The Russian full-scale invasion and the ongoing war in Ukraine have destroyed countless lives as Ukrainians fight for their country and freedom. 5,9 million people are internally displaced inside Ukraine as they have sought a safe place for their families. Estonian Refugee Council and Garage48 invite women in Ukraine to recover and rebuild their lives, the lives of their families, and the country, through entrepreneurship.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN UKRAINE

Since 2019, Estonian Refugee Council and Garage48 have worked in collaboration to support women in eastern and central Ukraine in regaining their livelihoods through entrepreneurship. Over the course of 3 years, the Empowering Women program has shown the strength and determination of Ukrainian women in defying the most difficult odds. By launching micro- and family businesses that support their own livelihoods as well as others, and provide jobs and critical services, they support the resilience of the people and the economy on a grassroots level. We are opening the program for the fourth time, to meet the next Ukrainian superwomen. Empowering Women entrepreneurship program in Ukraine in 2023 is open for applications. 

WHO CAN TAKE PART?

The Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme is open to women who have lost the means to provide income for their families due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Women from Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv (excluding Kyiv city), Kirovohrad, and Cherkasy oblasts can apply to enter the entrepreneurship program. 

WE ARE WELCOMING:

• both individuals and teams led by women
• women with ideas for a micro- and family business located in Ukraine
• existing businesses led by women in need of support to relocate and re-start, inside Ukraine
• business ideas and businesses from all fields, be it agriculture, handicraft, education, or technology

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The whole programme is happening online across eastern and central Ukraine. Programme activities are planned for weekends and evening-times. The programme is happening in English and Ukrainian languages, translations are provided for general sessions and workshops.

During the entrepreneurship programmes, you will have the opportunity to improve and get new entrepreneurial skills, learn from experienced entrepreneurs and specialists, build your business network, develop or redefine your business plan, and work on the design of your products and services. We’ll be working with design thinking, business model canvas, branding, creative marketing, financial planning, legal advice, online and social media, founder mental health, presentation skills, and pitching topics. Our experienced local and international mentors from the entrepreneurial and technology sectors will be sharing their best practices in building successful businesses. The programs will consist of very hands-on mentoring, workshops, peer-to-peer learning, teamwork, and a live final show, followed by entrepreneurship grants and a mentoring program for the top participants and teams.

Once your application to the programme has been approved, you will receive all guidelines for entering the program online platforms, attending the workshops, meeting your mentors, developing your business plans, and preparing your final pitch.

To learn more about the programme, get guidance on how to fill out the application form, learn from successful former participants and get guidance for defining your business idea, we will hold an online pre-event on 22 February 17:00 UTC+2.

Join the Facebook events for the programme for new businesses or the programme for existing businesses for updates.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANTS & MENTORING

The most successful participants and teams of the entrepreneurship programs will receive support in the form of asset-based grants. The grants are given out in the form of equipment and tools necessary to start or develop their business.

A total of 40 successful participant-run businesses will receive entrepreneurship grants: 

• 18 individuals with new businesses will each receive up to 60 000 UAH (1 630 USD)
• 12 team-based new businesses will each receive up to 100 000 UAH (2 750 USD)
• 10 already existing businesses will each receive up to 150 000 UAH (4 900 USD)

The entrepreneurship grants go hand in hand with a mentoring program lasting 6 months with individual mentoring and workshops supporting further business development.

HOW TO APPLY

If you're interested in applying to take part in the programme, please submit your business idea through this platform by 3 March. Please note that you will need to create a user account before being able to submitting the business idea form.

Applications are evaluated on the basis of the business potential and social and economic vulnerability of the applicants, by an international jury of entrepreneurship experts. 

• 80 individuals or women-led teams will be selected to participate in the INCUBATION: Entrepreneurship program for the creation of new businesses.
• 30 individuals or women-led businesses will be selected to participate in ACCELERATION: Entrepreneurship program for the relocation and re-starting of existing businesses.

To apply with a team, a minimum of 3 team members is needed. To apply with a family team, a minimum of 2 members is needed.

The Empowering Women Entrepreneurship Programme is funded by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)