Ukraine

For more than 30 years, IREX has been a trusted partner to Ukraine's government, institutions, citizens and communities — and since the start of the full-scale invasion, we've worked alongside more than 7,500 institutions and reached over 2.1 million people. We help Ukraine strengthen the systems that keep the country running and moving toward a more prosperous future: modernizing public services, restoring and reforming education, growing local economies, and reintegrating veterans and displaced families — building a resilient, self-reliant Ukraine ready for recovery and long-term growth.

Key Initiatives

Strengthening Government and Public Institutions: IREX partners with Ukraine's national ministries and local governments—15 ministries and more than 1,250 local governments—to deliver the digital tools and emergency systems the country relies on every day. IREX designs and deploys secure communications, cybersecurity, and digital platforms that connect citizens with the public services. We equip and train national emergency responders in life-saving skills, robotic demining, and rapid response so Ukrainian institutions can safeguard communities under pressure. As these systems take hold, IREX transfers ownership to Ukrainian institutions to lead and sustain them.

Veterans Rehabilitation and Reintegration: With Ukraine projected to have approximately 2 million veterans—roughly 10% of the population—alongside millions of family members, IREX helps build the national systems that support their return to civilian life at scale. Working with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, veteran-serving organizations, and local partners, IREX strengthens digital services, rehabilitation and mental health care, and legal aid so veterans can access benefits, rebuild stable livelihoods, and lead in their communities. Today, 61% of participants in IREX's veteran programs achieve positive career outcomes. IREX helped establish Ukraine's official Veterans eRegistry—now managed by the Ministry and used by more than 700,000 veterans and family members—and drafted Ukraine's Law on Veterans' Entrepreneurship, the country's first legal framework for state support to veteran-owned businesses. Every second Ukrainian veteran now uses IREX-supported e-services to access the benefits and support they've earned.

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.

Critical Information Engagement and Media Support: In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, IREX has reached more than 6,100 teachers, 2,800 schools, and 460,000 students to strengthen critical information engagement, critical thinking, and AI/digital literacy — contributing to systems-level changes that build information resilience on a local, regional, and national scale. As a result, 75% of participating youth improve how they consume and evaluate information. IREX supports teachers in addressing learning losses and brings new approaches to education, including trauma-informed teaching and career-oriented instruction aligned with the national education reform agenda. Beyond the classroom, IREX sustains frontline independent media outlets through rapid, flexible financial assistance that allows them to deliver critical news and information to regions experiencing active combat, occupation, and severe infrastructure disruption.

Engaging Youth and Strengthening Community Cohesion: IREX helps young people and displaced families take an active role in their communities' recovery and shape decisions about their future. Working with local governments, schools, and civil society, IREX equips youth with the leadership, civic, and problem-solving skills to contribute to local development—and supports internally displaced people as they put down roots, access services, and rebuild their livelihoods in host communities. 84% of participants in IREX trainings go on to engage in local and national problem-solving. By connecting young people, IDPs, and local authorities around shared priorities, IREX strengthens the social cohesion and local leadership that help Ukrainian communities stay resilient, self-reliant, and united through the pressures of war.