Ukraine Acted
Acted and Global Affairs Canada Supported Over 83,000 Ukrainians Through Women’s Economic Empowerment Project
Kyiv, Ukraine – June 30th, 2025
Since 2020, Acted has been implementing the project Securing Women’s Economic Empowerment for Recovery and Development (SEED) across Ukraine, with the financial support of Global Affairs Canada. The initiative directly strengthened the economic resilience of over 83,000 vulnerable and marginalised people, including more than 54,000 women and girls.
Launched before the full-scale invasion in 2022, SEED initially targeted Donetska and Luhanska oblasts and later expanded to Volynska, Chernivetska, Vinnytska, Chernihivska, Odeska, and Mykolaivska oblasts. The project emphasises support to women, including internally displaced people (IDPs), rural residents, single mothers, and elderly women-groups that are too often left behind in economic recovery efforts.
When women have access to capital, training, and support, entire communities thrive. SEED has shown that empowering women is not just the right thing to do, it’s a strategic investment in Ukraine’s future.
Strengthening livelihoods and local economies
SEED provided 1,064 self-employment grants and 62 small business grants, injecting capital into recovering local economies. Business Advisory Centers (BACs), established in partnership with local women-led civil society organisations (CSOs), offered mentoring and business support to more than 4,000 aspiring entrepreneurs and jobseekers.
I want to grow this business, create jobs, pay taxes, and contribute to Ukraine’s recovery.
In parallel, 626 people were trained on IT topics, or subsidised for re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities. Labour centers in six regions were also strengthened with training and equipment to improve employment guidance services, supporting over 11,800 jobseekers to access safe and dignified work.
Tackling structural barriers
Beyond access to employment, SEED addressed gender and age barriers to economic participation, particularly the burden of unpaid care work. SEED supported 23 daycare centers through grants and equipment to expand services, enabling more women to seek employment. The “Rebuild Ukraine” skills education campaign also engaged over 10,800 students, especially girls, to pursue careers in fields essential to the country’s recovery such as engineering, urban planning, and IT sectors traditionally dominated by men.
The daycare gives women a chance to work and take care of themselves.
Empowering communities in the long-term
As Ukraine moves from emergency response toward long-term recovery, SEED provides a replicable model for resilient, inclusive, and locally driven economic development. The project not only delivered capital and training, but also empowered local institutions, such as labour centers, CSOs, schools, and daycare providers, to continue supporting recovery efforts beyond the project’s end.
We highly value our cooperation with Acted that helped to improve the economic opportunities for thousands of women throughout Ukraine. By empowering women to be full participants in the economic lives of their families and communities this project has made important contributions to broader economic growth and lasting change.
Contact Person: Joseph Tesse, Deputy Country Director for Operations – joseph.tesse@acted.org
About Acted:
Founded in 1993, Acted currently supports more than 18 million people in 43 countries and pursues a triple mandate of humanitarian aid, environmental action and development. Acted relies on its in-depth knowledge of local territories and contexts to develop and implement long-term actions, with a wide range of local and international partners, to build a “3ZERO” world: Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty. Acted operates in Ukraine since 2015, supporting vulnerable communities with emergency aid, resilience building, and sustainable recovery initiatives.
About Global Affairs Canada:
Global Affairs Canada defines, shapes, and advances Canada’s foreign policy and international development efforts. Through its Feminist International Assistance Policy, Canada supports gender equality, poverty reduction, and sustainable development worldwide.
