What we do
What we do
The PROMOTE project – Highly Skilled Ukrainian and Migrant Women – aims to support the effective labour market integration of highly educated migrant women, with a focus on women from Ukraine. Despite holding advanced qualifications, many of these women face persistent barriers to meaningful employment and often remain trapped in long-term unemployment or underemployment.
At the same time, Europe is facing a severe skills shortage. According to Manpower, in 2023, 80% of employers reported difficulties in finding the skills they needed – the highest level in 17 years. PROMOTE responds to these parallel challenges by building bridges between underused talent and urgent labour market needs.
Focus areas
The PROMOTE project focuses on five key European countries – Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, and Poland – where the integration of migrant women and skilled labour shortages are both urgent and interconnected challenges.
The main objectives of the project are to:
- Identify and map the skills of highly educated migrant women, particularly from Ukraine, and the gaps in regional labour markets
- Improve employability and professional integration through tailored support and training
- Establish workplace learning and internship programmes to build practical experience and networks
- Evaluate the effectiveness of training and integration measures through a robust assessment framework
- Create a lasting support platform for advocacy, capacity-building and networking among migrant women and relevant organisations
WECF France, in cooperation with the international and German office, contributes to the project by sharing expertise on just ecological transitions and the related labour market skills, as well as by mobilising its European network of environmental actors.
Project launch and first learning event
The project officially launched with an online meeting on 4 November 2024, bringing together teams from all partner countries. The first in-person Learning and Exchange event took place shortly after, on 13–14 November in Leitrim, Ireland, hosted by MEI. During this two-day workshop, partners planned early-stage activities and engaged with Ukrainian migrant women living in the region, who shared their experiences and insights. The next Learning and Exchange event will take place in Germany at the end of 2025.
Countries
Sweden, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Spain
Partners
PROMOTE is a 30-month project funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme. It is coordinated by Folkuniversitetet (Sweden) and implemented by a diverse, interdisciplinary consortium of seven partners across Europe, bringing together NGOs, educational institutions, foundations, and private enterprises to ensure a multidimensional approach to labour market inclusion and economic empowerment.
The consortium includes:
Folkuniversitetet (Sweden): A public education association offering integration-focused language and professional training programmes
OUTSIDE Media and Knowledge (Germany): A company providing blended learning and mentoring programmes for migrants, emphasising cultural richness and lived experience
HETEL (Spain): An association delivering high-quality vocational education and professional guidance for economic migrants and refugees
Momentum Educate + Innovate – MEI (Ireland): A training organisation focused on the inclusion and empowerment of migrant women
Northern Chamber of Commerce – NCC (Poland): A business association supporting women’s employment, upskilling, and entrepreneurship
Gairmeach (Ireland): An online education provider preparing learners, including migrants and refugees, for inclusive and digital futures
WECF France: Contributing expertise on just ecological transitions and related labour market skills, and connecting the project with a European network of environmental and feminist organisations
The project team at WECF is led by Leah Khayat (WECF France), supported by Johannes Baumann and Chantal Van den Bossche from WECF’s international offices.
Timeline
November 2024 – December 2026
Donors
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