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Support to Inclusive Economic Development in Ukraine by Linking Export Strategy with Regional Development and SDGs Project

Project summary

The Project, funded by Germany through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and implemented by UNDP, was launched in 2021. Its mission is to promote the sustainable development of Ukraine to the extent possible in the current crisis conditions through strengthening the response capacities of the public and private sector, including national and regional authorities.   

Project goals

  • to strengthen the institutional capacities of the public and private sector in facilitating crisis response measures to support the sustainable recovery of the Ukrainian economy and exports; 
  • to support regional and local authorities in the hosting regions with resetting institutional infrastructure for business support and export promotion.

Expected results

  • Stakeholders Involved: Public and private sector actors, including the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office (EEPO), Ukrainian International Trade Council, and regional chambers of commerce and industry.
  • Operational Resilience: Enhanced capacity to develop evidence-based measures for Ukrainian MSMEs, especially export-oriented ones.
  • Export Policy: Strategic foresight to inform evidence-based, forward-looking policies. Facilitation of public-private dialogue on trade policy, resulting in two policy papers: a Green Book (identifying challenges) and a White Book (proposing solutions). Public presentation and discussion with stakeholders.
  • Regional Support: Aid to regional authorities in seven target oblasts to revise business support architecture, focusing on export promotion. Improved cross-sectoral dialogue and interaction between local authorities and the business community.
  • Export Strategies: Revision of regional export strategies/programmes and creation of a unified methodology for developing them. Horizontal experience exchange between regions to share best practices. Identification and enhancement of up to 10 best practices and solutions for export-oriented business support.
  • Small Grants Programme: Support for six consortiums, including 16 Business Intermediary Organisations, to enhance service quality. 
  • Targeted Support: Consulting and advisory support for 33 export-oriented MSMEs affected by the conflict to facilitate relocation and resetting operations, piloting a turn-key service package.
  • Nationwide Hotline: Informational support for export-oriented MSMEs across Ukraine on international trade issues, serving as a lead generator for CCI system export support services. Development of a hotline extension methodology, with the role of national and regional chambers defined.

Interim results

  • We conducted a strategic foresight on Ukrainian exports until 2030, engaging BMO representatives, exporters, officials, experts and economic development leaders, identifying 110 key trends and factors and foreseeing eight scenarios for the development of Ukrainian exports.

  • We developed an “early warning” system to assess the business environment conditions – the nationwide “Business Barometer” index, which analyses data received from entrepreneurs in monthly polls.

  • We introduced a turn-key service package for the relocation/geographical diversification of businesses, helping 33 businesses from war-affected regions to survive amidst constantly changing business conditions.

  • We organized the Western Ukrainian Export Forum, engaging 745 participants.

Donor

The Government of Germany through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH