The Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine promotes community recovery and development, because strong communities are essential for a sustainable and competitive country. In partnership with international donors, we implement programmes that help vocational education institutions in the regions establish cooperation with businesses, support the development of women's entrepreneurship, and provide tools for modernisation and entry of small and medium-sized businesses into new markets.
Cooperation between vocational education and business in regions: the InConnect 2 project
In 2025–2026, the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine, with the support of international partners, implemented the project ‘InConnect 2: Strengthening VET-Business Partnership', aimed at contributing to Ukraine's economic recovery by deepening cooperation between vocational education and employers.
In total, 33 vocational education and training institutions from various regions of Ukraine joined InConnect 2, having completed an intensive online training course in strategic planning and project management — from the initial idea to a fully-fledged project proposal. 10 institutions with the strongest projects received grants to implement them.
InConnect 2 supported partnerships between vocational education institutions and businesses in key economic sectors: transport and logistics, agriculture, construction and services. Educational institutions and businesses implemented joint initiatives: updating curricula, short-term training, introducing dual education, developing technologies and providing practical training for students at companies.
The project’s most significant achievement was the genuine collaboration between vocational education institutions and business: 9 out of 10 institutions secured co-funding from business, and the total contribution from business towards educational initiatives amounted to over 958,000 UAH. Moreover, vocational education institutions and businesses signed 22 memoranda of cooperation, which open up opportunities for further joint programmes, work placements and new educational projects.
The project demonstrated that vocational education can and should be an active partner to business and communities. Educational institutions have strengthened their collaboration with employers, attracted new resources and updated their curricula to meet market needs. Businesses gained the opportunity to influence training and invest in what they truly need. Most importantly, this cooperation did not end with the project, but has continued in the form of new ideas and initiatives aimed at strengthening local economies within communities.
Women's Entrepreneurship Development: Grow 2.0
In 2024, as part of the Inclusive Economy project implemented as part of the Good Governance Fund with funding from UK International Development from the UK Government (implemented by Abt Global and the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine), the Grow 2.0 training programme was developed.
Over 250 women from different parts of Ukraine were trained, got mentoring sessions, coaching, counselling, and, most importantly, went through an inner transformation. As a result:
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over 60% of participants reported an increase in profits within 2–3 months after completing the training;
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over 50% created or updated their brand, launched new products, and expanded their customer base;
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the final fair in Kyiv brought together dozens of participants who were able to showcase their products and establish new partnerships.
Support for SMEs and export activities
Support for small and medium-sized enterprises, which are drivers of economic development and create new jobs, is also an important component of community development. We help businesses recover from losses, modernise production, enter new markets and integrate into the European market. Such initiatives include Microgrants for Big Ideas: Export, Horizon Logistics and EU4Business: Recovery, Competitiveness and Internationalisation of SMEs, which contributed to expanding export opportunities, establishing efficient logistics and increasing the competitiveness of Ukrainian enterprises.
Such programmes not only strengthen the local economy but also provide communities with stable sources of income and new growth prospects.
In cooperation with international partners, we are opening up new economic opportunities for regions and forming the basis for their sustainable economic growth.