- Full name
- «Ukrainian Network of Adult Education and Development of Innovation»
- Short name
- Network for Development (UNAEDI)
- Status
- Non-profit organisation
- Founded
- 2010
- Reach
- 14 regions of Ukraine and 11 countries abroad
Small-group work: analysing the escalation of the conflict. Training under the PeaceLab project. Photo: Network for Development archive.
Mission
«Creating an enabling environment for the concentration of intellectual capital capable of generating innovation»
We work with the people who teach and support others: trainers, educators, volunteers, social workers and artists. We build learning materials together with the people they are meant for. The comics and games for displaced people were tested by 426 refugees and IDPs before we released them in five language versions.
«Promoting the development of new strategies in the fields of research, expertise and adult education»
Before we write a handbook, we find out what is missing. In the COPE project research, 61% of participants named the lack of training in trauma-informed practice as their main challenge. That research produced a handbook, a workbook, simulation scenarios and an online course.
«Protecting and representing the legitimate interests of those engaged in research, expert and educational activity»
Ukrainian educators and researchers need a seat where European decisions about adult education are made. We take part in the work of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) and the Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP), which represent the education sector before the EU institutions. That participation opens European partnerships to Ukrainian trainers and researchers, and gives Ukrainian experience a place in shared decisions.
Open space for freelancers. Coworking space in Kramatorsk, the early days. Photo: Network for Development archive.
Our story
In 2010, when lifelong learning in Ukraine was something you heard about at conferences and rarely anywhere else, we started from a simple conviction: learning does not end at 17, or at 40, or at 60. An adult needs the same things a student does — knowledge, a place to learn, and someone who says: you can do this.
The word “network” in our name is not decorative. We have never been an office with a nameplate on the door. We are living connections between people, and we prepare those who pass knowledge on — which is how a single training turns into change across a whole community.
Our story began in the east of Ukraine, and that shaped everything. In 2014, when the war uprooted hundreds of thousands of people, we warned the displaced about the risks of human trafficking and taught social workers non-violent communication. In 2015 we opened coworking spaces in Kramatorsk and Sievierodonetsk, because a person who has lost everything needs more than shelter: they need somewhere to start again.
Then came years of preparing peace multipliers — PeaceLab, Peacebuilding Dialogues, Reach Out. The Overcome Fake project added one more skill to the ability to hold a dialogue: telling truth from manipulation.
Today our focus is where education meets psychology and creativity. Through COPE we bring trauma-informed approaches to Ukrainian communities. Through Empowering Creative Minds we support artists living with trauma, helping them say through image, story and stage what words do not always reach.
Over 16 years: dozens of projects in Ukraine and Europe, partners in Germany, Poland and France, and support from Erasmus+, Creative Europe, GIZ and UNDP.
Network for Development. Because development is a direction, and a direction is set together.
European Innovative Teaching Award 2025
CATEGORY “ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP” · EUROPEAN LANGUAGE LABEL
The award went to EU-PREPARE — preparing refugees and asylum seekers for European civic and democratic values, environmental protection and the use of digital tools through visual language and gamification. Presented by the European Commission in Brussels on 15 September 2025.
Erasmus+ Bonne Pratique
EU-PREPARE also received the Erasmus+ good practice label: its methods were recognised as worth transferring to other countries.
The project was led by COTA ONG (Maisons-Alfort, France) in cooperation with JUST — Justice et Union pour la Transformation Sociale (France) and Comparative Research Network (Germany). Network for Development took part as an associated partner.
Erasmus+, 2022-1-FR01-KA210-ADU-000084537
EAEA
European Association for the Education of Adults. Represents the interests of non-formal adult education before the EU institutions.
LLLP
Lifelong Learning Platform. An umbrella body of European organisations working in education and training.
NECE
Networking European Citizenship Education. A European network of citizenship education practitioners.
EPDE
European Platform for Democratic Elections. A network of election observation organisations.
Key results
participants
delivered
and countries abroad
publications
and language versions