Alliance of Ukrainian Civil Society Organizations represented at the @UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York for the pivotal events. United Nations OCHA
Our Director, Mila Leonova, had the honor of contributing to critical discussions on humanitarian reset and UN80 reforms, representing the voice of local crisis-response civil society.
This event, held at the UN Headquarters, underscored a necessary shift: from plans to implementation, and from words to genuine power-sharing with local actors.
As Tom Fletcher rightly emphasized, we are now in the “implementation phase,” where “genuine power shift” is measured by actions — not aspirations.
During the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, Mila Leonova, Director of the Alliance UA CSO, spoke at the discussion on humanitarian reset and UN80 reforms. In her speech, she shared Ukraine’s experience of localization and partnership, outlined key changes civil society is advocating for, and called for a genuine redistribution of power.
Key messages from her address
Ukraine’s experience: from asking for trust — to leading transformation
In Ukraine, we have proven that change is possible when local leaders work together with donors, the UN, and international NGOs. We have moved from asking for trust — to leading systemic transformation.
A partnership model that works
With governments of the UK, US, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Italy, DG ECHO — together with donors, the UN, and INGOs — we don’t just meet.
- We co-write strategies, develop plans, and advocate together.
- We are a team.
Leadership is not about who goes first
It’s about creating space where there is no competition for resources, but a shared search for solutions. Today, the Alliance UA CSO unites 26 organizations and nearly 1,000 local actors. Together with partners, we developed a localization strategy that was endorsed by the entire UN system. This year, it was reaffirmed by the Humanitarian Country Team, and we are now working on its operational plan.
Global collaboration in action
We are proud to be part of the Humanitarian Reset Strategic Review Group, chaired by Tom Fletcher.
Direct speech from Mila Leonova
“The mistake the international system often makes is entering a country with a pre-conceived paradigm, instead of first recognizing local NGOs as capable, responsible, and innovative partners. To be fit-for-purpose, the response cannot be a one-size-fits-all template. It must be tailored to the context, concentrating on how we ensure national and local design and decision-making.
The most significant change we are driving in Ukraine is a shift in the dynamics of power and influence. This path of true partnership is not always easy. When we commit to doing something together, we are accountable to each other. But it is the only way.
If we want to deliver better outcomes for people, we must be a true team. We must be together”.
