Why some European NGOs left Ukraine, and what support will remain
Philanthropic assistance from non-governmental institutions has been, and remains, a critically important element of support for Ukraine since the very beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Throughout 2022 and much of 2023, many organisations quickly launched emergency aid programmes to address urgent humanitarian needs.
However, after realising the conflict would be protracted, some European foundations decided to gradually phase out funding for Ukrainian programmes.
Read more about how European non-governmental support for Ukraine is transforming in the column by Yana Barinova, Program Director for European policies and Ukraine at ERSTE Foundation, Austria: From plugging holes to strategic support: how non-governmental aid from the EU is changing.
"We are observing a shift from emergency response to recovery response," the author writes.
According to her, the key question for non-governmental foundations has become how to adapt their current aid to the strategic goals of each organisation and integrate it into broader long-term plans.
Thus, in Europe, more and more leading charitable organisations focused on strengthening and coordinating support for Ukraine are uniting into networks and alliances.
"They are demonstrating a firm intention to continue supporting Ukraine, integrating the Ukraine focus as a priority regardless of when the active phase of Russian aggression ends," explains the ERSTE Foundation’s Ukraine Director.
One example is the F4U (Foundation for Ukraine) alliance.
This spring, the second meeting of major international foundations within this initiative took place in Warsaw. According to Yana Barinova, the meeting formalised the main principles of partner cooperation, including:
– Peer-to-Peer: minimal bureaucracy, direct exchange of experience and knowledge and an educational hub for open dialogue and mutual learning;
– Advocacy for Ukraine: expanding the circle of stakeholders and deepening engagement with external partners to support Ukraine through active advocacy;
– Visits to Ukraine: the opportunity to gain a direct understanding of the current situation in the country and to foster deeper cooperation with Ukrainian civil society.
Thus, the author argues, philanthropic support also needs transformation: it is time to move away from isolated interventions and funding of individual initiatives – instead, there is a need to build sustainable ecosystems and long-term opportunities, rather than merely reacting to crises.
"For this, European foundations have all the necessary levers – significant resources, deep expertise, and, most importantly, a strategic vision for Ukraine’s future and faith in it," notes Yana Barinova.
Moreover, international foundations see Ukraine as an important source of knowledge and skills, and view Ukrainian partners as capable, creative and hardworking.
"As many people as possible need to know about them, and this is one of the main tasks of European charitable foundations – to act as advocates for Ukraine’s civil society, helping it to be heard," writes the ERSTE Foundation’s Ukraine Director.