Deadline: 15-Mar-2026

The Economic Resilience Lab supports public sector organizations in Ukraine to improve employment and self-employment opportunities for adults, with a focus on women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and displaced communities. Organizations attend a 4-day training in Lviv, receive three weeks of mentoring, and can secure grants of approximately $30,000 to implement retraining and employment initiatives. Projects cover priority sectors including technology, agriculture, construction, renewable energy, and skilled services.

Overview of the Program

The Economic Resilience Lab aims to strengthen Ukraine’s economic stability by:

• Expanding employment and self-employment opportunities for vulnerable groups

• Supporting public sector organizations in designing effective labor market solutions

• Enhancing competitiveness of the Ukrainian economy through targeted interventions

Key target groups include:

• Women

• Veterans and their families

• People with disabilities

• Internally displaced persons

• Residents of frontline and liberated communities

Program Structure

The program combines training, mentoring, and financial support:

1. School of Organizational Capacity

• Duration: 4 days in May 2026

• Location: Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv

• Participants: Two representatives per organization (head and project manager)

• Focus areas:

  • Selecting and engaging project participants

  • Identifying professions and educational paths aligned with market demand

  • Building partnerships with employers for internships and employment

  • Strengthening project design, monitoring, and evaluation focused on employment outcomes

2. Mentorship

• Duration: 3 weeks post-training

• Purpose: Refine project applications, improve impact strategies, and strengthen organizational capacity

3. Project Implementation Grants

• Grant size: Approximately $30,000 per selected project

• Support includes: Experience-sharing, networking, and integration into the Razom for Ukraine community

• Scope: Retraining, employment, and income stabilization initiatives across all regions of Ukraine except Kyiv

Priority Sectors

Eligible projects may focus on sectors critical to economic recovery and growth:

• Light industry

• Technological and dual-tech production

• Construction

• Agriculture and processing

• Craft production

• Renewable energy

• Care economy and veteran support

• Skilled services

Who is Eligible?

Organizations must:

• Be public sector entities or associated with public sector initiatives

• Have experience in adult learning, training, or employment-focused programs

• Demonstrate a commitment to scaling impactful solutions and strengthening local economies

How to Apply

1. Confirm organizational eligibility and sector relevance.

2. Register representatives for the School of Organizational Capacity in Lviv.

3. Complete the 4-day intensive training and participate in 3 weeks of mentoring.

4. Develop a project proposal aligned with labor market needs and targeted beneficiaries.

5. Submit the project application for consideration of $30,000 grant funding.

Key Notes and Tips

• Only projects implemented outside Kyiv region are eligible.

• Participation in training and mentoring is mandatory to qualify for grants.

• Focus on vulnerable groups and sectors aligned with labor market demand.

• Ensure project proposals include clear monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure employment outcomes.

FAQs

1. Who can participate in the program?
Public sector organizations in Ukraine with experience in adult learning and employment initiatives.

2. What types of beneficiaries are targeted?
Women, veterans and their families, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and residents of frontline and liberated communities.

3. What sectors are prioritized?
Light industry, technological production, construction, agriculture, craft production, renewable energy, care economy, veteran support, and skilled services.

4. How much funding can organizations receive?
Approximately $30,000 per selected project.

5. Is participation in training mandatory?
Yes, both the 4-day School of Organizational Capacity and the 3-week mentorship are required.

6. Where can projects be implemented?
Across all regions of Ukraine except Kyiv.

7. What support is provided beyond funding?
Experience-sharing, networking, integration into Razom for Ukraine, and capacity-building through mentorship and training.

Conclusion

The Economic Resilience Lab empowers Ukrainian public sector organizations to design and implement projects that enhance employment, self-employment, and economic stability. Through training, mentorship, and grant support, participating organizations contribute to income stabilization, workforce development, and the overall resilience of Ukraine’s economy.

For more information, visit Public Space.