Within days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 21-year-old Kyrylo Lapko got in a van with his father to buy and deliver supplies for people who’d lost their sources of food, clean water, and electricity.
He soon observed a dynamic that plays out in humanitarian crises around the world: Well-intentioned donations from individuals and large donor agencies often do not match needs on the ground. Meanwhile, extensive needs assessments and lengthy procurement processes lead to long delays in aid delivery.
Now, nearly a year into the conflict in Ukraine with 17.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, Lapko is the country’s program manager behind RespondLocal, an online aid marketplace that matches the needs of local organizations with offers of supplies from corporate donors and international organizations. Launched in Ukraine last month, RespondLocal is helping groups access what people need — which this winter includes blankets, stoves, and generators — but also what they want, with many requests for tea and sweets.
About the author
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
