Ukrainian women will be able to become project managers in solar energy for free

The Ukrainian charitable organization Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is launching a training course aimed at engaging women in the solar energy sector. This is a unique educational course whose goal is retraining and opening new professional opportunities as project managers in the solar energy sector for women. This project is implemented with the support of Mercy Corps. 

In wartime conditions, women have become drivers of change, many have lost their jobs or have been forced to become the sole breadwinners in their families. That is why the course from the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation offers not just knowledge, but a path to a stable future: retraining for a new, in-demand, and well-paid field — solar energy. The training course is being developed by solar energy experts in collaboration with an educational partner — one of the top schools in Central and Eastern Europe, KSE (Kyiv School of Economics), to provide the most up-to-date knowledge and skills for effective future career development. Training is set to begin in November 2025, with the course announcement to appear on the foundation’s social media page.  

The course will last three months, be delivered in a hybrid format, and aims to support the employment of its graduates.   

“For us, it is important not only to talk about the need for renewable energy but also to create real opportunities for those ready to join this sector. We believe that women can become a driving force for change in this industry if the barriers in their path are removed. The movement to support women in solar energy represents a step toward a deeper understanding that, amid the current crisis and challenges of war, women face unusual obstacles, but also unique opportunities, including in solar energy. Our task is to help them,” said Yuliana Onishchuk, CEO & Founder of the Foundation.   

Ukraine, which has lost over 70% of its traditional energy capacities due to the war, is focusing on decentralized and renewable energy sources. This requires a new qualified workforce — especially in regions where solar power plants are becoming the foundation of communities’ energy independence. However, today, women make up only 25% of the workforce in the energy sector, mostly in administrative positions. Meanwhile, more than 75% of employers in the sector report a shortage of staff.   

Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation is changing this situation by opening doors for women to the solar energy sector and breaking down psychological barriers — fear of taking the first step, lack of confidence, and absence of role models. The course aims to build a community where participants inspire one another, gain knowledge of solar energy, become familiar with examples of successful employment, and contribute to the development of Ukraine’s sustainable energy infrastructure.   

Such retraining not only meets market needs but also serves national interests. It has an economic effect for women and their families, a social effect in the form of greater gender equality, and an environmental impact — through increasing green energy capacity. It is also an implementation of a global approach to involving underrepresented groups in the energy sector.