Case study: Private-sector initiative for Ukrainian refugee integration

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which prompted the biggest displacement of people in Europe since World War II, in 2023, the EBRD launched a new initiative to support the economic integration of Ukrainian refugees in Croatia. 

The project builds on previous initiatives by EBRD retail and food-industry clients in Croatia, offering employment assistance to Ukrainian refugees, most of whom are women. 

The initiative is a win-win – benefiting both displaced Ukrainians and the Croatian economy by filling vacancies in the retail, hospitality and information technology (IT) sectors. This project is supported by the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund.  

Engaging civil society, delivering impact 

The project was delivered by two CSOs – the SVOJA Association and the SOLIDARNA Foundation – showing how civil society can and should be key to tackling complex community challenges. 

The butterfly effect

The initiative provided capacity-building assistance to the SVOJA Association, a Croatia-based organisation established by Ukrainian women refugees. This small investment has helped SVOJA to assist thousands of Ukrainian refugee job-seekers. A small investment today can yield far-reaching results tomorrow.  

Meaningful partnerships 

The project’s success is down to close partnerships with the private sector. More than 80 Croatian private-sector companies and associations engaged in promoting employment and self-employment opportunities for Ukrainian refugees across Croatia. This private sector-civil society collaboration proved instrumental for local communities.