It is heartening to know that we have initiated a large-scale training program called the Ukraine Rebuilding Task Force in cooperation with Ukraine’s Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office within the framework of the Diia.Business Ukrainian national project and with financial support from the U.S. Department of State Office of the Assistance Coordinator for Europe and Eurasia under the 10th Round of the Development Cooperation Partnership (DCP) Program and the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).
When the full-scale war in Ukraine started in February 2022, we replaced the learning events with anti-crisis meetings. Hundreds of participants continued to meet twice weekly to seek help, support, motivation and bonds. During our discussions, we realised that many Ukrainian SMEs must be ready for the rebuilding. Even when we acknowledge then, and even today, that the rebuilding structure is unclear, we know that we need to support Ukrainian SMEs from construction, engineering, architecture and other rebuilding sectors to learn how to work with the major rebuilding partners. We must also give them the courage to lead and have a voice. We need them to be found on the internet (even for those of us who do not have Kirillitsa keyboards for googling and to learn how to cooperate.
It all started with recruitment in June 2023, during which about 800 applications for participation in the training program were received. Since October 2023 we started the active educational process and we are proud that over 300 participants from construction, engineering, architecture, and consulting companies are now part of this program. We empathize with the people of Ukraine who have gone through tough times and we are glad that these participants are ready to contribute their skills and knowledge to help in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Today, in the middle of the program, our five regional groups have developed the dream initiatives they would like to work with and created a long list of dream partners. We are polishing the ideas for the presentation and plan to reach out to face the reality. Wish us good luck or suggest partners that would be interested in participation.
The participants are in the process of creating Internationalization Plans for their businesses and new initiatives to build international partnerships and rebuild Ukraine. They have worked on modules covering Market Analysis, Search for Partners and Counterparties, Models Used in International Cooperation, Creating an International Project Strategy, and Innovations and Digitalization in Reconstruction. It is great to see that the companies not only engage with the training materials but also actively participate in live sessions with international trainers to discuss and find answers to their practical questions. Participants also receive personal feedback on their work from the trainers of each module.
Another important milestone of the project is that participants can voluntarily join regional teams. Five regional teams have been created, bringing together program participants with different expertise. International mentors from EU countries provide added value to the teams’ work, bringing their expertise and experience to assist them in developing projects with real potential. Each team will work on the concept of a regional reconstruction plan and search for international partners for implementation. This demonstrates the readiness of Ukrainians to unite and work actively to create new solutions.
Today, in the middle of the program, our five regional groups have developed the dream initiatives they would like to work with and created a long list of dream partners. We are polishing the ideas for the presentation and plan to reach out to face the reality. Wish us good luck or suggest partners that would be interested in participation.
Contact Maxim Chechelev (maxim.chechelev@visionest.institute) or Jaanika Metssalu (jaanika.metssalu@visionest.institute) if you have some ideas, proposal or want to help the companies which participate in this program.