OPPORTUNITY project completed: Training of Trainers Manual and Start Guide for self-employed Ukrainians now available 

The Microfinance Centre is pleased to share the final results of project OPPORTUNITY – Fostering Economic and Social Wellbeing of Ukrainian Refugees in Poland and Germany through Opportunity Self-Employment Social Innovation Model, an 18-month initiative co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ Social Innovation+ programme.

Ukrainian refugees who choose self-employment in Poland and Germany bring strong skills and entrepreneurial drive, yet many face limited business experience, gaps in management skills, difficult access to capital, the absence of a supportive ecosystem and psychosocial distress. OPPORTUNITY set out to move from ad hoc assistance towards long-term, structural solutions by adapting the Opportunity Self-Employment Social Innovation Model to the Polish and German context. 

The project was led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Poland in partnership with the Microfinance Centre, IRC Germany, Perspektive neuStart e.V. and the European Humanities University (Lithuania). Together, the consortium researched existing support services for self-employed Ukrainian refugees, identified the gaps, and developed a complete training methodology for business development service (BDS) providers – combining business development, psychosocial support and social cohesion. 

MFC’s contribution 

Drawing on its long experience in financial and business inclusion, MFC co-developed the project’s training methodology. Our team led the work on the curriculum for self-employed Ukrainians and Training of Trainers Manual, as well as developed and organised the ToT equipping BDS staff to deliver practical sessions that build business skills, confidence and self-employment opportunities.  

Explore the deliverables 

Both publications are freely available on ReliefWeb: 

• Training of Trainers Manual (D003.003) – a practical guide for trainers and BDS providers on delivering the OPPORTUNITY model to refugee entrepreneurs. Available in English, Polish and German.

• Start Guide for Self-Employed Ukrainian Individuals in Poland – the curriculum for Ukrainians starting or running their own business in Poland. Available in English, Polish and Ukrainian.

We warmly thank our partners at IRC Poland, IRC Germany, Perspektive neuStart and the European Humanities University, as well as all trainers, BDS providers and Ukrainian entrepreneurs who took part in the training and roll-out.

We encourage institutions supporting refugee and migrant entrepreneurs to use and adapt these materials in their own work. 

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.