Supporting Early Career Researchers for Fostering Sustainable Business Models in Ukraine

Background and Purpose 

Supporting Early Career Researchers for Fostering Sustainable Business Models in Ukrainethis initiative aims to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity for Business and Human Rights (BHR) research. Running through March 2026, the project is focused on promoting sustainable, human rights-centered business models that align with international and EU standards. 

The collaboration between the National University of Law (NLU) and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) emerged from a shared commitment to advancing human rights in business practices, particularly in the challenging context of Ukraine. Recognizing the urgent need for capacity building in BHR, both institutions identified an opportunity to combine their expertise and resources to support Ukrainian researchers in enhancing their knowledge and practical research skills. This collaboration aims to develop BHR research, build networks with the business community and civil society in Ukraine, and is supported by prominent BHR scholars and practitioners who have agreed to serve as mentors for the program - Olena Uvarova, Associate Professor and Chair of the International Business and Human Rights Lab at NLU.                                              

In the context of Ukraine's recovery, responsible business conduct has become critical. Companies play a vital role in upholding human rights, yet there is a significant gap in local research exploring the business impact on these rights. 

BHR4Ukraine addresses this gap by equipping a new generation of researchers with the tools to critically assess and advocate for ethical, responsible business practices in Ukraine. 

Challenges and Opportunities in Ukraine

Challenges and Opportunities in Ukraine 

The ongoing war in Ukraine has profoundly impacted the Business and Human Rights (BHR) landscape, heightening risks and challenges for businesses operating in the region. These challenges include human rights violations, forced displacement, labor rights issues, and severe environmental damage. Companies are navigating complex ethical dilemmas, such as ensuring employee safety, providing essential goods and services to local communities, maintaining supply chains, and adhering to international human rights standards in a highly volatile environment. Despite these difficulties, there is growing awareness among businesses of the importance of integrating human rights considerations into their operations, particularly the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is actively working to promote responsible business conduct and incorporate this approach into the country’s recovery program – Olena Uvarova, Associate Professor and Chair of the International Business and Human Rights Lab at NLU.

Project Overview

Project Overview 

At the core of BHR4Ukraine is a comprehensive mentorship program designed for early-career researchers. Participants work closely with BHR experts to develop their own research proposals, with the ultimate goal of publishing their work in both local and international journals. Through this, the program seeks to make meaningful contributions to the broader body of knowledge in Business and Human Rights. The program began in June 2024, led by experts Olena Uvarova and Radu Mares.  

Our mentees establish a new generation of BHR research leaders in Ukraine with innovative mindsets looking at problems of implementation of business models that pursue sustainable development and support coherence between economic, environmental and social objectives holistically. – Olena Uvarova, Associate Professor and Chair of the International Business and Human Rights Lab at NLU.

Key Activities and Learning Opportunities

Key Activities and Learning Opportunities 

This two-year project offers a variety of learning experiences: 

  • Mentorship Program: Early-career researchers are paired with mentors who guide them through the development of research proposals focused on topics such as business ethics, human rights, and sustainable development. 
  • Webinars and Seminars: The program includes three webinars on BHR research methods and five rapid-reaction seminars on current developments in the field. Each research group will lead one seminar, encouraging active engagement and knowledge sharing. 
  • Content Creation: Participants contribute to a LinkedIn newsletter and produce a podcast series featuring interviews with experts from academia, civil society, and business. These platforms foster discussions on Business and Human Rights and help disseminate knowledge to a broader audience. 

Follow the newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bhr4ukraine-7225748724356968449/  

  • Networking: A major goal of the project is to connect Ukrainian researchers with the global BHR community. Through these networking opportunities, participants can build long-lasting relationships and collaborations that help integrate Ukrainian scholars into the international research landscape.
Partners' take on the Project

Partners’ Take on the Project 

The project aims to support Ukrainian researchers to raise their research competencies and skills, to integrate them in European and global academic dialogue and to build network between academia, business and CSOs in Ukraine. We take BHR sphere as a model case, in particular because of the importance of building Ukrainian academic potential for discovering the role of responsible business conduct for Ukraine in the recovery agenda, preparing research based on the Ukrainian local context, promoting and advocating BHR among state authorities, corporate. 

Despite a strong trend in the EU, Ukraine and the European Partnership (EaP) region in whole are still lagging behind this growing movement taking up the BHR framework as minimum standards that form the proper corporate environment for businesses to make good efforts for inclusive development and “Leave no one behind”. The important cross-cutting component of this task is that BHR offers a more practical approach and equips mentees with BHR research methodology and assists them in becoming better integrated into the global BHR research discourse. – Olena Uvarova, Associate Professor and Chair of the International Business and Human Rights Lab at NLU.

Team

Zuzana Zalanova

Zuzana Zalanova

Regional Director for Europe

Phone: +46 46 222 12 57
E-mail: zuzana.zalanova@rwi.lu.se

Ms. Zalanova has been promoting human rights, good governance, and civic engagement in various capacities in Europe and Central Asia.

Since joining RWI in 2018, she has led RWI programme in Belarus (until 2020), initiated and expanded RWI programme in Armenia, and broadened regional engagement with initiatives in Uzbekistan and the Western Balkans. Her expanding portfolio includes four projects in Ukraine, supported by sub-regional engagement in Poland and Moldova.

In 2023, Ms. Zalanova also assumed the role of Acting Executive Director of the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC), an international nongovernmental consortium established in 2002 to help coordinate and support the efforts of legal professionals to rebuild justice institutions in conflict and post-conflict countries. Through its member organisations and individuals, ILAC is comprised of more than 3 million legal professionals worldwide, including judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and court administrators.

Ms. Zalanova teaches regularly international development, human rights, and project management at three faculties of the Lund University in Sweden.

Before joining RWI, Ms. Zalanova worked for the United Nations in Ukraine, leading the UN Volunteers programme with a focus on civic and youth engagement. She previously coordinated rule of law programmes of the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) in Mongolia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, supported regional human rights and justice initiatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia, and managed the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, a platform of civil society actors from the EU and Russia.

Ms. Zalanova holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Security Studies, and a joint (bachelor’s and master’s) degree in International Relations with a specialisation in Non-Profit Management from her studies in the Czech Republic (Charles University, University of Economics) and the United Kingdom (University of Reading).

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Tatsiana Rahozina

Tanya. intern Europe Office

Tatsiana Rahozina

Junior Programme Officer

E-mail: tatsiana.rahozina@rwi.lu.se

Before joining RWI’s Europe Office, Tanya gained experience in the fields of human rights and development at the Istanbul regional hub of UNDP working with a gender equality team, the Swedish section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), MSF, and the Varieties of Democracy Institute. She holds an MSc in International Development and Management (LUMID) and an MSc in Global Studies from Lund University as well as a BA in International Relations.

In the capacity of a Department Associate, Tanya will continue working on the projects “Strengthening the Rights of Ukrainian IDPs and Refugees through Public Legal Education” and “Standing with Ukraine by Providing Enhanced Rights Protection for IDPs and Refugees” implemented by the RWI and its partners, ALCU and PLCF.

Tanya is fluent in English, Swedish, Belarusian, and Russian.

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