Kyiv, 11 September 2026 – A third cohort of 25 women specialists has completed the “UNDP: Leadership Programme for Women Involved in Digitalisation of Public Services” programme, which is being implemented by CDTO Campus and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine. 

Over the course of four months, the participants deepened their knowledge of public sector digitalisation and developed their leadership and management skills.

The programme helps women working on the digitalisation of government services develop the professional competencies, effective management skills, and personal development tools necessary for further career growth. It also aims to increase the representation of women in leadership positions within the public sector. According to the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, women hold around 75% of civil service positions; however, they remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles.

The third cohort of 25 women specialists was drawn from central and regional government bodies, as well as international projects and local authorities involved in the digitalisation of public services. Over four months, the trainees attended 16 weekly webinars on the digitalisation of public administration, alongside three training sessions focused on leadership and team development, intercultural communication, and public speaking.

“We want women who work every day on the digitalisation of public services to see more opportunities for professional development and leadership,” said Ruslana Korenchuk, CEO of Diia.Education and CDTO Campus.

“The leadership programme gives them not only new knowledge and management tools, but also a strong professional network where they can exchange experience, find support, and drive change in the public sector together.”

“Gender equality and ensuring equal rights for all people is a core value for us at UNDP,” said Olena Ursu, UNDP Ukraine Project Team Leader for Democratic Governance.

“Together with CDTO Campus and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, we’re delighted to implement an initiative that contributes to increasing the representation of women in senior civil service roles. This will ensure that policies and products developed at the highest level are inclusive and address the needs of all citizens.” 

Programme graduates, including Olena Kolodii, Chief Specialist of the Department of Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalisation of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration, also shared their feedback after completing the training. “The Leadership Programme was very valuable because it brought together women leaders from across Ukraine and gave us a platform for communication, exchanging experience, and, most importantly, gaining new knowledge and skills that we can now use in our work and share with our colleagues,” said Kolodii. 

Svitlana Hlushanovska, Deputy Head of Division – Unit Head at the Department of State Registration of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, also said it was important that the programme brought together many participants from different regions of the country who are engaged in digitalising public services. “This gave us the opportunity to communicate and share experiences, challenges, and problems we face at work,” Hlushanovska said. “As a result, I gained inspiration and a clearer understanding of my future development.”

The programme was implemented as part of the DIA Support Project, which is implemented by UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from Sweden, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and CDTO Campus.

UNDP Ukraine launched the programme in 2022 with Swedish funding. Since 2024, the programme has been delivered in partnership with CDTO Campus, an educational initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Over the past three years, 63 women specialists have completed the programme, three of whom subsequently went on to occupy deputy minister positions.

Media inquiries

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications and Advocacy, UNDP Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org