Ukraine’s war-affected economy has disrupted the labour market, causing income loss and limiting access to economic opportunities, particularly for internally displaced persons, women, veterans and persons with disabilities.
Communities that once relied on local trade or agriculture now face few job opportunities, damaged infrastructure and reduced access to resources and markets. Humanitarian aid has provided vital short-term relief, but long-term resilience depends on economic recovery and restored livelihoods.
At the same time, businesses lack skilled workers and face systemic constraints that limit their growth. This mismatch between labour supply and market demand holds back both employment and economic recovery.
The BLOOM Program helps people rebuild their incomes, reconnect to functioning markets and become more self-reliant in a recovering economy.
The BLOOM Program helps people affected by the war in Ukraine rebuild sustainable livelihoods and strengthen local market systems. It improves skills, supports entrepreneurship and revitalizes market links so that communities can rely less on aid and become more economically self-reliant and resilient.
In Year 1, the BLOOM component implemented by Swisscontact combined short-term skills training with market systems development. The goal was to improve employability, income and resilience among conflict-affected populations.
The training covered five market-relevant areas: innovative construction methods, sales, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and business analysis. Participants learned online and in person through practical assignments, real-life cases and work with industry, so they could apply their new skills directly in jobs or businesses. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) was part of all training to build resilience and help participants complete the courses during the crisis.
At the same time, the Market Systems Development (MSD) component analysed the construction, ICT, financial services and food processing sectors. Together with stakeholders, it identified systemic constraints and designed pilot interventions. This made sure workforce development matched labour market demand.
Beneficiaries
The skills training targets conflict-affected populations, including:
Building inclusive and sustainable livelihoods
BLOOM uses a dual approach: it supports individuals directly and strengthens market actors, so that skills development matches labour market demand and business needs.
The program promotes gender inclusion. In Year 1, 82% of participants were women, which shows how relevant it is to women's economic empowerment.
Surveys, focus group discussions and stakeholder engagement provide ongoing feedback, so the program can adapt to participants' needs.
To make results last beyond the program, BLOOM supports behavioural change, strengthens market systems and promotes continued skills development.
In Year 2 (April 2026 – March 2027), the BLOOM Consortium offers three types of support: grants for microbusinesses, support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises, and advisory, training and career-development services.
The program is open to self-employed people, MSMEs, aspiring entrepreneurs, IDPs, people with disabilities, veterans, members of ethnic and LGBTQI+ communities, and others in war-affected regions whose livelihoods have been disrupted.
BLOOM uses a dual approach: it supports individuals directly and strengthens market actors, so that skills development matches labour market demand and business needs.
The program promotes gender inclusion. In Year 1, 82% of participants were women, which shows how relevant it is to women's economic empowerment.
Surveys, focus group discussions and stakeholder engagement provide ongoing feedback, so the program can adapt to participants' needs.
To make results last beyond the program, BLOOM supports behavioural change, strengthens market systems and promotes continued skills development.
In Year 2 (April 2026 – March 2027), the BLOOM Consortium offers three types of support: grants for microbusinesses, support programs for small and medium-sized enterprises, and advisory, training and career-development services.
The program is open to self-employed people, MSMEs, aspiring entrepreneurs, IDPs, people with disabilities, veterans, members of ethnic and LGBTQI+ communities, and others in war-affected regions whose livelihoods have been disrupted.
For more information and to apply, visit: bloom.mercycorps.org
The project is implemented by the BLOOM Consortium consisting of Mercy Corps, Swisscontact, and Right to Protection (R2P), with support of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.
Swisscontact’s Program delivery partners: