Dear friends,
This year marks the seventh time we recognize businesses that work in partnership to advance sustainable development. Over the years, we have seen how collaborative initiatives generate greater impact, broader reach, and deeper engagement. What began as a competition focused solely on Ukrainian projects has grown into a global initiative, now attracting participants from more than 20 countries. Our distinguished jury evaluates Ukrainian submissions alongside international ones, and we are proud to see how highly our projects are evaluated.
The number of submissions continues to grow each year. More than 90 cases reached the final stage and are featured in this booklet. These projects inspire, set examples worth following, and demonstrate what meaningful partnership can achieve. We are proud that the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine serves as a platform bringing together a broad range of stakeholders, from large and small businesses to civil society organizations, local authorities, and the academic sector, and that these collaborations strengthen the impact of every project.
This year, we are also pleased to share the stories of our own partnerships and the results we have already achieved:
ESG 360º School is the first comprehensive educational program in Ukraine that offers a complete understanding of ESG: what the principles encompass, how to implement them in practice, and how to report on them effectively. This project is supported by leading international organizations:
– Environmental track is supported by the FCDO
– Social track is supported by the UNDP Ukraine and funded by the Government of Japan within the project “Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine.”
– Governance track is supported by the United Nations Global Compact.
SPP Development Ukraine and MHP are the principal business partners. Additionally, our partners are Syngenta Ukraine, EPAM Ukraine, Deloitte Ukraine, and Interpipe.
More than 40 representatives from companies and organisations contributed to the development of the program’s concept, and over 20 businesses provided practical case studies. Together, we are shaping the ESG culture within the Ukrainian business community.
Energy Online College “Energetyk” — Last year, as part of the Ukrainian Energy Initiative, we conducted a study among energy companies to identify which specialists the sector lacks, how many young people choose technical and energy-related fields, and whether this aligns with the sector’s needs. The findings were alarming: the sector is facing a critical shortage of qualified professionals. In 2025, the UN Global Compact Network Ukraine partnered with DTEK company and the Optima School to launch an online educational program “Energetyk”. The program is designed to attract young people to energy professions and help those already working in related fields retrain. In just one month, we received over 300 registrations, and more than 80 participants have already earned their certificates. Importantly, after receiving a certificate, participants can choose a department for practical training, and upon successful completion, the company is ready to offer employment. We are currently negotiating with other energy companies to expand the number of practice sites and employment opportunities across more regions.
Mental Help — Since 2022, we have been fostering a culture of mental health support within the business community, because only a healthy person can work effectively and avoid critical mistakes in the workplace. In 2022, we launched the online platform Mental Help, through which more than 25,000 Ukrainians have received psychological support and found the strength to move forward.
In 2023, we opened the Oplich Hub community center in frontline Zaporizhzhia city, which has already supported more than 23,000 people. Every day, we receive messages from visitors saying that the hub has become a true place of strength and recovery — a space where they can regain balance after loss, cope with displacement from occupied territories, find support among people with similar experiences, and build new friendships.
The hub offers dedicated programs for veterans, young children, and teenagers, as well as career guidance for youth, art therapy, puppet therapy, yoga, neuromuscular exercises, and both group and individual counseling sessions.
Over the years, we have engaged a diverse community of partners and donors who have strengthened this project in meaningful ways. We have collaborated with international experts experienced in developing non-pharmacological support programs for people living with psychological challenges. We have worked with donors of all sizes, and the project has received support from both Ukrainian and international companies. Our priority now is to ensure the project’s continuous operation, because it remains critically important for people living in frontline regions. I warmly invite everyone who cares to join us. We are always open to sharing our experience, introducing you to our visitors and our dedicated team, and continuing to build strong, long-term partnerships together.
Drawing on our experience implementing mental health support initiatives, we work with businesses to emphasise the urgency and necessity of integrating this topic as a core element of their operations within the Social (“S”) dimension of ESG. Ukraine’s experience should serve as an example for the global community, demonstrating how a corporate culture that prioritizes mental well-being strengthens company performance, boosts employee engagement, and reduces staff turnover. Support is becoming the new norm. Our goal is to ensure that mental health becomes an integral part of the Social component globally. We can achieve this goal only through partnership, by promoting and advancing this topic together. If you have insights or experience to share, I would be delighted to continue the conversation.
The seventeenth Sustainable Development Goal stands for Partnership. It is no coincidence that all countries included it in their development agenda for 2030. Only through partnership can we move forward, even when it is difficult and when stopping seems easier. The very presence of a partner propels us ahead. Through partnership, we can achieve ambitious goals by combining resources and strengths. And it is through partnership that we transform aspirations into tangible change.
— Towards a corporate culture that incorporates mental health
— ESG and Mental Health: The Next Frontier in Social Responsibility
— Incorporating mental health into ESG strategies is a strategic advantage. Addressing mental health can enhance employee well-being, improve corporate performance, and drive long-term success.
Warm regards,
Tetiana Sakharuk
CEO, UN Global Compact Network Ukraine