Centre for Economic Strategy has begun cooperation with the Skills Alliance initiative

Centre for Economic Strategy is glad to announce the start of cooperation with the Skills Alliance for Ukraine initiative, launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. As part of this cooperation, CES will provide analytical support to the project and contribute to policy development and discussion through expert discussions. The first such discussion within the framework of the project was the Skills Alliance Annual Conference, which took place on January 22 in Kyiv. Below is a press release from the event.

To overcome critical labor shortages and support economic recovery, Ukraine must focus on labor productivity growth, inclusive employment policies, and modernization of educational infrastructure. These conclusions were reached by participants at the Skills Alliance Annual Conference, held on January 22 in Kyiv.

Throughout the day, the event brought together more than 150 representatives of foreign governments, development banks, implementing agencies, civil society organizations, and private sector companies involved in the Skills Alliance, including the EBRD, UNICEF, OECD, GIZ, KfW, Helvetas, Enabel, Nova Poshta, the European Business Association, and the Center for Economic Strategy. Today, the Skills Alliance has 90 member organizations, which have collectively committed to investing nearly €1.1 billion. Since the Alliance was established in 2024, these investments have already contributed to the development of skills for more than 535,000 Ukrainians in Ukraine and EU member states.

The conference was opened by Jens Busma, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine. During the discussions, participants outlined a shared vision for the future work of the Skills Alliance and agreed on three key priorities: increasing productivity and competitiveness through the development of skills tailored to the needs of the labor market; expanding inclusive and targeted training programs for vulnerable groups; and supporting education and training institutions as regional centers for innovation and workforce development. The discussions focused on skills as one of the key factors in Ukraine’s economic recovery.

Daria Marchak, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of intensive investment in the development of Ukrainians’ skills as one of the main tools for increasing productivity in the economy.

«Productivity growth is the foundation of Ukraine’s economic recovery, both during the war and in the long term. In a situation where there is a shortage of personnel in all sectors, we must create conditions in which every employee can realize their full potential,» said Daria Marchak. «Skills Alliance helps modernize the system of vocational and short-term training and retraining, more closely link training to the real needs of employers, and remove barriers that prevent talented Ukrainians—veterans, internally displaced persons, women, and young people—from fully participating in the labor market.»

Dmytro Zavgorodniy, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, emphasized that modernizing the vocational education and training system is a key prerequisite for aligning the skills of the Ukrainian workforce with EU standards and the needs of the future labor market.

Summarizing the development of the Alliance, Jens Busma, on behalf of the German Embassy, welcomed the accession of six new members to the Skills Alliance and confirmed further international support for the transformation of the Ukrainian labor market.

«The Skills Alliance is already showing tangible results: more than half a million people have taken advantage of the opportunity to improve their skills,» said Jens Busma. «Our partners within the Alliance and Germany will continue to support the development of skills that are necessary not only for reconstruction, but also for Ukraine’s long-term competitiveness and successful European integration.»

The three strategic priorities outlined during the conference will guide the work of the Skills Alliance in 2026 and beyond, ensuring coordinated action across the coalition to respond to key challenges in Ukraine’s labor market.

About Skills Alliance for Ukraine

Skills Alliance for Ukraine is a multilateral partnership launched during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin. Initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, the Alliance aims to address acute skills shortages through coordinated support for vocational education and training, retraining, and upskilling both in Ukraine and for Ukrainians abroad. The partnership brings together government institutions, international organizations, development partners, private sector companies, and civil society organizations.

More detailed information is available at the link.