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Supporting Economic Prosperity for Women and Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine

Practical part of technical and vocational training in Kharkiv region, SEW Ukraine Project. Photo credit - (7) Kharkiv Technical and Vocational Education Center of the State Emp

Cooperative Development Organisation

Implementing Partners and Organisations

All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation "Gorenie"
Ukrainian Association of Textile & Leather Industry Enterprises "Ukrlegprom”
Knowledge Partners
Ukrainian Association of Textile & Leather Industry Enterprises "Ukrlegprom”

Period of Implementation

March 2020 - April 2025

Geographic scope

Europe: Ukraine

Budget

$ 3,945,661
€ 3 633 934

Donor(s)

Multilateral Aid: Global Affairs Canada

Sector(s)

Industry, Trade, Wholesale and retail trade

Summary

Women in Ukraine face gender-based discrimination, primarily as a result of deeply rooted cultural norms and practices. Gender-based discrimination often takes patriarchal views on the role of women and men in society and widespread gender-based violence. Women, especially girls, were severely impacted by the overall political instability and an armed conflict in 2013.

Through the support of Global Affairs Canada, this project Supporting women through employment and entrepreneurship will help in their economic empowerment and overall well-being. Opportunities in the garment industry are the step forward. The SEW Ukraine project aims to foster economic prosperity for 2,200 vulnerable women, including Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) living in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts of Ukraine.

The project will support women beneficiaries by giving access to employment, vocational training, workplace integration training, and ancillary services such as shared childcare facilities.

The project will support women with higher skills to establish new micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). In addition, women who own or manage MSMEs (existing and start-ups) will engage in customized capacity-building support. The training includes business management, access to loans for increased competitiveness, and the formation of co-operatives to advance sustainable, profitable, and gender-equitable businesses.

Project Objectives

  • Reach 2,200 vulnerable and disadvantaged women beneficiaries in the region. The aim is to provide access to job-specific skills and knowledge to compete in the garment job sector. The project will focus on improving their existing standard of living (Women w/c disabilities – 10%; IDPs Women – 50%)
  • Create healthy competitive, innovative, and environmentally sustainable opportunities for 200 women-led micros, small and medium-sized enterprises (100 start-ups and 100 existing).
  • Improve the perceptions of stakeholders towards women’s economic empowerment in Ukraine and the garment industry.
  • Improve business model for environmentally sustainable economic growth to support women-owned/managed MSMEs in the garment sector. The project will help women-entrepreneurs to establish six gender-responsive co-operatives.

Impact on SDGs

SDG5 - Gender Equality
SDG8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

Direct beneficiaries

Individuals: 2200

Local stakeholders

All-Ukrainian Charity Foundation "Gorenie"
Ukrainian Association of Textile & Leather Industry Enterprises "Ukrlegprom”

Key Tags

Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship