Civil society must be a full-fledged partner to the state, not just a contractor for individual tasks. Civil society organizations (CSOs) serve as the bridge between policymakers and real life.

This is the belief of Halyna Skipalska, Executive Director of the International Charitable Foundation “Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health.” Halyna also participated in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC 2025), held in mid-July in Rome.

She noted that the message most strongly felt — even between the lines — was that Ukraine’s recovery cannot happen without trust. And trust begins with the individual. With those who are next to them every day — CSOs and charitable foundations working in the most vulnerable areas of the country.

Especially for Hromadskyi Prostir, Halyna Skipalska prepared an article on the role of civil society in Ukraine’s recovery. You can read the full piece at the link.

Civil Society Is No Longer Just a Plan B

Today in Ukraine, thousands of organizations are not waiting for instructions or permissions. They help every day — those who have lost their homes, their jobs, their support systems. And it is thanks to these grassroots initiatives that we have a chance to build a system that truly works for people.

At URC 2025, it was stated clearly: civil society must be a full partner to the state, not just a performer of delegated tasks. Because CSOs are the bridge between policy and people.

Resilience Centers: Recovery Begins Not with Buildings, But with People

A powerful example of systemic action is the Resilience Centers, established by our team in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy as part of the national mental health program “How Are You?” — an initiative of the First Lady. These centers already operate in Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and are expanding to other regions. Nearly 250 resilience centers are active in Ukraine, and 85% were created and are run by civil society organizations.

These centers do not just offer “services” — they help restore a person’s internal foundation. Psychological support, assistance for women and children, legal counseling, and safe spaces. We are not simply delivering aid — we are rebuilding trust.

Coordination as Our Source of Resilience

The strength of Ukrainian civil society lies in its ability to unite. Today, Ukraine is home to strong civil society coalitions — both newly formed and time-tested:

• The Civil Society Alliance, founded in 2023, unites local and national organizations around principles of transparency, accountability, and equitable partnership. The Alliance not only represents the voice of civil society at high levels but also defends the right of Ukrainian organizations to be primary recipients of international aid — not just subcontractors.

• NGO Platform — a coordination space for over 100 humanitarian and human rights organizations working in protection, psychosocial support, GBV prevention, inclusion, and more. The platform ensures a unified civil society voice at the international level — in negotiations with donors, the UN, and global partners.

• The Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR) is a coalition of leading Ukrainian CSOs established in 2014 after the Revolution of Dignity. Its goal is to unite experts and activists to develop and promote systemic reforms that build an independent, democratic, and rule-of-law Ukraine with equal opportunities for all.

• Ukrainian Child Rights Network (UCRN) — a national association created in 2014 (registered in 2016) to coordinate the efforts of over thirty CSOs focused on children’s rights. UCRN works to influence public policy in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and international standards, aiming to ensure the best environment for every child.

Women’s organizations play a particularly important role. They are often the first to respond to community needs, working with internally displaced persons, survivors of violence, single mothers, and persons with disabilities. They are also shaping a new kind of leadership — compassionate, effective, and resilient.

All of these platforms and coalitions operate in different fields, but they share a common goal — not just to help, but to create systemic change. Their experience, expertise, and ability to operate in complex conditions must be fully integrated into the national recovery strategy as a core component.

What’s Next?

We have every opportunity to build a better country. But only if partnership becomes a practice — not a slogan. If the experience of a small CSO from a recently de-occupied community is valued as much as a decision from a ministry. If the women leading projects in rural areas receive support equal to that given to major international actors.

And only if we — civil society, government, donors, and business — look at Ukraine not as an object of assistance but as a space where every person can live with dignity. Because recovery is not about returning to yesterday. It’s about building tomorrow. And we can only do that — together.