Solutions from Ukraine: Lviv region introduces new digital platform to aid businesses and IDPs

A new digital platform called "Oplich" has been developed in the Lviv region. It contains details about investment opportunities in the area, current international and government programs to support local and relocated businesses, and internally displaced individuals.

Ukrinform reported this.

What is the problem?

During the full-scale invasion, 237 enterprises moved to the Lviv region. The new online resource will help people who have temporarily arrived from other regions (about 200,000) integrate and successfully adapt to the region.

"When we started working with relocated businesses looking to create jobs and people who moved here and want to work, we realized how important this platform will be in the future. It's a place where people can find all the information they need," – emphasized Liubov Maksymovych, head of the NGO "Women's Perspectives."

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What is the solution?

The digital platform "Oplich" is part of a large project from the International Labor Organization designed to support local and relocated enterprises.

"It provides feedback to businesses and people who apply by completing the form. Our department will administer this digital platform," said Orest Hryniv, deputy director of the Department of Economic Policy of the Lviv Military Administration.

The idea had come about six months prior, and together with their partners, they strove to make it as convenient and uncomplicated as can be.

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As Liubov Maksymovych, head of the NGO "Women's Perspectives," noted, the digital platform is a tool for communication between those who need help and those who can provide it. We must talk about comprehensive support since representatives of various public organizations, state structures, authorities, and two territorial communities, Lviv and Morshyn, united to promote the development of the regional labor market.

How does it work?

During the Lviv Regional Military Administration presentation, IT developer Rostyslav Malynych demonstrated how to use the "Oplich" platform. You can join it now: https://cp-oplich.com/.

According to Malynych, the site has three main "features." The first is a section for business. Here, users can get complete and regularly updated information about support programs, fill out the form to get help from mentors, leave a request if there is a desire to relocate the business to the Lviv region and get a list of the areas for relocation offered.

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The second segment of the platform is specifically designed for individuals who have been displaced within their own country. They can utilize this section to access a variety of support initiatives, apply to participate, search for employment opportunities through the platform's affiliation with the local employment center, and secure housing through the available options listed.

"The last important part of the site is the possibility to leave an application for psychological and legal support and accompaniment. Specialists will contact the applicant as soon as possible after filling out the form to provide such assistance," Malynych added.

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In January 2023, the Lviv regional employment partnership "Oplich" was created. In the year since the association's foundation, several work areas have been developed; several large grant projects have been involved. A competition was held among relocated and local businesses to receive grant support as part of assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises.

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In the direction of promoting employment and self-employment of the population, 125 people completed the "Start and improve your business" course. Mentoring support for newly created businesses is also provided.

"Together with the International Labor Organization, we conducted an in-depth study called 'Skills Gap Analysis and Business Workforce Needs.' His conclusions became the basis of short-term retraining courses for residents of the Lviv region and those who moved from other regions and are looking for work. A person may not be registered at the employment center but take courses and training. We have selected four majors that are currently most in demand and signed agreements with four colleges that have updated programs for retraining specialists. Thanks to the grant, we have the funds to pay for education for 50 people who expressed a desire. Specialties include: seamstress, metalworking specialist, cook's assistant, and hotel and restaurant business administrator. And I am sure we will expand these opportunities," Maksymovych said.

The executive partner of the Project is the NGO "Women's Prospects Center."

Within the scope of the International Labor Organization Project "Inclusive labor market for job creation in Ukraine" funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Federal Government of Germany and supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.