I_CAN Program: How Ukrainian Communities Learn to Turn Ideas into Billion-Dollar Investment Projects

February 11, 2026, Kyiv. Ukraine’s recovery is not just about bricks, concrete, and new power lines. It is, first and foremost, about competencies. The ability to turn an idea for a new school, wastewater treatment plant, or industrial park into a high-quality, well-substantiated, and, most importantly, fundable project. This seemingly mundane but critically important task is the focus of the new national I_CAN program (Interinstitutional Capacity Nurturing). This week, its first practical training sessions launched, bringing together dozens of representatives from local communities and administrations in Zhytomyr Oblast and the city of Korosten.

Behind the acronym I_CAN lies an ambitious goal: to create a nationwide pool of thousands of specialists who can prepare projects ready for funding by the state, international donors, or private investors. As reported by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the program concentrates on purely practical skills: from aligning a project with development strategies and selecting technical solutions to forming realistic budgets and working with funding sources. In simple terms, it’s a school of financial and project literacy for those who will decide how and on what billions of hryvnias in recovery funds are spent.

What is I_CAN and Who is it For?

The program, implemented by the Kyiv School of Economics with the support of the Cabinet of Ministers and the World Bank, is tailored to specific “students”:

• Local self-government bodies (amalgamated territorial communities);
• Regional state and military administrations (RMA);
• Municipal enterprises;
• Non-governmental organizations and potential public-private partnership (PPP) partners.

They are offered not just lectures, but comprehensive support: from training to a consultative “hotline” and the creation of a professional community. A key future tool is the national Virtual Data Room platform with open templates and resources, designed to become a unified knowledge base for all project developers in Ukraine.

Scale and Ambition: 6,000 Specialists and Billions in Projects

The figures announced by the organizers show that I_CAN is not a one-off training but a long-term national strategy. It is expected that by 2028, the program will have trained 6,000 specialists across all regions of the country, with its professional community reaching 8,000 participants. Effectively, this is about creating a new class of local-level managers.

The ultimate goal is to radically enhance communities’ capacity to prepare and attract funding for investment projects. We are talking about potential billions of dollars that currently often get “stuck” due to an inability to properly prepare applications, calculate budgets, or prove effectiveness. I_CAN is meant to be the bridge between communities’ needs and the wallets of investors and donors.

Why is This Particularly Important Now?

Ukraine is on the brink of the largest reconstruction effort in its history. However, money, especially international funds, is not allocated “just because.” It requires impeccable justification, a clear implementation plan, a transparent budget, and an understanding of the long-term impact. Without these skills, even the most needed initiative can gather dust on a shelf for years.

The start of training in Zhytomyr Oblast (42 specialists from 10 communities and RMAs) and Korosten (75 representatives) are the first steps. From February 16-19, sessions will be held in Kyiv for representatives from the northern part of Kyiv Oblast and capital city administrations. The geography will expand.

The irony is that the war, with its horrific destruction, has created a unique window of opportunity to reboot management approaches. The I_CAN program is an attempt not just to rebuild, but to build back better, smarter, and more efficiently. By teaching people to create projects, the country is essentially investing in its most important asset: human capital and local managerial competencies. In the long run, this may prove more important than any single rebuilt bridge or factory.