GUP: Support Program for Ukrainian Refugee Women in Georgia

The GUP is an organization supporting Ukrainian communities in Georgia, including people displaced by the war in Ukraine. Through its initiatives, GUP provides a range of support aimed at helping Ukrainians adapt to life in Georgia, access essential services and opportunities, and strengthen their social and economic integration. For this program, GUP partnered with UN Women to deliver targeted support to Ukrainian refugee women living in Georgia.

Ukrainian refugee women faced multiple challenges in rebuilding their personal and professional lives in Georgia. Beyond language barriers and social integration, many needed support to navigate the local labor market, identify sustainable income opportunities, and understand the Georgian business environment.

Entrepreneurship presented additional challenges, as many women required support in transforming early-stage ideas into viable and sustainable businesses.

Civitta supported the self-employment and employment component of the program, equipping Ukrainian refugee women with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities or successfully enter the workforce. As part of this effort, Civitta designed and delivered a tailored entrepreneurship sub-program, which consisted of training sessions and workshops led by experts from diverse fields.

The sub-program guided participants through the full entrepreneurial journey, from developing an initial idea to preparing for implementation. Sessions combined expert guidance with hands-on exercises, allowing participants to apply newly acquired knowledge directly to their own business ideas. The sub-program culminated in a Demo Day, where participants presented their business concepts and received expert feedback.

To further support the Ukrainian refugee women in turning their ideas into viable businesses, the self-employment and employment component also included a grant initiative, funded by the Embassy of Japan through UN Women Georgia. The grants provided financial support to help participants launch new businesses or strengthen existing ventures.

The entrepreneurship sub-program helped participants build the skills and confidence needed to pursue self-employment and professional opportunities in Georgia. It was comprised of five modules, each attended by approximately 20–25 participants. 

The sub-program enabled Ukrainian refugee women to apply their newly acquired skills by developing and submitting their business ideas for grant funding. Participants submitted 35 business applications, which were assessed through an evaluation and interview process, resulting in 12 projects being selected for financial support.

1. Combining practical skills with access to finance creates a stronger pathway from business ideas to implementation.
2. Hands-on, applied learning is particularly valuable when participants have different levels of entrepreneurial experience and readiness.
3. Entrepreneurship support should extend beyond training to include practical guidance and resources for implementation.