Former Ambassador Toomas Tirs appointed ESTDEV's country manager in Ukraine

Working closely with the Estonian Embassy in Kyiv, Toomas Tirs represents Estonia's development cooperation interests in Ukraine's reconstruction and in establishing partnerships with local organizations and international donors. Tirs also contributes to the preparation of Estonian initiatives and project monitoring, and participates in the activities of the Tallinn Mechanism, which coordinates international cyber cooperation to support Ukraine’s cyber defence. 

“I am very pleased that Toomas Tirs, who has extensive international experience, has joined ESTDEV. His joining us will give us a strong presence in Kyiv. Over the years, we have learned that local representation is essential to understanding Ukraine's real needs firsthand and directing the efforts of both Estonia and the international donor community more effectively toward reconstruction support,” said Margus Gering, ESTDEV’s head for the European region and Ukraine reconstruction. 

“Especially now that we have passed the European Commission's pillar assessment and become a partner of EUDEL Kyiv, it is important that we have someone in Kyiv who can help tie together strategy, funding, and implementation into a single whole,” added Gering. 

Through development cooperation, Estonia is contributing €11 million to Ukraine's reconstruction and development in 2025. This is ESTDEV's largest portfolio, accounting for over 60% of the total project budget. In addition, this year ESTDEV has raised nearly €14 million in donor funding to expand Estonia's activities and initiate new international cooperation projects in Ukraine. 

“I consider it very meaningful to be here to support the implementation of development cooperation projects that are important for Ukraine. It is a pleasure to see how the projects financed and implemented by Estonia support, for example, education, the healthcare system, and cyber security in Ukraine,” said Toomas Tirs, ESTDEV’s country manager in Ukraine. 

Estonia's development cooperation in Ukraine focuses on supporting the EU accession process and implementing the necessary structural reforms, strengthening Ukraine's education system, increasing cyber resilience and accelerating digital development, and supporting the development of democracy and the rule of law. 

Toomas Tirs has graduated from the University of Tartu and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in business management. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia in 2007 and has worked in the Political Department and the External Economic and Development Cooperation Department, as well as in the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU. In 2015, Ambassador Tirs worked as a national expert at the Secretariat of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and as Head of Logistics of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU, under the Government Office between 2016 and 2018. From 2018 to 2021, Toomas Tirs was the Estonian Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, and between 2022-2024 the Estonian Ambassador to Kazakhstan (co-accredited to Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan).