The World Bank will support Ukraine's education system through a new initiative called the LEARN project, with available funding totaling about $415 million

Today, the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a new systemic project in Ukraine using the Program-for-Results (PforR) financial instrument, the "Lifting Education Access and Resilience in Times of Need" (LEARN). 

The available funding for the LEARN project is USD 415 million. The funds raised under the project will be transferred to the general fund of the State Budget in a certain amount under international agreements upon meeting the relevant indicators.

LEARN is aimed at supporting the education system in Ukraine:

• improving the conditions for teaching and learning, implemented through subventions from the State Budget to local budgets; 

• ensuring that students, teachers and school staff have access to safe conditions for face-to-face teaching and learning.

‘The government aims to improve and make the educational process safer under martial law. The LEARN project will help thousands of Ukrainian students return to a safe learning environment. The creation of such initiatives is an extremely timely and necessary decision to support, restore and develop key sectors of the economy and the country's well-being,’ said Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko. 

‘The World Bank's timely decisions and adaptability have helped the Government to provide citizens with proper services from the first days of the full-scale invasion. Thanks to an effective dialogue between the parties, we are implementing a number of initiatives focused on reforms, support for social and educational sectors, healthcare, the agricultural sector, as well as recovery projects,' added Deputy Minister of Finance Olga Zykova.

The project agreement is to be signed in September 2024. By the end of 2024, Ukraine will be able to receive USD 200 million to the general fund of the State Budget based on the results of meeting the pre-defined indicators. 

The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine is the responsible executor of the PforR LEARN project in terms of supervision and coordination. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine has been identified as the lead implementing agency, which will be responsible for the implementation of the LEARN Project, its monitoring and evaluation.