MoES continues partnership with UNICEF: children and youth to gain new opportunities for learning and skills development
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine continues its strong cooperation with UNICEF to provide comprehensive support to children, pupils and educators. During a meeting between Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, and the UNICEF Representative to Ukraine, Anne-Claire Dufay, the parties signed the 2026 Annual Work Plan. This forms part of the 2025 to 2029 Government of Ukraine and UNICEF joint country programme.
UNICEF is one of the largest partners providing systematic support to Ukraine’s education sector. The strategic collaboration with UNICEF focuses on three key areas:
Early childhood education and care to expand equitable access to quality early learning and to support the implementation of the new Preschool Education Law and broader reform.
Primary and secondary education that focuses on learning recovery, safe and inclusive learning environments, and integrated mental health and psychosocial support for children affected by the war.
Learning to earning, to strengthen career guidance and skills development to prepare adolescents for future education and employment.
These priorities are reinforced through cross-cutting investments in inclusive education, digital transformation, sector planning and innovation, and education in emergencies.
With UNICEF support, in 2026, it is planned to reach around one million children through formal and non-formal education, including early childhood development, and to provide young people with opportunities for skills development.
“UNICEF is one of the key partners of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, providing consistent support to the education system. Our cooperation in 2026 focuses on access to education for children, support for teachers, schools and kindergartens, energy resilience of education institutions, addressing learning losses, and strengthening the capacity of the education system at the community level. I am grateful to UNICEF for long-standing cooperation that enables the changes needed today,” said Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi.
“For children in Ukraine, education in safe environments provides a sense of relief, normalcy, and hope to realize their aspirations in life, said Anne-Claire Dufay, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine. UNICEF supports the Government in ensuring that every child and young person, regardless of their circumstances, can access quality and inclusive learning to build their skills and improve their social and emotional wellbeing” added Anne-Claire Dufay.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is grateful to UNICEF for its consistent support and partnership in strengthening education in Ukraine.