During the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2024), the pilot project Create Ukraine was launched to facilitate the return of Ukrainian professionals currently living abroad.
A memorandum was signed in Berlin between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Kyiv School of Economics Charity Foundation (KSE Foundation), and the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency, marking the official start of the initiative.
As part of Create Ukraine, Ukrainians residing abroad will have the opportunity to return and work in project teams within Ukrainian government institutions.
“According to various estimates, up to 6.5 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homeland. My key message to them is simple: Ukraine is waiting for you, and we need you here. The experience and skills you’ve gained abroad are invaluable for our future. That’s why we encourage you to apply for the Create Ukraine program. Join the government team, use your expertise to strengthen our country, and make a real impact on the lives of millions during this critical time,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine — Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
“Preserving and developing human capital is at the core of KSE Foundation’s mission. For years, we have supported and provided growth opportunities for talented Ukrainians through various initiatives. We believe in the strength and intelligence of our people. Your knowledge is essential for Ukraine’s development, and Create Ukraine offers a unique chance to apply it directly in state reforms. This is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to economic transformation during wartime,” added Svitlana Denysenko, Director of KSE Foundation.
The Create Ukraine project is modeled after the successful Create Lithuania program, which has been running since 2012. The Lithuanian initiative enables professionals with international experience to contribute to the country’s future through their knowledge and ideas. Participants work in the public sector for a year, focusing on areas such as digitalization, e-governance, competitiveness, business environment, and public administration — particularly in innovation, sustainable development, and mental health.
“After returning to my home country to participate in Create Lithuania, I was able to apply my international experience in the public sector and later continued working at the Central Project Management Agency. Through my involvement in Ukrainian projects, I realized that a program like Create Ukraine is exactly what Ukraine needs right now,” said Dalia Krapavickaitė, Project Manager at the Central Project Management Agency (CPMA, Lithuania).
The pilot project Create Ukraine is developed within Phase III of the EU4Youth program, funded by the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.