Opinion: ‘We were ready’— learning from Ukraine’s locally led response

Preparing for a potential Russian offensive in Ukraine since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, those who live in the Donbas and nearby places just beyond the contact line between governmental and nongovernmental controlled areas in eastern Ukraine were not caught unaware on Feb. 24. “We were ready,” affirmed a number of local community-based organizations currently active in the response.

Nonviolent Peaceforce has recently conducted an assessment of the local response across different locations across Ukraine. The research found that, particularly close to the front lines, the humanitarian response is being mobilized and led by a predominantly local volunteer base.

Interviews with civilians and other stakeholders indicate that local communities understand the fears and needs of those passing through these centers intimately, and better than international humanitarian respondents can hope to.

What can we learn from this local response in Ukraine, both in the country itself and for other global responses? How can international humanitarian actors responding in emergency conflict situations ensure they are providing the support and services actually needed on the ground?

The local humanitarian response

Despite the rush of international aid in response to the conflict, international organizations were comparatively slow to implement an emergency response compared to local first responders and volunteer networks. 

As a middle-income country, Ukrainian capacity to leverage economic and social capital provided a strong foundation from which this response was able to spring, particularly in comparison to many other conflict-affected states.

Relative to other emergency conflicts, few international organizations had existing operations when the war broke out, and as a result, have struggled to keep pace with the need. This is particularly the case in occupied areas, which are extremely difficult to access and where local communities are shouldering the brunt of aid delivery.

Though sometimes enabled by an influx of international donor support, much of this work has been locally mobilized and funded. The humanitarian response in Ukraine provides a unique opportunity for the international community to uphold the commitments made in the “Grand Bargain” to pursue localized aid.

What role for the international community?

The international community seeking to increase support has resulted in some tensions with the preexisting local response. Some of the examples raised by local volunteers have a familiar echo, an old story of aid provided without anyone asking what might actually be useful. In Dnipro, a volunteer rolls his eyes at a truck full of brie, when what is actually needed are basic, long-lasting staples.

This lack of listening and disconnect between local needs and the international response place further burden on local actors. Even among those coordinating between humanitarian actors, NP's research found there seems to be an expectation that local organizations “catch up” to international processes, rather than the onus being on international parties to understand preexisting structures in Ukraine.

This is not to say that there is no role for the international community — far from it. International organizations can support local networks to manage the influx of international aid by building operational resources, from personal protective equipment to logistical support to internal personnel management systems.

Ukrainian responders interviewed in NP’s assessment also identified the importance of flexible small grant mechanisms and other resourcing focused on capacity-strengthening and mentoring support for civil society.

In addition, the assessment acknowledged the deep strain that is placed on front-line civilian volunteers. One local organization had grown from 50 to 150 unpaid volunteer coordinators from early March to early May, working between 20 and 50 hours a week to manage their 100,000 volunteers. Local groups interviewed in the research made clear that support for training and technical capacity building would be critical as this rapid growth continues.

Furthermore, we should see the effective mobilization of local civil society actors as humanitarian responders as a moment for the international community to step up in support, not to leave high-risk work to front-line communities. 

Trauma and burnout are prevalent, and finding ways to support those undertaking this work with mental health support and other kinds of personal protection was identified as critical in NP’s research findings.

Equally of note in this conflict is that the localized humanitarian response has strong links to the national military mobilization. Many of the volunteers and organizations responding are simultaneously providing support to armed Ukrainian actors, including the military and territorial defense units. This means that the humanitarian response itself risks being militarized, and that lines between civilian and military needs are already blurred.

While maintaining neutrality in these situations is an obvious challenge for international humanitarian actors and partners, it is also an opportunity to strengthen local emergency response models that promote humanitarian principles.

Where to from here?

With a severe economic recession looming, the international community must seek creative solutions to sustain the local humanitarian response. Central to that is recognizing the diffused nature of this response, and working to fund volunteer and local networks already at the front lines.

There is much to be learned from the local capacity to respond to this crisis. It is a clear demonstration of the speed, agility, and access made possible through a response that is grounded in and led by local actors.

This is not to say the international community does not or should not play a role — there is much that international donors, governments, NGOs, and other partners can do to support these locally-led efforts. What needs to be clear is that Ukrainian communities and civil society need to be in the driver's seat. This is a critical opportunity for the sector to deepen understanding and engagement with conflict-affected civilians and civil society, in ways that can strengthen responses in conflict contexts around the world.