Economic Opportunities for People Affected by Conflict

The project aimed to facilitate new job creation and support the relocation or establishment of new businesses for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other people affected by conflict. During the project lifespan, a business skills development training program was implemented, with 996 IDPs and other affected individuals completing the program. Of these, 112 received grants, and 43 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) received grants and methodological support to develop their businesses and create new jobs. The project grantees created 276 new jobs, with 205 of these jobs being created by SMEs and 71 by microenterprises. The project focused on mapping challenges and opportunities for doing business, developing a business skills development training program, and implementing grants programs and a mentorship program in seven oblasts. Micro Business and Self-Employment Support Centers (MBSCs) were established on the base of existing civil society organizations (CSOs) in each oblast, providing informational, methodological, and legal support to people affected by conflict in seven oblasts and to people with disabilities (PwDs) in six oblasts. The project strengthened the capacity of CSOs and businesses/private sector participants that provide assistance to conflict-affected populations, including IDPs, demobilized soldiers, and members of host communities, including women and PwDs. The MBSCs established strong partnerships with local stakeholders, including Employment Centers, regional CSOs, IDPs groups, private sector, ATO veterans' unions, and PwDs organizations. The project's approach to facilitating new job creation and supporting the relocation or establishment of new businesses for IDPs was effective, with the project becoming fully operational in Year 1 and expanding its activities to Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in Year 2. The project's instruments aimed at new jobs creation and the establishment of microbusinesses by people affected by conflict remained relevant, effective, and highly demanded by target groups. The Government of Ukraine worked to improve socio-economic conditions for IDPs during the project implementation period, adopting a "Strategy on integration of IDPs and implementation of long-term solutions for internal displacement for the period until 2020." However, the number of IDPs remains high, with 1,513,895 registered IDPs from temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblast, as well as from Crimea, as of December 2018. The project's success in providing a great example and motivation for other people affected by conflict showed that IDPs are a powerful resource in communities, but many IDPs still need support in becoming economically self-reliable.