Germany and Allies Launch Initiative to Train 180,000 Workers for Ukraine’s Reconstruction Efforts

Germany and over 50 international organizations, countries and companies have launched an initiative to train and upskill qualified workers for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The initiative was announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday, June 11, by German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze.

According to Schulze, the plan is to train 180,000 specialists to help Ukraine rebuild its destroyed power lines, hospitals and buildings.

“Every day Russia destroys buildings, hospitals and power lines in its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. It is targeting the daily life of all Ukrainians. In order to live, Ukraine needs to rebuild what has been destroyed. And for this, Ukraine needs skilled workers: electricians, engineers and architects, as well as doctors and psychologists. That is why we are launching the Skills Alliance for Ukraine today. In this way, we are giving Ukraine critical support in times of war, as well as supporting its recovery. No matter how often Russia destroys power lines, hospitals or buildings, Ukrainians will have the knowledge and skills to rebuild them,” Schulze explained.

Members of the Skills Alliance for Ukraine will allocate over 700 million euros to implement this initiative. The program will run for three years and will focus primarily on youth, women and internally displaced persons.

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that in addition to the most urgent needs to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by Russia, Germany wants to be a partner in the long-term reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference is being held in the lead-up to Summit on Peace for Ukraine, which will take place in Switzerland on June 15-16. According to Switzerland’s president, nearly 90 countries and organizations, have confirmed attending the summit.