SMART UA - Romania
Supporting Ukrainian refugees in Romania through research, cooperation, and practical pathways to housing and employment.
Our work in the country
In Romania, SMART UA brings together research, cooperation and practical support to strengthen the inclusion of Ukrainian refugees, with a particular focus on housing and employment. The project examines the barriers refugees face in accessing stable accommodation and sustainable work, while bringing together public institutions, civil society, researchers, employers and refugee communities to discuss solutions and improve coordination.
Alongside this research and stakeholder engagement, SMART UA in Romania supports Ukrainian refugees through skills assessments, language learning, IT and digital training, soft-skills development, self-employment support and employment guidance, while also addressing housing needs through personalised assistance. The aim is to connect evidence with practical support and contribute to more sustainable pathways to inclusion.
SMART UA partners in Romania
SMART UA is implemented in Romania by JRS Romania and the Association of Schools of Social Work in Romania (ASSWR). ASSWR brings research and academic expertise to the project, contributing to the analysis of barriers and opportunities in the labour market, while JRS Romania brings direct experience supporting Ukrainian refugees and translates evidence into personalised assistance, skills assessment, training and employment and housing support.
Research & Evidence in Romania
SMART UA combined stakeholder mapping, national research and the experiences of Ukrainian refugees to better understand the barriers to housing and employment in Romania and identify responses with potential for wider use
Housing Stakeholder Mapping
The housing stakeholder mapping identifies the main public authorities, NGOs and other actors supporting Ukrainian refugees with access to housing in Romania, examining the types of assistance available, cooperation between organisations and existing gaps. The report highlights a fragmented and limited support system, with major challenges including the shortage of available and affordable housing, high rental costs, weak coordination, bureaucratic barriers and limited long-term solutions.
READ THE FULL REPORT.
Employment Stakeholder Mapping – English
The employment stakeholder mapping examines the public institutions, NGOs and other actors supporting Ukrainian refugees’ access to the Romanian labour market, including the services they provide, cooperation between stakeholders and existing good practices. It identifies language barriers, recognition of qualifications, childcare, limited local work experience and skills gaps as key obstacles, while highlighting the importance of stronger coordination, skills assessment, training and sustainable funding.
READ THE FULL REPORT.
Housing Report
How are Ukrainian refugees rebuilding a sense of home in Romania? This report explores the realities of accessing safe, affordable, and sustainable housing, highlighting key challenges, existing support systems, and promising practices that foster inclusion and long-term stability. It also offers recommendations to strengthen housing policies and improve living conditions for people under temporary protection.
READ THE FULL REPORT.
Labour Market Report
What does it take to build a new professional life in a new country? This report examines the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the Romanian labour market, exploring employment opportunities, barriers, skills gaps, and support mechanisms. Through practical examples and policy recommendations, it highlights pathways towards sustainable employment and meaningful social and economic inclusion.
READ THE FULL REPORT.
Cooperation & Workshops
HOUSING WORKSHOP
The SMART UA housing workshop in Romania brought together public institutions, civil society, researchers, private-sector actors and members of the Ukrainian community to discuss the barriers refugees face in accessing stable housing. Drawing on national research, the workshop explored high rental costs, unstable incomes, language barriers, limited information, contractual difficulties and discrimination, while also highlighting the role of civil society in supporting refugees and the need for more coordinated, long-term housing solutions.
EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP
The SMART UA employment workshop in Romania brought together public institutions, researchers, civil society organisations and members of the Ukrainian community to discuss the realities Ukrainian refugees face in accessing the labour market. Building on national research, the workshop explored barriers and opportunities for sustainable employment and highlighted the importance of skills assessment, targeted training, mentoring and multi-stakeholder cooperation. It also created space for refugees’ experiences and concerns to inform the discussion, reinforcing the need for employment pathways that support stability, dignity and long-term integration.
Voices from Romania
Behind the research and activities of SMART UA are the experiences of people rebuilding their lives in Romania. These testimonies show how access to skills, support and opportunities can contribute to greater confidence, independence and inclusion.
Read the full testimony
Mariia’s story
From displacement to new opportunities in Romania
After leaving Ukraine with her family in 2022, Mariia came to Romania, where she had to adapt to a new country, school and language. Today, she studies International Relations at university and teaches English to children in Bucharest.
Through SMART UA, Mariia took part in self-employment, IT and soft-skills courses. Alongside developing practical skills, she says the project helped her gain confidence, meet new people and discover new opportunities for her future.
But the most important thing I got from the project was confidence. I learned that new skills can give us new opportunities.
Articles
Explore stories, updates and reflections from SMART UA in Romania, from project activities and research to the experiences of Ukrainian refugees and partners.
Employment Pathways for Ukrainian Refugees in Romania
Employment Workshop
Mapping Actors and Housing Market Analysis in Romania
Focus Groups on Employment and Housing Access for Ukrainian Refugees in Romania
Insights from focus groups on the main barriers to employment and housing, and the support models that can strengthen long-term integration.
A Pathway to Economic Integration
A personal story showing how language learning, education and skills development can open pathways to employment, independence and integration.
How the SMART UA Project helps Ukrainians in Romania?
An overview of SMART UA activities in Romania, from language and IT courses to soft skills, self-employment and housing guidance.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.