The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and with funding from the European Union in the amount of 6 million euros are launching a new project aimed at employing veterans and strengthening the resilience of communities in Ukraine. About this reported on the official EU portal.
The project will be implemented in ten regions of Ukraine, including Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhya. According to government estimates, the number of veterans and their families in Ukraine may reach 5-8 million people.
The head of the IOM representative office in Ukraine, Alesia Shyavon, emphasized that the organization will work at all levels to develop solutions that will help veterans, in particular, in matters of employment.
According to an IOM survey conducted in 2023, 15% of veterans, including 32% women, faced discrimination.
“The support of veterans, their families and the families of the dead is important for building the future of Ukraine”, – noted Peter M. Wagner, director of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.
He emphasized that the EU provides assistance for employment, business creation, as well as providing psychosocial support.
The project provides professional training for 170 veterans and their family members, providing grants and technical assistance to 50 veteran enterprises. Job fairs and information campaigns will be organized to promote the socio-economic reintegration of veterans.
In addition, community-based psychosocial support will be provided and local mental health professionals will receive additional training to provide long-term support.
IOM will also assist local non-governmental organizations and initiative groups aimed at the reintegration of veterans. In twenty selected communities, social cohesion initiatives will be implemented to reduce tensions.
The project will last until February 2026 and provides support to state institutions, in particular administrative service centers, through staff training and provision of additional resources.
