Focus areas
The members of the Skills Alliance for Ukraine work on focus areas through coordination meetings and subgroups. The Skills Alliance subgroups facilitate in-depth technical exchange on a working level between the members online.
- Upskilling and Vocational Training
- Addressing Special Needs and Ensuring Inclusion
- Vocational Training in Host Countries and Mutual Recognition of Qualifications
- (Vocational and Higher) Education (covered by Sectoral Working Group on Education).
The subgroups meet virtually around four times a year. Members participate with one representative in the subgroup and choose a subgroup (maximum two) that fits best to their expertise. Each subgroup works on guiding questions and deliverables, derived from the members interests, for the subgroup’s progress, which then will be presented at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025.
The subgroup meetings provide an opportunity for an exchange in a multi-stakeholder landscape to benefit from each other’s wealth of experience, identify possible synergies and partnerships, and to jointly contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. Meetings can include short updates of current initiatives, projects, presentation of best practices or funding opportunities and should leave room for exchange and discussion.
The Alliance is largely an independent mechanism from the Sectoral Working Group (SWG) for Education. A continuous flow of information will be guaranteed between all relevant SWGs (especially with the SWG on Education) and the Alliance through Alliance members participating in respective SWG meetings. Members of the Alliance, who are co-chairing SWGs, should report on the Alliance’s activities, create synergies and prevent duplications. The Skills Alliance’s subgroup on (vocational and higher) education is covered by the SWG on Education.
Upskilling and vocational training
Challenge and goal:
According to the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the ILO, Ukraine will need 8.6 million additional skilled workers by 2032. Displacement, demographic change, and destruction of educational institutions are root causes for the shortage of skilled workers. Therefore, in the focus area of “Upskilling and Vocational Training”, the Skills Alliance members exchange on labour market needs to address the skills mismatch, update each other on vocational education and training programmes and innovative approaches as well as potential sources of funding.
Deliverables:
- Mapping of continuing education and vocational training programs;
- Identification of current funding opportunities and creation of a strategic plan to secure further resources;
- Assessment of labour market demand in key sectors for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Addressing Special Needs and Ensuring the Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups
Challenge and goal:
To address the severe shortage of skilled labour in Ukraine effectively, vocational training and labour markets must be inclusive for all potential target groups, including women, veterans, IDPs and people with disabilities. Therefore, in the focus area of “Addressing Special Needs and Ensuring Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups”, the Skills Alliance members assess the availability and demand for training for target groups, support the matching of vulnerable groups with existing opportunities, developed and disseminate recommendations to promote inclusive training and employment.
Deliverables:
- Assessment of the availability and demand for education and training programmes tailored to the needs of vulnerable groups;
- Support in matching vulnerable groups with existing upskilling and training opportunities in Ukraine;
- Development of recommendations to promote inclusion in education and employment, in alignment with Ukraine’s employment strategy, the Vocational Education Act, and other relevant policies.
Vocational Training in Host Countries and Mutual Recognition of Qualifications
Challenge and goal:
Failing to invest in displaced persons is not an option given the prolonged displacement. The challenge is to qualify displaced people for life and work in host countries while also preparing them for a potential future return to Ukraine (dual intent). Mutual recognition of qualifications is key for mobility of displaced people but still restricted by multiple barriers, diverse, unclear and fragmented processes. Therefore, in the focus area of “Vocational Training in Host Countries and Mutual Recognition of Qualifications”, the Skills Alliance members assess qualifications not yet recognised in Ukraine and vice versa, discuss how to increase in bilateral agreements and other means of mutual recognition and operationalise the dual intent approach for training in host countries while also exchanging on vocational training abroad in recovery-relevant sectors.
Deliverables:
- Assessment of qualifications from EU member states and other countries that are not yet recognised in Ukraine, and vice versa;
- Expansion of bilateral agreements and other mechanisms for mutual recognition;
- Operationalisation of the dual intent concept for vocational training in host countries;
- Mapping of vocational training opportunities abroad for Ukrainians in sectors relevant to Ukraine’s reconstruction.