On October 30–31, the KSE Foundation team and winners of the Create Ukraine program visited Lithuania to exchange experience and establish cooperation with local government institutions, civil society organizations, and the Ukrainian diaspora.
The visit included several key meetings and events:
- Participation in the Building Resilience Through International Partnership conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania;
- A meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine;
- A visit to the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), the Lithuanian organization that initiated the Create Ukraine program.
During the conference, Svitlana Denysenko, Director of KSE Foundation, took part in a discussion on Ukraine’s recovery through international collaboration. Three key areas were identified as crucial for overcoming economic challenges:
- International macroeconomic support
- Investment in Ukrainian businesses and export development
- Human capital development
Human capital development is a key priority for KSE Foundation. Through international partnerships, the Foundation has raised over $100 million to support Ukraine, launched grant programs for youth, veterans, and entrepreneurs, and systematically invests in saving lives and strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. One of the strategic initiatives implemented in cooperation with Lithuania is the Create Ukraine program.
Svitlana Denysenko, Director of KSE Foundation: “Initiatives like Create Ukraine — a program that brings Ukrainian professionals back to work on reforms — are crucial for Ukraine today, as people are the driving force of change. Thanks to the support of CPVA, the Lithuanian government, and EU funding, a team of highly skilled and motivated changemakers has returned to Ukraine. They will continue to develop their expertise through training programs at the Kyiv School of Economics and become catalysts for economic transformation in Ukraine.”
This October, 10 winners of the Create Ukraine program returned to Ukraine and joined the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, where they are working alongside government leadership to integrate their international experience into state processes. The program is co-funded by the EU and the Government of Lithuania under the EU4Youth initiative and is implemented by KSE Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.
Lidija Kašubienė, Director of CPVA: “It is critically important for Ukraine to have a strong public sector capable of overcoming the exceptional challenges caused by war. As an EU candidate country, Ukraine must also carry out necessary reforms. We are proud that the Create Ukraine initiative will contribute to strengthening Ukraine’s public sector and driving meaningful change.”
Lithuanian partners from the Kurk Lietuvai program, which served as a model for Create Ukraine, shared their experience in implementing reforms in investment, government technology, and social policy.
Beyond official meetings, participants had the opportunity to engage with the Invest Lithuania team and the Ukrainian community at Ukreate Hub, fostering stronger ties between the countries and expanding opportunities for future collaboration.
The Create Ukraine program is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Lithuania within the framework of the EU4Youth program, aimed at supporting young people. The project is managed by the Lithuanian organization Central Project Management Agency and implemented by the KSE Foundation at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.