UNHCR and Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy strengthen cooperation to enhance economic inclusion and support for displaced people and returnees
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing the economic inclusion of internally displaced people, returnees, refugees, and stateless people in Ukraine.
The cooperation will combine the efforts and capacities of both parties to integrate internally displaced people into the national labour market and focus on facilitating enhanced access to information on economic programmes and opportunities, particularly related to employment and livelihoods.
An important element is the joint development of a special Employment page dedicated to economic inclusion and opportunities for people displaced by the war, on UNHCR’s "Ukraine is Home" information platform. It is an innovative digital platform aiming to provide timely and impartial information to help Ukrainians who have become internally displaced or refugees abroad due to the war make informed decisions regarding return to their homes or continuing their stay in host communities or countries.
The Ministry of Economy will further contribute to the Employment page with information on government grant programmes for Ukrainians wishing to return home and opportunities for those who want to learn new specializations or enhance their professional skills.
The cooperation will also support data collection and analysis that will help inform and shape the policies and programmes to strengthen the economic resilience of communities – with a particular emphasis on improving access to employment and economic inclusion for displaced and otherwise war-affected people.
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
"This Memorandum of Understanding marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support the economic inclusion of those who have been displaced by the war and consequently lost their livelihoods. We know from UNHCR’s periodic intention surveys that access to jobs is one of the key enablers for sustainable return. By joining forces with the Ministry of Economy, we are helping create pathways to job opportunities that will not only help individuals rebuild their lives and become self-reliant again, but also contribute to the economic regeneration and sustainable recovery of Ukraine,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s Representative in Ukraine.
“One of the main tasks of the state is to create conditions for Ukrainians to return home. The government is working on employment, business support and access to education and retraining programs. The return of citizens after the war will speed up the country's and economy's recovery. We are grateful to the UNHCR for providing a platform where Ukrainians abroad can find information on grants, training, and retraining opportunities,” stated Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
©Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
©Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
© Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
The signing of the Memorandum took place during a visit to Kyiv by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, where he met with representatives of the Government of Ukraine. Filippo Grandi travelled to Ukraine this week for the sixth time since February 2022 to reaffirm UNHCR’s strong solidarity with the people of Ukraine and call for sustained international support for the humanitarian and recovery response in Ukraine and the continued protection and assistance of millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad.
In addition to Kyiv, Filippo Grandi also travelled to Odesa, Kharkiv and Sumy to meet displaced and war-affected people and witness projects and programmes to support people in need.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UNHCR has supported 4.3 million people in Ukraine in 2022 with different humanitarian and recovery programmes; 2.63 million people in 2023; and has delivered more than 1.5 million multisectoral services to war-affected people across the country in 2024.
