Our team took part in the third annual international conference “Ukrainian Leadership in Aid”, continuing the conversation on the importance of localization and the transformation of Ukraine’s humanitarian sector.
Participants discussed systemic change — governance mechanisms, the meaningful inclusion of Ukrainian organizations in decision-making, and the need to create truly equitable partnerships between international and local actors.
During the panel “Innovative Financing for Local Humanitarian Response and Recovery”, our Network’s director Daria Rybalchenko-Vilna shared insights from establishing and managing the Ukrainian NGOs Fund. She emphasized several key principles for effective localization:
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redistribution of resources in favor of local organizations,
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adoption of more flexible support formats,
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building donor trust in Ukrainian civil society organizations (CSOs).
Speakers shared powerful insights from the discussions:
“As the international community, we brought many processes, but we do not always understand communities the way locals do. You were working here long before us and will stay long after — it’s the local actors who remain with communities in the long term.”
— Denise Brown, former UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine
“The state must reclaim functions that have been taken on by international and local organizations. International partners must recognize Ukrainian organizations as equals. And for us, local CSOs, this is about responsibility to people and transparent communication about both challenges and changing times.”
— Yuliia Matviichuk, East SOS
“Ukrainian leadership should be evident not only in humanitarian response but also in the transitional period and recovery. Right now, it’s too vague. The problem isn’t that Ukrainian civil society isn’t ready — we’ve been ready for a long time. In 2022, it was clear that 90% of humanitarian response was carried by volunteers and Ukrainian CSOs. Now it’s time to work together with the state.”
— Oleksandr Halkin, President of Right to Protection
Localization is not just the technical handover of functions — it’s a shift in mindset. It requires honest dialogue, trust, and a willingness to share not only resources but also responsibility. For us, localization isn’t a buzzword — it’s a lived reality. Every day, we see how vital it is to listen to local organizations, support community foundations, and build a system where the local voice is not the exception, but the norm.
