WISE Project Launches with a Successful Start-Up Meeting
11/06/2025
The WISE – Supporting Ukrainian (UA) Refugee Women’s Socio-Economic Integration and Wellbeing initiative, co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), held its inaugural programme launch meeting on 9–10 June in Milan, hosted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
The project introduces an innovative social model that combines mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with technology-driven employment services, creating a comprehensive support system tailored to the specific needs of displaced Ukrainian refugee women. WISE seeks to strengthen participants’ employability, enhance skills matching, foster lifelong learning, and improve access to the labour market. At the same time, it empowers them to better navigate public and community services, while bolstering their psychological and emotional wellbeing.
Collaboration for Impact
Throughout the two-day gathering, partners including EARLALL, SkillLab, IRC, PENC, LdG, and AAF had the opportunity to meet in person, build new connections, and engage in meaningful dialogue. The agenda covered project workstreams, deliverables, key deadlines, event coordination, division of responsibilities, and existing areas of expertise, as well as identifying knowledge gaps.
A central element of the discussions was the creation of the Holistic Support Centre (HSC) model. As project lead, the IRC facilitated dynamic working groups focused on adapting and contextualising the AI-based skills assessment tool and on piloting tailored one-to-one and group support activities for Ukrainian refugee women within the HSC framework.
EARLALL, in its capacity as Communication Manager, presented the overarching communication plan, which outlined essential guidelines, proposed activities, timelines, core messages, and a stakeholder mapping tool.
The second day centred on monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, also led by IRC. Partners reviewed the overall structure, set objectives, performance indicators, and methods for data verification.
The consortium also reached a shared understanding of the target group:
- Women displaced from Ukraine due to the war
- Aged 16 to 67 (with no fixed upper limit but not exceeding retirement age)
- Of working age and capable of engaging in employment
- Holding, or in the process of obtaining, a residence permit that permits work
- Excluding individuals in the host country solely for medical treatment, pregnancy, or tourism
In a separate working group, EARLALL, SkillLab, and IRC addressed crucial issues of data confidentiality, protection, and processing, which are essential to both the implementation of the HSC model and communication efforts.
Concurrently, IRC, LdG, AAF, and PENC explored outreach strategies and the best ways to involve refugee women in needs assessment activities and the co-development of the support model.
Partners also examined key methodological approaches, including trauma-informed care, user-centred design and strengths-based approaches to employment support.
Furthermore, participants were introduced to the Women Rise methodology, including its toolkit and curriculum content. Special focus was given to the MHPSS Pyramid, a core element of the WISE model.
The meeting concluded with a reflective and engaging activity – the “Wellbeing Flower” – during which each partner shared their own interpretation of wellbeing. This warm, participatory exercise provided a meaningful close to the meeting and reinforced the project’s commitment to person-centred, holistic integration pathways.
