Integrating humanitarian aid, development, and social cohesion is critical to avoid an impossible choice for our people: exile or returning to homes under fire. Achieving this demands more than goodwill; it requires deep trust, relentless partnership, and synchronized action across sectors. When government, business, civil society, and international partners align with respect and shared purpose, survival becomes sustainable recovery.
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, this was not just discussed—it set the agenda for the coming year. Mila Leonova, Director of the Alliance UA CSO, underscored pivotal truths:
- Local actors lead Nexus implementation. Communities living through the war must drive recovery. They understand layered realities—displacement, trauma, economic collapse—and design solutions that rebuild lives, not just infrastructure.
- The non-profit sector is an investor, not a beggar. Ukrainian CSOs together with INGOs have mobilized €5.4 billion since 2022, reaching people in need 93 million times (survey of 112 members of the Alliance and Платформа гуманітарних НУО в Україні). They restore livelihoods, rebuild housing, and reactivate economies—proving development is already happening from the ground up.
- Inclusion = economic advantage. Designing accessible services and inclusive infrastructure is not a “cost”; it is an investment in a resilient, innovative Ukraine. Veterans, people with disabilities, and older adults are not burdens; they are contributors waiting to be empowered.
- Systemic recognition over reinvention. CSOs should not have to rebuild trust with every new ministry. We need partner-to-partner relationships, not ad hoc approvals.
- Private-sector collaboration is key. This is a battle for trust. We bring resources, expertise, and networks. Partner with us to share risks and rewards.
“Recovery starts with people. No people, no recovery.”
While the state and business focus on hardware, civil society rebuilds the human foundation, transforming aid recipients into drivers of the economy.
A milestone at URC: the Alliance was represented by 10 CSOs—a testament to our collective strength and crucial recognition that Ukrainian CSOs are irreplaceable in shaping recovery.
Our call to the world:
- Align funding: humanitarian and development donors must complement, not compete.
- Localize resources: provide direct access to funds for frontline actors.
- Co-create programs: design with communities, not for them.
- Value human capital: finance societal resilience alongside physical infrastructure.
To partners: thank you for standing with us amid global crises. Your solidarity fuels our resolve.
To skeptics: the Nexus begins with curiosity. See allies—not threats—in other sectors. Share resources. Share risks. Build together.
