Kyiv, 19 February 2019 – Today the launch of a joint GIZ/UNDP project and the beginning of an online course by the Open University of Maidan was announced. The ‘E-learning for Sustainable Development’ Project – implemented by UNDP with financial support from the German Government via Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – will improve access to e-learning on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Ukrainian civil servants, the business community and civic leaders. Developed in cooperation with national and international partners, the Project is intended to increase awareness about sustainable development among these target groups. The total budget of the Project is EUR 200,000.

“We proudly announce the continuation of our successful cooperation with UNDP as one of the most experienced global players in supporting the SDGs and the Agenda 2030 in Ukraine: internationally recognized, forward looking and absolutely innovative. Due to this, our contributions to UNDP are increasing with every contract that is being signed. With the help of this grant agreement UNDP will be able to work with utmost flexibility and creativity in order to achieve excellent results and to make this E-learning tool successful”, said Volker Bode, Deputy Country Director of GIZ in Ukraine.

Over 18 months of project implementation, 30 trainers will be trained to support e-learning, and the development of three targeted e-courses will be supported. It is planned that at least 1,000 people will have taken the e-courses by the end of the Project.

“In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in Agenda 2030, truly transformational changes are required. Governments, businesses and civil society all have their important part to play and must work together to address the enormous complexity of today’s challenges. This also requires new skill sets, new knowledge as well as attitudes, values and forms of collaboration.” said Marcus Brand, UNDP Team Leader Democratic Governance.

 “Linking up to our global network, UNDP Ukraine provides support the Government of Ukraine, and in particular to civil servants, the business community, academia and civil society activists to join together to become change-makers in their respective areas. Together with our partners from GIZ, UNDP is now launching a new project that will not only contribute to the sharing of knowledge about the various aspects of sustainable development, but will also strive to enhance the values and principles that Agenda 2030 is built upon. We believe that – by developing competencies and mindsets that empower decision-makers – this project will become a real accelerator for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,’ Brand added.

A new online Open University of Maidan course ‘Sustainable Development as a New Philosophy of Thinking’ invites participants to find out more about the main principles of sustainable development, Agenda 2030 and Ukraine’s plan for realizing the SDGs.

For additional information, please contact Tetyana Diyeva at tetyana.diyeva@undp.org or +38 050 446 50 04