Ukraine One Year on: Local organisations must be at the heart of response
USD $270,000 worth of aid passed to local organisations in first 2 months
As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, the grim milestone is a reminder of the importance of a local response, says NeedsList.
It is estimated that 18 million people in Ukraine are in need of aid, and the international community has raced to support millions of people who have been displaced. From food to shelter, generators to blankets, children’s toys to hygiene kits, there has been an extraordinary response from international governments and NGOs.
Alongside this, Ukraine’s own civil society has rallied. Ukraine has a strong history of citizen-led entrepreneurship and community organising. Prior to the full-scale invasion in February, Ukraine already had a strong network of hundreds of local organisations. Over the past 12 months, more have joined, and there are now over 10,000 grassroots organisations, providing everything from legal aid to temporary shelter. Similarly, local businesses have been instrumental in supporting Ukrainians with their immediate needs.
As we move into a second year, finding a way to help rebuild Ukraine’s economy, through empowering local organisations and connecting them with major international NGOs and funders, is crucial.
In December, NeedsList launched RespondLocal, supported by Google.org, to do just that. In the past 2 months, the platform has already helped 41 local organisations to match with local, national, and international suppliers, with over USD270,000 worth of aid passing between them through the platform. From legal advice, to basic needs including warm clothing and food kits. RespondLocal has also brought visibility to local organisations, and sped up procurement processes.
Supporting local organisations will be increasingly important as the conflict continues, says Kat Sellers, CSO of NeedsList “It’s hard to believe we are entering a second year of war in Ukraine. This next year will present an array of challenges, and it is essential that alongside support with defence and rebuilding infrastructure, the international community looks at ways to bolster civil society. Large NGOs and donors have been instrumental at providing huge quantities of aid for millions of Ukrainians, which has been a vital lifeline.
“At the same time, over the past year local organisations in Ukraine have been the bedrock, supporting communities in a way that is timely, informed, and led by people that are known to them. It is crucial that we continue to work together and invest in local groups and organisations, so we can create a sustainable, long-term infrastructure which can support Ukraine in years to come.”
One organisation who has used the platform is SpivDiia, a Ukrainian volunteer organisation which provides humanitarian aid as well as psychological support, employment assistance and legal aid to a network of smaller organisations across the whole of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the conflict, SpivDiia has been able to help nearly 300,000 people with 6000 people offering support.
Iryna Tulyakova, co-founder and CEO of SpivDiia says “At SpivDiia we see the only way to get through this is to unite the state, volunteers, and businesses to help people. I am grateful to the NeedsList partners for the opportunity to strengthen the activities of everyone who works for the good of Ukraine.”
