Svidomo Made – New Project to Support Small and Medium Enterprises in Ukraine
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mission in Ukraine, in cooperation with the Public Association “Made in Ukraine” launches a project to promote sustainable production and consumption “Consciously Made in Ukraine (Svidomo Made)”. The project is supported by the IOM International Development Fund (IDF).
What?
The goal of Svidomo Made project is to support Ukrainian business on a way towards sustainable development and responsible production, to raise awareness of Ukrainian citizens of responsible consumption and to draw attention to the problem of labour exploitation and human trafficking. The project will last from November 2020 until October 2021.
The key stakeholders of the project are the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture and its Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Office.
Svidomo Made is based on a concept of sustainable development and consumption, which covers six main aspects:
- Decent pay
- Respect for human rights
- Safe workplace
- Abolition of child labour and exploitation of workers
- Supply chain transparency
- Environmental safety and protection
How?
Equipped with international experience and world best practices, Svidomo Made project will engage a team of experts in each of the six sustainable production aspects. Experts will be providing consultations and teach small and medium enterprises of Ukraine how to be a sustainable business.
Responsible businesses that meet mentioned standards will be awarded with the quality mark to label their products. This mark will symbolize their belonging to the Svidomo Made community, which will unite national small and medium enterprises that adhere to the ideology of sustainable development.
An educational platform for promotion of responsible production and consumption, as well as B2B cooperation, will be created within the project.
The project also envisages a large-scale information campaign on responsible production and consumption.
Why?
Svidomo Made is useful for business as it can help associate a brand with honest work, reliability and openness. Social responsibility boosts brand reputation and recognition among consumers. The project will also help increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian business in the European market, where the concept of corporate sustainability is the norm, and the sustainable living practices affect the buying behaviour of consumers who choose ethically produced goods and services. According to the studies, 64 per cent of consumers around the world will buy or boycott a brand solely because of its position on a social or political issue[1].
The project will enhance the involvement of Ukrainian small and medium enterprises in helping achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and human rights protection initiatives, including tackling the demand side of labour exploitation and human trafficking. The project outcomes are expected to contribute to existing government efforts in achieving SDGs and the promotion of sustainable business environment, including through ethical recruitment and respect for labour rights and equal opportunities for men and women. It will also contribute to reinforcement of public-private partnerships in Ukraine in the field of counter-trafficking.
For information about the project, please contact:
Varvara Zhluktenko, IOM Ukraine Communications Officer, vzhluktenko@iom.int, +38 067 447 97 92
Yulia Savostina, Head of the Public Association "Made in Ukraine", savostina@madeinukrane.org, +38 067 236 56 89
