About 74% of surveyed Ukrainian businesswomen started their businesses in search of opportunities. These findings are based on the results of the study "Needs and Challenges of Ukrainian Businesswomen in the Conditions of Full-Scale War."
The study aims to analyze the state of women's entrepreneurship in Ukraine, particularly microenterprises and small to medium-sized businesses. It also explores the needs and challenges of businesswomen, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups.
The researchers identified a typical profile of a Ukrainian businesswoman: a 36-year-old woman with around 6 years of business experience, a low level of trust in the government and credit institutions, who started her own business for self-realization.
"The development of women's entrepreneurship is a priority focus of our work within the national project Diia.Business. Since February 2023, every second new private entrepreneur in Ukraine is a woman. That is why we are creating support programs such as the acceleration program 'Brave,' 'Own,' 'Start,' and the educational grant program 'Strength.' We have also dedicated a separate section to women's entrepreneurship on the Diia.Business portal. Over the year, more than 72,000 Ukrainians have used the services of Diia.Business. To better understand the needs and challenges of entrepreneurs, we conducted a study, the results of which will help us effectively implement initiatives to support women and understand the priorities of Ukrainian entrepreneurs," said Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration.
The research identified that the majority of surveyed Ukrainian women, 57%, reported experiencing manifestations of gender discrimination. This discrimination was most frequently observed in "predominantly male" business sectors (66%). Common situations included the non-recognition of women as entrepreneurs, doubts about their qualifications, and a lack of acceptance as leaders.
"The engagement of women in the labor market and entrepreneurship is a major priority for the state. That's why the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is implementing a series of initiatives to achieve this goal. One such initiative is the grant program 'Own Business,' where 55% of grant recipients are women. Additionally, the Ministry of Economy provides a program for veterans, female veterans, and spouses. Here, female veterans and wives of veterans received 48% of all grants. Simultaneously, the adoption of the new Labor Code, currently being developed by the Ministry of Economy, will enable the implementation of flexible forms of employment to facilitate the inclusion of women in the labor market. These comprehensive solutions by the Ministry of Economy aim to increase the economic activity of women, which is crucial given the predominantly male mobilization and the significant number of Ukrainian women abroad," added Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine.
According to the survey, Ukrainian businesswomen identify the following key challenges:
- Consequences of the economic crisis (44%)
- Frequent changes in legislation and the tax system (28%)
- High competition (31%)
- Communication and energy supply disruptions (24%)
- Corruption and regulatory inspections (20%)
Vulnerable groups of entrepreneurs face additional difficulties:
- Women in rural areas: Lack of labor, limited access to resources, and the need for interaction with local authorities.
- Entrepreneurs with disabilities: Lack of proper support for disabilities, mistrust in the government and assistance at other levels.
- Women veterans: Challenges in transforming military experience into business management, and attempts to rebuild or establish supply systems and partnerships with limited access to external funding.
"The British Government supports entrepreneurs in Ukraine through targeted initiatives and collaborations, such as the Educational Program for Entrepreneurs 'Grow,' which has already assisted fifteen entrepreneurs residing in war-affected communities. Program participants learned how to enhance business efficiency through effective management and secure grant funding for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. Our goal is to help these women increase their already significant contributions to the Ukrainian economy and promote the creation of a more egalitarian society," stated Wendy De Luca, Head of the Effective Governance Fund in Ukraine, Embassy of the United Kingdom in Kyiv.
Additionally, the research revealed that around 47% of respondents utilize the DÑ–ia.BUsiness resource. Among them, 19% use it for consultations, 16% for taking online courses and seeking business ideas, and 15% for exploring financial opportunities.
