Kyiv, 1 June 2023 – Since 2022, Ukrainians who have had to leave their homes due to the full-scale war, or who have returned to areas retaken by the Government of Ukraine, have been able to receive consultations through the Diia.Business virtual centre hotline. At the second stage of its operation, the centre provided over 6,500 consultations.

The scope of consultations includes: business operations (establishing or relocating a business), general legal issues of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and employment opportunities.

The Diia.Business virtual centre has provided more than 20,000 consultations during its entire period of operation, said Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration.

“Citizens, in particular IDPs, primarily needed advice on financial and legal issues, and our virtual centre was able to help solve some of their problems,” Ionan said. “This would not have been possible without our partners – the United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine, which has focused on helping Ukrainian IDPs during this turbulent time for the country.”

The most often asked questions during consultations were related to adapting to a new city after moving there from areas not under the control of the Government of Ukraine, obtaining a certificate confirming that a person has been registered as an IDP, finding a job, taxation, and starting a business. 

Tobias Thyberg, Ambassador of Sweden to Ukraine, noted that Sweden is unwavering in its support for Ukraine and is dedicated to providing aid to war-affected Ukrainians.

“It was critically important to help people who were forced to relocate within the country or leave the country because of the war with the necessary information,” he said. “We’re glad that the support provided in creating the virtual centre helped ensure the safety and well-being of Ukrainians.” 

Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, emphasized that the ultimate goal of UNDP in Ukraine is to support Ukrainians, Ukrainian businesses, especially those who found themselves in a difficult situation due to the war secure livelihoods and re-engage in the economic cycle.

“The Diia.Business virtual centre was designed to support people at the most critical moment – after relocation – through providing them with the information they need to restore their livelihoods and access jobs,” he said.

Until 12 June free consultations are available to the general public from 0800 until 1800 at 0800 333 183. There is also a chatbot that can provide answers to general questions and create an individual road map for consultees. The chatbot operates from 0800 to 2000 Kyiv time. 

If an air-raid alarm sounds during the consultation, the time and duration of the consultation may change. 

The Diia.Business virtual centre was launched in late May 2022 as an innovative hotline. During its first stage, the centre provided 14,200 consultations to Ukrainians who were forced to relocate within the country or abroad. In December 2022, the centre started its second stage of operation, during which consultations will be provided to internally displaced persons and people who have relocated their businesses.

The virtual centre was initiated by the team of the national Diia.Business project, which is being implemented by Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Office for the Development of Entrepreneurship and Export. The innovative hotline is being run by the Small and Medium Business Support Consulting Centre, an NGO, with the assistance of the DIA Support project, which is being implemented by the UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from Sweden.

Media inquiries

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Communications Team Leader, yuliia.samus@undp.org