The Swisscontact project team held its first introductory meeting with the Regional Development Agency of Kyiv Region, led by its Director, Nazarii Volianskyi.
This collaboration will help strengthen engagement with agricultural producers, local stakeholders, and support organizations, contributing to the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in the region.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both teams to present their work, exchange views on the economic priorities of Kyiv Region and discuss how Swisscontact’s international expertise and the Agency’s knowledge of local communities and businesses could complement each other.
The dialogue builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Swisscontact and the Kyiv Regional State Administration during AgriForum 2026 in Kyiv on 13 May. The memorandum formalised a shared commitment to advancing women’s entrepreneurship in agriculture and created a foundation for expanding effective cooperation models to Kyiv Region.
The next task is to translate this institutional framework into practical regional initiatives. The Regional Development Agency works directly with communities, small and medium-sized businesses, investors and public institutions across Kyiv Region. Its areas of expertise include project development, business modelling, grant support, investment attraction and strategic planning for territorial communities. This experience is particularly relevant for designing support that reflects the actual needs of local agricultural producers.
During the meeting, the teams discussed the context in which women farmers and small-scale producers currently operate, as well as the barriers that can limit the development of their businesses. These include access to relevant technical and entrepreneurial knowledge, professional advisory services, financing, markets and reliable business connections.
Potential areas of cooperation include assessing the needs of women-led agricultural businesses in Kyiv Region, engaging communities and regional stakeholders, developing practical training and advisory services, facilitating access to finance and markets, and strengthening the local institutions that support entrepreneurs.
The teams agreed to continue developing joint initiatives and projects and to coordinate the next steps needed to turn the ideas discussed into a clear programme of cooperation.
The expansion to Kyiv Region draws on the experience gained by Empower AgriWomen in Chernihiv Region. There, Swisscontact works with the Regional Development Agency of Chernihiv Region to develop a locally anchored system of support for women farmers.
The model combines a Women’s Agribusiness Support Office, mentoring and peer learning, an accelerator that connects training with real production processes, and research into the needs of women agricultural producers. Swisscontact also supports the development of the Agency’s institutional capacity and tests financing models that can allow services to continue beyond the period of direct project support.
The experience from Chernihiv Region will inform the work in Kyiv Region, while the future model will be adapted to its economic landscape, agricultural profile, stakeholder networks and the needs of local entrepreneurs.
For women developing agricultural businesses in Kyiv Region, cooperation between Swisscontact, the regional authorities and the Regional Development Agency should ultimately translate into practical results: access to relevant knowledge, trusted local services, stronger business connections and clearer pathways to financing and new markets.
The introductory meeting established a shared understanding of the work ahead. The teams will now focus on defining priorities, cooperation formats and the first joint activities capable of strengthening women-led agribusiness and contributing to the long-term economic resilience of Kyiv Region.