PROJECT
INFORMATION
Geography
Focus Areas
Contact
Dmytro Prykhodko
Keywords
Summary
Ukraine’s agrifood sector stands at the heart of the country’s economy, and at the frontline of its recovery. In the face of war-related disruptions, labour shortages and rapidly changing market conditions, agrifood small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need fast, practical and accessible solutions to stay competitive and resilient.
This project supports agrifood SMEs and young professionals in Ukraine by strengthening human capital through digital learning, knowledge transfer and business matching. The initiative builds on and expands AgriAcademy, EBRD’s online learning platform for the agrifood sector, providing free, high quality, Ukrainian language training tailored to sector specific needs.
In addition to the e-learning component, the project facilitates targeted knowledge exchanges, enabling Ukrainian agribusinesses to access international best practices in dairy production, food safety and sustainable water management. By improving access to skills, innovation and practical knowhow, the project contributes to enhancing productivity, competitiveness and resilience in Ukraine’s agrifood sector, supporting both short-term adaptation and longer-term recovery.
Through online training, the aim is to support the strengthening of resilience in the agriculture and food sectors in the Ukraine, and support SMEs to enhance competitiveness and productivity.
Context
The war in Ukraine has severely disrupted the country’s economy, with small businesses, responsible for employing more than 80 percent of the workforce, hit the hardest. Many have been forced to halt operations, leaving large numbers of people without jobs or income. The agrifood sector, a cornerstone of Ukraine’s economy and a vital source of livelihood for 13 million rural residents, has suffered extensive damage.
Agricultural losses are estimated at over USD 40 billion, driven by land contamination, disrupted supply chains and reduced access to fields, with livestock production also declining significantly. Export blockades and logistical challenges have further weakened the sector, pushing many agribusinesses, especially SMEs, into financial losses.
Displacement, instability and limited resources for training have widened the capacity gap, leaving many companies unable to meet immediate or future workforce needs. Larger agribusinesses have responded by diversifying production, investing in technology and expanding employment opportunities, but such measures are often out of reach for SMEs.
To help address these challenges, the EBRD launched AgriAcademy in 2022 – the first free, agribusiness specific online learning platform in Ukraine. Developed with leading universities and local partners, it offers high-quality training in Ukrainian to strengthen skills, improve resilience and support the long-term competitiveness of the country’s SME-dominated agrifood sector.
Activities
Component 1
- Identify the most critical knowledge gaps and select topics of training to be developed and adapted to the target audience.
- Develop new or adapt existing online training materials targeting owners and employees of livestock and crop farms, SME food processors, managers, agricultural students and practitioners.
- Implement outreach activities through industry unions, dedicated events, and social media to nurture the industry union’s capacity to meet knowledge needs in specific industries.
Component 2
- Provide Ukrainian agribusinesses and dairy industry unions with access to first-hand experience in innovation and best practice in various dairy farming value chain practice, by conducting a study visit.
Component 3
- Provide Ukrainian agribusinesses and industry unions with access to first-hand experience in innovation and best practice in water management to foster innovation and transfer knowledge, by conducting a study visit.
- Inform industry players on opportunities for sustainable water management for crop irrigation using case studies in cooperation with the Ukrainian Agrarian Council.
achievements
- Eight courses equivalent to 52 hours of learning materials have been published on the AgriAcademy e-learning platform.
- A high-level international knowledge exchange to California, United States of America, was successfully delivered for 10 representatives of water users’ organizations, facilitating direct exposure to advanced water management practices, institutional models and regulatory approaches that can be adapted to the Ukrainian context.
- The published courses have received extensive professional outreach, with over 70 news publications and announcements disseminated through industry unions’ websites and sector-specific media, substantially increasing awareness, uptake and credibility among agricultural professionals and institutions.
- Strong sector visibility and recognition, being actively presented at eight sector events, strengthening stakeholder engagement and positioning the platform as a key national hub for agricultural education and knowledge exchange.
