Contribution to the Resilience of conflict-affected population via the Livelihood Assistance in Ukraine


Switzerland supports Ukraine’s economic recovery through the Ukraine Economic Resilience Pro-gramme (ERP), by strengthening businesses and creating jobs. The programme works closely with authorities, financial institutions, and the private sector to ensure support reaches those most in need, particularly in war-affected regions. It contributes to restoring local economies while supporting broader recovery efforts, while ensuring that support is sustainable and aligned with Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction priorities.

Land/Region Thema Periode Budget
Ukraine
Inclusive economic Development
Migration und Entwicklung
nothemedefined
Sozialer Schutz
Migration allgemein (entwicklungspolitische Aspekte und Partnerschaften)
Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen
01.04.2026 - 31.03.2028
CHF  5’000’000
Hintergrund As of February 2026, Ukraine is in its fifth year of full-scale inva-sion, with over 14,500 civilian deaths, nearly 38,500 injuries, and more than 3.8 million internally displaced people. Humanitarian needs remain extremely high, with 10.8 million people (30% of the population) requiring assistance due to ongoing hostilities and disruptions to essential services. The cost of recovery is estimated at over $540 billion over the next decade, with extensive damage to housing, energy, and transport infrastructure particularly in frontline oblasts such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv, which have sustained the most of destruction. The economy remains fragile, with modest growth, labour shortages, disrupted supply chains, and limited access to finance, especially for micro-businesses and small and medium enterprises, which provide most private-sector employment. Vulnerable groups including women, veterans, people with disabilities, and internally displaced people face compounded barriers, while repeated attacks on critical infrastructure continue to destabilize livelihoods, underscoring the urgent need for integrated humanitarian and economic recovery support.
Ziele Internally displaced people (IDPs) and war-affected populations have stable livelihoods and reduced reliance on cash and in-kind support.
Zielgruppen

The programme directly benefits internally displaced people, war-affected host communities, micro-entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, and household and small farming enterprises.

Indirect beneficiaries include local communities that gain from job creation, restored services, increased tax revenues, and strengthened market systems.

Mittelfristige Wirkungen Programme Outcome: Improved income generation ability and vocational skills de-velopment opportunities for internally dis-placed people and conflict-affected popula-tion in targeted areas.
Resultate

Erwartete Resultate:  

1.1 IDPs and conflict-affected people receive support to launch or restore micro-businesses.

1.2. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) receive support to deal with the consequences of war that will allow them to in-crease profits and create jobs.

1.3 War-affected farmers (household and small and medium farming enterprises) have better access to recovery opportu-nities.

1.4 People receive support to participate in VET and other training to improve their employability or re-skill for a new ca-reer.

1.5 National and regional institutions receive support to en-hance digital solutions and institutional capacity.


Resultate von früheren Phasen:   Between April 2023 and January 2026, the Economic Resilience Programme supported over 23,000 people through livelihood assistance, vocational training, business development, and legal services. The programme provided 864 self-employment grants, 33 start-up grants for vulnerable individuals, and financial support to 116 small and medium enterprises for relocation or restoration, all of which resumed or expanded operations. In the agricultural sector, 305 smallholder farmers and 45 farming enterprises received grants, with full operational recovery reported among supported businesses. In addition, 721 micro, small and medium enterprises benefited from business training and coaching (96% satisfaction rate), 1,149 individuals completed voca-tional and soft skills training, and six vocational education and training (VET) institutions were upgraded. Legal assistance reached 1,324 beneficiaries nationwide (97% satisfaction), while job fairs and matching events connected over 500 participants to employment opportunities. A Resilience Hub in Kharkiv delivered more than 7,000 consultations, the Diia.Business platform was upgraded resulting in a 34% increase in visitors.


Verantwortliche Direktion/Bundesamt DEZA
Projektpartner Vertragspartner
Internationale oder ausländische NGO
  • Andere internationale oder ausländische NGO Norden
  • Mercy Corps Europe (lead) acting through the representative of-fice of Mercy Corps in Ukraine, in consortium with Joint Emer-gency Response Ukraine (WHH/JERU), Helvetas, Right to Pro-tection (R2P).


Koordination mit anderen Projekten und Akteuren ERP partners coordinate with complementary initiatives implemented by consortium members, including Mercy Corps’ UASP and BLOOM programmes, WHH/JERU’s BMZ-funded livelihoods programmes, and Helvetas’s STIYKJIST programme. The programme also participates in sector coordination mechanisms, including the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster and NGO platforms. Within the SDC portfolio, ERP co-ordinates with the Remarket project implemented by Caritas Switzerland and maintains linkages with other SDC-funded recovery initiatives, including the Area-Based Recovery programme implemented by UNDP and PFRU.
Budget Laufende Phase Schweizer Beitrag CHF    5’000’000 Bereits ausgegebenes Schweizer Budget CHF    1’000’000 Projekttotal seit Anfangsphase Schweizer Beitrag CHF   7’900’000 Budget inklusive Projektpartner CHF   12’900’000
Projektphasen Phase 2 01.04.2026 - 31.03.2028   (Laufende Phase) Phase 1 01.06.2023 - 31.03.2026   (Completed)