Helping the helpers:

Emergency Fund for Ukrainian NGOs to be launched in Ukraine with the support of the German government

UKR

SPECIAL PROJECT

22 December 2025

"The cobbler's children have no shoes," as a folk saying goes. This proverb reflects the situation of Ukrainian non-governmental humanitarian organisations. While evacuating people from frontline areas and providing a wide range of support, the staff of public and charitable organisations often remain unprotected themselves.

They cannot obtain life insurance, often lack protective equipment and when their offices are damaged by Russian strikes, securing funds for recovery is difficult. A new mechanism has now been introduced to support them and strengthen their resilience, helping organisations operate effectively in crisis situations on a daily basis.

Read on to learn how the Emergency Fund will operate, who qualifies for assistance and what types of support will be available.

Saving others, suffering themselves

The NGO Wave of Help was founded by people displaced from the war-torn cities of Volnovakha and Bakhmut. Oleh Vlasov serves as its head and Anzhela Rozhkova is his deputy. The organisation operates in Zaporizhzhia, a city in Ukraine's south-east, where the team provides humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs), organises meetings and events and brings together people from the same region who have found refuge in the city.

The organisation's clothing bank, a source of clothes for displaced persons, was severely damaged in a Russian attack. Anzhela was deeply shaken by the bombardment, saying she felt discouraged and could not understand how such injustice could continue. She had no idea where to find more plastic film or chipboard for windows or how to save what remained. She recorded an emotional video, showing the extensive destruction in the office.

"I arrived early, saw all this devastation, and had to cancel a women’s meeting that was scheduled in the office because we had to clean up," says Anzhela Rozhkova, Deputy Head of the NGO Wave of Help.

Pavlohrad, a city in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, is also suffering from persistent Russian strikes. Anzhela Shevtsova, Head of the NGO Women of Western Donbas, says their office was left without doors following a missile strike last year.

"It’s air raid after air raid. We’re being hit by everything. It’s a nightmare," Anzhela says.

The Women of Western Donbas also supports displaced persons, providing humanitarian aid, legal and psychological assistance and holding master classes.

The organisation carries on with its work despite relentless air raids.

Living under constant danger, Anzhela Shevtsova says they have few means to protect themselves. First aid kits are scarce and knowledge of basic first aid is limited. She recalls a moment when a colleague was knocked down and seriously injured by a blast wave – everyone around was stunned and did not know how to help. The lack of psychological support only adds to the strain of living under continuous Russian strikes.

"Ukrainian non-governmental organisations provide vital assistance to frontline communities every day, supporting state services," says Yan Borodin, Director of the Dobra Fabryka Ukraina charity. "Despite their crucial role in saving lives, these organisations have almost no access to resources for their own recovery and support."

Dobra Fabryka Ukraina is based in Dnipro but operates across Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odesa, and Mykolaiv oblasts, providing a range of assistance to those affected by the war.

Director Yan Borodin recalls that while working on the front lines, evacuating people and providing humanitarian aid, they worked without any means of protection. Staff had no insurance and used their own cars to bring assistance to those in need.

Usually, non-governmental organisations receive funding only for specific projects. Spending money on unforeseen needs, especially to support their own teams, is difficult or even impossible. That is why providing support to the helpers has become so crucial.

Unique support mechanism

The Dobra Fabryka Ukraina charity, in cooperation with GIZ, reviewed requests from partner organisations, analysed the most vulnerable aspects of their work, and, having identified where operational difficulties were most significant, initiated the creation of a mechanism to provide urgent support to local organisations.

This vital initiative will operate under the project Strengthening Communities in War-Affected Regions in Ukraine through Localized Action (EMPOWER) and will be funded by the German government.

"The idea of establishing the Emergency Fund did not come from the office, but from the real experiences of our partners," said Olena Prykhodko, EMPOWER project manager. "When their offices were damaged by strikes, when windows needed replacing not in a month but today, we realised that Ukrainian NGOs critically lack a flexible, rapid-response tool."

After analysing the situation, it became clear that there is no mechanism in Ukraine to help organisations resume work immediately after incidents while also preparing for future risks, Olena explains.

"That is why we decided to set up such a fund – not only to respond, but also to strengthen the resilience of local NGOs," Olena says. "We are very pleased that this idea will be implemented by the Dobra Fabryka Ukraina charity, as through our cooperation, it has gained even deeper meaning and a clear structure."

The Emergency Fund

is a unique initiative, not only for Ukraine but also in a broader international context.

"The Emergency Fund is a well from which organisations in crisis or affected by attacks can draw resources," says Borodin. "It enables us to strengthen the sustainability of humanitarian organisations and ensure the continuity of their aid. After all, any attack or crisis can leave thousands of people without support."

Aid under the project will be available to organisations that provide emergency humanitarian assistance, support vulnerable groups affected by the war, work with IDPs, offer social and medical services, operate in frontline communities, participate in evacuation, or help deal with the aftermath of Russian strikes.

The project will run for 15 months and aims to support more than 45 organisations and around 360 humanitarian workers.

months,
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360

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"We want to establish Ukraine’s first effective mechanism for institutional support for organisations, enhancing their security, stability and capacity to provide services under martial law," says Borodin.

"Our partners, local NGOs, are not only part of the humanitarian response but also the foundation for Ukraine’s early recovery," says Eike Vater, EMPOWER project director at GIZ. "But they operate under extreme pressure – amid bombardments, power cuts and constant uncertainty – often without adequate security measures for their teams. Strengthening their institutional and operational resilience today means safeguarding those who will help rebuild the country tomorrow. This is where the Emergency Fund steps in as a necessary and effective response tool."

Vater pointed out that, in the long term, the fund aims to support a more resilient, locally coordinated system – one that Ukraine needs to shift from crisis response to sustainable recovery.

"Sustainable NGOs mean sustainable communities. And sustainable communities mean sustainable Ukraine. The Emergency Fund will help ensure this sustainability today so that recovery is possible tomorrow," Vater emphasises.

How the fund will work

To receive assistance from the fund, organisations must submit an application. Borodin says a multi-channel system will be in place, allowing applicants to use whichever channel is most convenient. Additional information will be shared in January through humanitarian coordination and social media platforms.

The Emergency Fund will operate in two main areas.

the strengthening of operational resilience

of Ukrainian humanitarian organisations working in frontline regions

providing rapid support following Russian attacks

the support is available to any local organisation affected by Russian strikes within Ukraine

The first area is the strengthening of operational resilience of Ukrainian humanitarian organisations working in frontline regions (Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa).

Community and charitable organisations from these regions can access resources to strengthen their operational capacity: from basic equipment and safety measures to insurance for staff or events.

Depending on their needs, non-governmental organisations can receive helmets, body armour, basic first aid kits, and tourniquets. Technical equipment, such as generators, charging stations, and fire extinguishers, will also be available upon request.

Importantly, teams will be able to obtain insurance covering their lives, health, and property during trips to the combat zones.

Organisations will also have access to legal and financial advice as well as digital security training.

The second area is providing rapid support following Russian attacks.

The support is available to any local organisation affected by Russian strikes within Ukraine. Its purpose is to help restore operations quickly. If an office is damaged, organisations can receive window film to temporarily protect the premises.

Under the EMPOWER project, the fund will be able to purchase essential equipment and assist in rebuilding damaged premises.

"We expect recovery efforts to take up to 14 days, allowing the organisation to resume work and continue providing services," says Borodin.

"How can we give up?"

Civil society organisations are not giving up and remain determined to continue their work. They have become beacons of hope, drawing people in and helping them endure the horrors of war.

"We came together, smiled, joked, and got back to work," says Rozhkova. "Everyone knows us. A path has been paved for people to follow to get help. How can we give up?"

They find meaning in taking action and not giving up. Both the employees of the Wave of Help and the people they support have had their lives upended by Russia's war of aggression. Many had to leave with just a single suitcase. Many have lost their loved ones. That is why they come together with others from their region and try to stay busy.

"Those who want to help have a need to feel that they are wanted by others, that they can make a difference, and that their hearts have not been hardened by the horrors of war," says Rozhkova.

Anzhela Shevtsova from Pavlohrad adds that when women over 70 arrive having lost everything, it is impossible not to help them.

"We will hold on to the very end," she says confidently.

Despite all the challenges, the women remain ready to work, await victory and carry out recovery projects.

"No matter how difficult it is, in the morning you have to pull yourself together, fill yourself with positive thoughts and go with a sincere heart to where you are needed and wanted," says Rozhkova.

Dobra Fabryka Ukraina hopes the project providing emergency assistance to humanitarian organisations will expand, develop, and become a permanent source of institutional support for local organisations.

"We want to ensure that no bombardment, attack, or crisis can stop the vital assistance provided by local organisations," says Borodin.

The Emergency Fund is implemented by the Dobra Fabryka Ukraina charitable organisation, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, as part of the project Strengthening Communities in War-Affected Regions in Ukraine through Localized Action (EMPOWER).