Building a Stronger, More Secure, More Connected Ukraine Together

Cisco Launches Country Digital Acceleration Program in Ukraine

Since the war in Ukraine began, Cisco has stood by the country’s side: helping defend its critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, establishing Wi-Fi connectivity for Ukrainian refugees, and providing Ukrainians with IT education to build their digital skills and employability through  Start IT. Cisco4Ukraine. Many of these initiatives were spearheaded and carefully coordinated by Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, in partnership with local ecosystem partners and supported by the Ukrainian government.

This summer, we were proud to expand on our commitment by launching the next wave of Cisco’s CDA program initiatives in Ukraine. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, CDA Vice President for EMEA Chris Reeves and I joined Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development Михайло Федоров/Mykhailo Fedorov and Deputy Minister for Eurointegration, Ministry of Digital Transformation Валерія Іонан/Valeriya Ionan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help further secure the country’s critical infrastructure, promote ubiquitous internet connectivity, and offer training in cybersecurity and networking through the Cisco Networking Academy.

Ukraine is now one of 49 countries participating in Cisco’s CDA program, a strategic partnership with government leadership to bring to life elements of a national digital agenda and create new value for a country, its industries, and citizens. As part of the program, Cisco and the Ukrainian government will collaborate on the following critical areas:

Cisco Networking Academy and Talent Bridge — Growing Ukraine’s Digital Workforce

At a time when the only constant is uncertainty, at least two things are clear: digital skills are in demand everywhere, and when the war is over, Ukraine will need a workforce ready to rebuild and protect its critical IT infrastructure from day one. To help citizens reskill and upskill for the digital economy no matter where they are, Cisco Networking Academy training courses in networking, cybersecurity, data science and more will be made available on the Diia.Education platform, Ukraine’s free digital learning hub that connects users to employers by creating individualized education roadmaps.

Cisco Networking Academy is one of the longest-standing IT skills-to-jobs programs in the world, training learners in critical digital skills and enabling them to earn industry-recognized Digital Badges and certifications that unlock employment opportunities in the digital economy. The Diia.Education platform will also connect to the Cisco Talent Bridge Matching Engine, a tool that makes it easier for HR managers to find candidates in 190 countries and helps learners find and apply for jobs that match their skill level.

Education for CDTOs — Supporting Ukraine’s Chief Digital Transformation Officers

Working with the Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT), Cisco will support the technological development of Ukraine’s Chief Digital Transformation Officers (CDTOs), the leaders of the county’s digitization efforts at the ministry and local government level. In addition to leveraging in-country resources, Networking Academy instructors, and local learning partners, Cisco will provide CDTOs with access to our offices, labs, and briefing centers across the world to learn about the latest technologies, best practices, and trends in the digitalization sector.

Collaborating with the Ministry of Digital Transformation — Helping to Protect Ukraine from Cyberthreats

We will build on our existing commitments to helping restore critical telecommunications infrastructure and protecting Ukraine’s communities from cyberthreats through Cisco security technologies and our threat intelligence team at Cisco Talos.

We’re All in This Together

Cisco’s CDA commitment is a testament to the power of working together, starting with Cisco’s team on the ground in Ukraine, who, despite extraordinarily difficult circumstances, continue to support Ukrainian customers and live up to their mission of making Ukraine “attractive, comfortable, and safe.”

Rebuilding Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and workforce requires that companies, governments, and institutions from around the world work together in new and innovative ways. This is what Cisco’s CDA program was made for. Collaboration across government, industry, and academia is in our DNA, and I’m heartened to see that our efforts are taking place against a backdrop of enormous international support.

The war in Ukraine is not over, and the road to recovery is rough. But Cisco, along with more than 400 companies from 38 countries who signed the Ukraine Business Compact, is in it for the long haul. Wıth hope and determination, we look forward to rebuilding a stronger, more connected, more secure Ukraine. Together.

“Cooperation with Cisco opens up new opportunities . It is important to pay attention to the development of human capital as countries compete for talents and specialists. The memorandum with Cisco is an investment in our future and a signal to the whole world to work with Ukraine. Jointly, we will implement technological tools and innovative solutions in educational projects, share experiences in the field of digitalization, and use the content and best practices of one of the top companies globally.”

—Михайло Федоров/Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development

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