Kyiv, 23 April 2025 — The “Foresight for the Development of the Economic Capacity of the Population” conference, held in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on 23 April, brought together representatives of government, business, academia, research institutions, and international organizations to discuss ways to strengthen human capital and enhance the economic resilience of the Ukrainian population. 

The conference was organized by the Centre for Social Change and Behavioural Economics, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and financial assistance from the Government of Japan, as part of the Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine project.

Conference participants emphasized that boosting the economic capacity of the population is vital for ensuring the state’s overall economic stability and security. Citizens’ income levels, purchasing power, and financial literacy directly impact the country’s economic growth, investment climate, and the national economy’s resilience to internal and external crises – as well as public finances through tax revenues. 

Recognizing this, UNDP supported the initiative under the Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine project, which is funded by the Government of Japan.

During the conference, its participants identified key trends, development scenarios, priorities, and opportunities for restoring and enhancing the economic capacity of Ukraine’s population. Following the conference, the experts will work on two key documents: The Green Paper (a compendium of challenges) and the White Paper (a collection of decision-making scenarios). Together with the other outcomes of the conference, these will form the foundation for a national strategy to develop the economic capacity of Ukraine’s population – an important component of the country's European integration commitments.

At the opening of the event, Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, said social policy was one of the key tools for the country’s recovery and development. 

“(This policy) must focus not only on providing support but also on ensuring the long-term sustainability of individuals’ (economic welfare),” Zholnovych said.

“People often lose economic independence – after the birth of a child, due to disability, or in old age – and one-time assistance is not enough. That’s why we’re implementing comprehensive support measures to give people a real chance of leading a full life.”

Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, added that events like the conference were of great practical value. “We’re currently working on a comprehensive employment strategy, and insights from today’s discussions will be instrumental for this work,” Berezhna said, adding, “The Ministry of Economy is responsible for the Ukraine Facility Plan, which provides EU funding conditional upon reforms, including those related to human capital development.”

Yulia Zhovtiak, Director of the State Employment Centre, noted that human capital is the primary resource for recovery. “The Public Employment Service is an integral part of policy efforts to develop this capital, offering employment support, training, retraining, and grants for entrepreneurship,” Zhovtiak said. “Work is not just a source of income – it’s the foundation of life. Today’s event generated many valuable ideas that we will incorporate into our future efforts. Sustainable progress is only possible through collective action.”

Maria Gutsman, Team Leader for the Inclusive Development, Recovery, and Peacebuilding (IDRPB) portfolio at UNDP Ukraine, emphasized that economic empowerment is key to creating a stable state with social balance, investment opportunities, and a flourishing small and medium-sized business sector. 

“Our interventions include developing a business support ecosystem, establishing Made in Ukraine regional offices – 88 in total, 13 of which were opened with support from UNDP and the Government of Japan – as well as launching 153 local entrepreneurship support points and a network of 11 Sustainable Business Hubs,” Gutsman said. 

“These initiatives foster the economic empowerment of Ukraine’s citizens through training, retraining, counselling, and mentoring.”

Media enquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org