🧩 The Challenge
In response to Ukraine’s critical labor shortage of professional commercial truck drivers, a challenge further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in partnership with the NGO Foundation for Institutional Development, has launched an initiative to train women as truck drivers—a profession traditionally dominated by men. This project seeks to address workforce shortages in the logistics sector while empowering women through targeted training and employment opportunities. The initiative is crucial for maintaining supply chains and strengthening the transport and logistics sectors now and during the recovery phase.
🛠️ The Intervention
The project equips women with training, reskilling, exam preparation, soft skills development, and mentorship throughout the process of obtaining their driving licenses, followed by job placement in logistics companies. Over 1,000 women applied for the program, which had only 120 available spots, and 30 transport and logistics companies have expressed interest in hiring, underscoring the critical importance of this initiative for both employees and employers. As of March, 2025, more than 60 women have already obtained their driver’s licenses and begun the employment process (18 women are already employed).
đź“Ś Conclusion
By providing training, reskilling, and job placement in critical transport roles, the She Trucker program not only sustains essential services but also empowers women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. This initiative tackles Ukraine’s urgent labor shortages while building the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient workforce. To ensure its long-term sustainability, it is essential to establish a comprehensive system for training and certifying both drivers and instructors—aligned with European standards, modern teaching methodologies, and innovative technologies—and to expand the initiative nationwide.
Note: Inna Hanushevych, Project Manager, Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, provided this case study.