Staffed but underfunded: how civil society supports communities despite lack of resources
Civil society and charitable organizations are actively involved in recovery efforts, strengthening social cohesion in communities, and providing psychosocial support to the population. This is evidenced by the results of a new study, "Level of Sustainability and Engagement of CSOs in the Processes of Recovery and Reconstruction of Territorial Communities," conducted by the East Europe Foundation and the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF). The researchers surveyed 201 organizations in different regions of Ukraine, from frontline to rear areas.
One of the key findings is that more than 76% of civil society organizations (CSOs) operate under conditions of insufficient funding. Financing mainly comes from donor programs and private donations:
- 52% of projects over the past three years were funded by international donors;
- 41% were funded through contributions from individuals.
The share of state and local budgets remains minimal.
Where the role of the civil society sector is greatest
Despite resource constraints, civil society organizations perform key social functions at the local level. They are most active in the following areas:
- restoring access to various public services;
- integration of internally displaced persons;
- support for veterans and families of the fallen;
- psychosocial support;
- community cohesion and engagement of residents in addressing issues of local importance.
At the same time, areas such as damage assessment, infrastructure reconstruction, and economic planning remain outside the scope of involvement for more than half of CSOs.
The highest level of participation in recovery is demonstrated by organizations in frontline communities. They operate in more difficult conditions, yet face fewer problems with financial and technical resources, although these resources are still not sufficient in full.
Despite the overall lack of funding, CSOs have a fairly strong human resource base. More than 60% of all surveyed organizations reported moderate sufficiency of human resources, while another 20% said they fully meet their needs for specialists, volunteers, and experts. This confirms that human capital is a key factor in the resilience of the civil society sector.
What the study authors say
Viktor Liakh, President of the East Europe Foundation, emphasizes that the study’s findings are a signal to the state and donors:
"Civil society remains a key driver of community recovery. The sector is sustained by people, and support for them must be systematic. The study allows us to see the real picture and support organizations based on data rather than assumptions."Inna Pidluska, Deputy Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation, notes:
"Ukraine recovers where strong organizations exist. Many of them are operating at their limit. That is why investments in CSO resilience directly affect the quality and pace of community recovery."
The study shows that civil society organizations have taken on most urgent social functions, while the state has focused on security and infrastructure issues. At the same time, financial constraints reduce their ability to scale up support.
The authors emphasize that when shaping recovery policies and plans, the state and international partners must take into account the real contribution of CSOs, as they remain the closest link of assistance to people.
Reference
The study was conducted as part of the Impulse project, implemented by East Europe Foundation and the International Renaissance Foundation with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The research methodology was developed by experts from the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, and the survey was conducted by Info Sapiens in July–August 2025.