The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine, the Canadian NGO SOCODEVI, and the Dnipro Regional NGO Agricultural Advisory Service have agreed to cooperate in the field of agriculture to support the population affected by the hostilities. According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the implementation of the WeProsper project will be an important step in the restoration and development of entrepreneurship in rural areas.
The main objectives of the project
- Engaging agricultural producers in entrepreneurship:
Support for entrepreneurship in four regions of Ukraine – Poltava, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv. - Increasing women’s economic empowerment:
- Creating conditions for individual production activities.
- Formation of agricultural cooperatives.
- Involvement of women in the socio-economic development of the regions.
- Funding:
The project will be implemented through grant support from the Government of Canada on a non-refundable basis. - Education and training:
- 700 people (75% women) were trained in climate-smart agriculture.
- 144 board members and employees of cooperatives were trained in effective management.
- The Rural Women’s Business Network has reached about 1,000 participants through educational programmes.
Project focus
The WeProsper project focuses on three key value chains:
- Dairy sector.
- Vegetable and berry sectors.
- Grain sector.
The role of the agricultural sector in Ukraine’s economy
Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy, stressed the importance of the cooperative movement for the stability of rural areas. He noted that about 14 million Ukrainians are involved in agriculture, and 5 million are directly employed in this sector. Women’s leadership is also important, as they actively contribute to the development of the agricultural sector.
Canada’s position
SOCODEVI representatives confirmed that Canada plans to continue supporting the Ukrainian agricultural sector, especially small and medium-sized farming. Particular attention will be paid to gender equality in this area.
WeProsper demonstrates significant potential to strengthen rural communities, increase employment and develop entrepreneurship, even in difficult war conditions.
