The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have concluded the School for Social Sector Managers, a training programme for administrative teams from Cherkasy, Chernivtsi and Odesa oblasts in Ukraine, the EU Delegation to Ukraine announced on 12 June 2026. The initiative equipped more than 120 participants — including deputy heads of local authorities, heads of municipal and non-governmental service providers, and social protection and finance specialists — with skills to design social service projects, opening opportunities for further investments and partnerships.
The programme, implemented under UNDP’s area-based recovery approach, consisted of four modules combining five-day practical training, thematic webinars, individual and group consultations, and final project presentations. Participants strengthened their knowledge of state social service standards, case management tools, early identification of difficult life circumstances and inter-agency cooperation. Each team developed a project proposal ready for implementation of targeted social services in their communities.
The initiative aligns with Ukraine’s national priorities for reforming the social protection system and aims to improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations, including internally displaced people, veterans, older adults and other war-affected groups.
Ihor Ilchenko, Acting Head of the National Social Service of Ukraine, said that local communities are key actors in delivering social services and that the project initiatives developed are an important step towards systemic change at local level. Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stressed that the EU considers supporting social services reform a priority because it directly affects people’s quality of life and helps align services with European standards. Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, noted that the EU4Recovery partnership supports participants from project ideas to practical implementation, bringing together international support, local initiative and national priorities.
The School for Social Sector Managers was organized in partnership with the National Social Service of Ukraine, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi and Odesa Oblast Administrations, the Social Synergy NGO and the TrainingBOX International School of Training and Supervision, as part of the EU4Recovery flagship partnership between the EU and UNDP.