discussions, a fair of local producers, and structured networking sessions, enabling participants to exchange experience, showcase local products, and initiate new partnerships across the value chain — from production to processing and distribution.
Such initiatives contribute to building stronger, more resilient rural economies, where local producers are better equipped to grow, cooperate, and access wider markets.
This project is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA. The project is also supported by additional funding partners, including Katholisch Stadt Zürich.