The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with support from the Governments of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, announces the launch of a new application round for veterans to a training programme for non-technical survey (NTS) and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) specialists. Upon successful completion, the trainees will receive official employment in communities across Kharkiv Oblast.

Kharkiv Oblast has been selected as the pilot location of the programme. It remains one of the most heavily explosives-contaminated areas in Ukraine: since the start of the full-scale invasion, 1,369 people have been injured by explosive devices, 427 (31%) of them in Kharkiv Oblast alone. The scale of contamination and the number of casualties underscore the urgent need to strengthen humanitarian demining capacities.

The three-week training course will combine theoretical modules, practical field exercises, safety procedure training, and work with digital tools – including IMSMA Core and Survey123. After completing the programme, participants will be officially employed for 12 months as specialists conducting non-technical surveys and delivering risk education on mine safety.

Applications can be made via this link: https://www.work.ua/jobs/6943195/ 

Applications are encouraged from veterans motivated to work in humanitarian demining, including veterans with disabilities. A total of 40 veterans will be selected to form 10 non-technical survey and risk education teams.

This intake builds on earlier progress: 22 veterans have already completed the programme, 11 of whom are now employed in the humanitarian demining sector. This new phase of training will enable more veterans to contribute to clearing contaminated territories and strengthening community safety.

The project is implemented by UNDP in Ukraine with support from the Governments of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and the Kharkiv Centre for Mine Action Coordination. The operational delivery of the training programme is ensured by the state enterprise “Ukroboronservice”.