Ivano-Frankivsk, 14 December 2022 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine – in partnership with the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast State Administration, the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council and Promprylad.Renovation – has opened the “Save Business Now” Business Support Centre and Coworking in Ivano-Frankivsk.

Since the beginnning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and the city have hosted thousands of internally displaced persons and become one of the key hosting regions for businesses relocated from the war-torn communities. To address their needs, as well as to support local authorities and people in the recovery process, UNDP has launched the pilot “Support to Entrepreneurs and Livelihoods” project, which is contributing to the overall objectives of UNDP’s Resilience Building and Recovery Programme.

During two months of operation in October-November 2022, the “Save Business Now” Business Support Centre and Coworking has already hosted 12 educational and networking events for over 400 local and relocated micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Twenty-four businesses, including 12 relocated businesses, have received direct advisory support and tailored consulting services. In addition, the coworking space of the Centre is designed to host at least 25 local and relocated entrepreneurs providing favourable working conditions and support to keep their business activities ongoing.

Jaco Cilliers, interim UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, said that the war in Ukraine has had a tremendous impact on lives and livelihoods. Under these circumstances, UNDP is supporting local economies by boosting the capacities of local MSMEs, equitably targeting women- and men-led businesses. “The newly launched Business Support Centre and Coworking in Ivano-Frankivsk was established to enhance the business support infrastructure to capacitate local and relocated MSMEs,” he said. “I would like to express my gratitude to our partners for their readiness to contribute to Ukraine’s economic recovery by hosting relocated companies, and for their proactive approach in mobilizing support for war-affected women and men and businesses.”

Background: UNDP has launched a comprehensive framework of support to respond to the war impacts in Ukraine – the UNDP Resilience Building and Recovery Programme, fully aligned with the key priorities identified by the Government of Ukraine. The objective of this comprehensive support is to ensure that the immediate response to the war does not jeopardize years of development gains in Ukraine and that both in the humanitarian and recovery phase the Government of Ukraine is able to plan, design and lead the implementation of an inclusive and sustainable response.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org