During the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine URC-2024, the pilot project “Create Ukraine” was launched, which creates conditions for the return of Ukrainian specialists who are currently abroad.
A corresponding memorandum was signed in Berlin between the Ministry of Economy, the Charity Fund of the Kyiv School of Economics KSE Foundation and the Lithuanian organization Central Project Management Agency.
Within the scope of the project, Ukrainians currently living abroad will be able to return and work in project teams at Ukrainian state bodies. The participants’ fee and other expenses, in particular the logistics of returning to Ukraine, are covered by the project funds.
“According to various estimates, there are up to 6.5 million displaced Ukrainians around the world. The key message I want to convey to Ukrainians abroad is: We are waiting for you, you are needed here, the experience and skills you have acquired in other countries are valuable to our future. That’s why we encourage you to apply for the Create Ukraine program. Join the government team and use your experience to build our country’s capacity. Your work will impact the lives of millions of Ukrainians during the most challenging time in our history. Ukrainians abroad are our bridge to partner countries, our opportunity to integrate best European practices and expertise,” said Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
“The preservation and development of human capital are the foundation of KSE Foundation’s work. For many years, we have recognized and provided development opportunities to talented Ukrainians through our initiatives. Therefore, we are extremely confident in the strength and intelligence of our youth. Your knowledge is crucial for the country’s development, and Create Ukraine creates the conditions for its direct implementation in state reforms. This is a unique opportunity to make a real contribution to economic transformations during wartime,” said Svitlana Denysenko, Director of the KSE Foundation.
The Create Ukraine project is modeled after the successful “Create Lithuania” program, which has been running in Lithuania since 2012. This program enables professionals to contribute to shaping the country’s future with their knowledge and ideas. Participants are Lithuanian professionals with international experience. Throughout the year, they consult various government organisations on national and regional issues in areas such as digitalization, e-governance, competitiveness, business environment, and public administration improvements, particularly in innovation, sustainable development, and mental health.
“After participating in Create Lithuania, I returned to my native country, was able to apply my foreign experience in the state and stayed here to work in the Central Project Management Agency. Thanks to my participation in Ukrainian projects, I realized that a program like Create Ukraine can be exactly what Ukraine needs right now,” said Dalia Krapavickaite, project manager of the Central Project Management Agency (CPMA, Lithuania).
More about “Create Ukraine” and apply for participation: here
The pilot project was developed within the EU4Youth Phase III: Employment and Entrepreneurship Programme, financed by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.
