Ukraine

For more than three decades working in Ukraine, IREX has been driving transformative change by investing in human capital, catalyzing innovation, and empowering communities. With a dedicated team operating across all regions at both national and local levels, IREX continues to ensure sustainable development through the war with a deep commitment to building a brighter future for Ukraine and Ukrainians.

Key Initiatives

An educator looks over a paper with a student

Restoring Access to Education: IREX restores access to education in war-affected communities by installing modular schools—allowing students to return to in-person schooling in safe, well-equipped, and accessible classrooms—and supporting teachers in addressing educational losses through catch-up programming. IREX has overseen the design, preparation, and construction of six Transitional Learning Centers (TLCs) in Ukraine with plans to expand to 12 more communities.

A young person with welding gear looks over a blueprint

Workforce Development: IREX designs and delivers workforce development solutions that connect people to real economic opportunities, strengthen systems, and drive measurable employment outcomes. In Ukraine, IREX has engaged more than 24,000 youth in workforce readiness and supported more than 2,000 veterans with employment services, while also reaching populations most affected by labor market disruptions, including people with disabilities and internally displaced people.

From job search guidance, soft skills development, and career navigation to support for career centers, vocational education institutions, employers, and labor market systems informed by real-time data, IREX applies proven approaches from Ukraine and other contexts to help rebuild a resilient and future-ready workforce.

A group of children sitting in front of computers

Information Access, Innovation and Literacy: IREX works with the Ministry of Education and Science to integrate informed decision making skills into school curricula and teacher trainings. To date, these activities have reached more than 2,500 schools (there are over 19,000 schools in Ukraine in total), enhancing the productive and healthy use of information of more than 85,000 students. Additionally, IREX has established a Media Emergency Fund for journalists and media outlets in Ukraine that are critically low on resources, which has been crucial for their ability to continue to report the news throughout the war.

Three veterans with limb loss stand with strength

Veterans Rehabilitation and Reintegration: IREX collaborates with veterans, veteran-serving organizations, and the Ukrainian Ministry of Veterans Affairs to provide services and support that enable veterans and their families to reintegrate into their communities, build stable livelihoods, and contribute to Ukraine’s stabilization and reconstruction. Working with local partners, IREX has offered various services, including online access to benefits (IREX constructed Ukraine’s online veteran ‘E-Registry’), mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) and rehabilitation services, career training, community networking, and policy development. Over 215,000 veterans and family members have used an IREX-supported e-registry for veterans.