Helping communities in Ukraine
Stay safe through
local solutions
and military engagement
In Ukraine, CIVIC has been active since 2017.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, our team has remained on the ground,
quickly identifying urgent needs and building trusted local partnerships.
This sustained presence allows us to adapt as the conflict evolves and continue delivering targeted, community-driven protection efforts.
OUR WORK IN UKRAINE FOCUSES ON
THREE CORE AREAS
Strengthening Community Protection
CIVIC helps communities prepare for threats through locally led solutions, including Civilian Protection Groups (CPGs) and tailored protection strategies.
Supporting Ukrainian
Civil Society
Through our Local Initiatives Fund (LIF), we fund grassroots organizations leading innovative, high-impact, community-based protection efforts.
Engaging
Security and Defence Actors
We train military personnel to integrate civilian harm prevention into operations—equipping hundreds across branches with practical tools and knowledge.
OUR IMPACT
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
COMMUNITIES LEADING PROJECTS
Through Civilian Protection Groups, community dialogues, and policy forums, we helped turn grassroots efforts into national impact.
16 COMMUNITIES ACROSS
5 FRONTLINE REGIONS
WHAT WE ACHIEVED TOGETHER
532 civilians participated in
56 community–level events, promoting mutual understanding and safer practices
"We are grateful for the skills that allow us to protect ourselves in difficult times."
"We need more of this. Usually we don’t have any direct way to speak to the military. It’s the first time we’re part of the conversation about what should happen during alerts - not just told after the fact."
12 capacity-building events to enhance local protection strategies
16 Civilian Protection Groups (CPGs) formed
“I remember that day very clearly... I was standing next to the head of Ukrposhta as we delivered pensions to elderly residents there. It was incredibly difficult; we didn’t know where to start, we didn’t understand what was happening, and we had no grasp of the statistics—how many people had been killed, how many had died, how much had been destroyed or ruined, or where everyone was—because those were truly challenging times.
Now we feel more prepared for potential threats, in large part thanks to the CPG, the issues we addressed, and the projects and trainings we carried out. Our collaboration has strengthened our readiness.”
2 regional roundtables on Protection of Civilians (PoC)
1 national community forum, amplifying local voices and solutions
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
At the Rohan community center, parents often spend hours outside while their children attend sports and activity clubs—many with babies or toddlers in tow, exposed to the weather and without a place to rest.
Thanks to support from CIVIC’s Local Initiatives Fund, a local NGO created “Unbreakable Mum” to provide a warm, secure space where parents can:
Feed and care for their babies
Wait safely during air raids
Connect with other parents and share experiences
This initiative not only meets practical needs but builds community, dignity, and resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.
ENGAGING THE MILITARY
TO PROTECT CIVILIANS
Through training and dialogue,
we help integrate protection into military operations and build trust between civilians and security actors
TRAINING FOR PROTECTION
371
military personnel trained in Protection of Civilians (PoC)
288
personnel trained in Civilian–Military Dialogue practices
Our approach — Civilian Harm Mitigation and Prevention — recognizes that military actors can take practical, strategic steps to avoid civilian harm and reduce the impact of operations on communities.
“Now I understand better how to communicate with civilians and reduce tensions during conflict”.
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES AND ARMED FORCES
CIVIC also facilitates direct dialogue between affected communities and military officers. These exchanges help identify protection concerns and foster shared understanding between civilians and armed actors.
Fueling
Local Solutions
through the
Local Initiatives Fund
In 2024, CIVIC supported 27 community-led protection projects across Ukraine through the Local Initiatives Fund (LIF).
The Local Initiatives Fund
supports grassroots organizations in
delivering practical,
locally driven solutions
to real protection challenges,
from improving shelter access
to running safety trainings.
By backing local leadership, LIF turns ideas into action and
ensures protection efforts are inclusive, responsive, and built to last.
CAPACITY-BUILDING
We conducted 134 trainings on:
MINE SAFETY
FIRS AID
PSYCOLOGICAL SUPPORT
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
GBV PREVENTION
AIR RAID PROCEDURES
MEDIA LITERACY
A total of 2,492 people participated, including displaced people, older adults, people with disabilities, children and local officials.
INFRASTRACTURE FOR PROTECTION
WE SUPPORTED 78 COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING
Distributing safety leaflets
&
Developing local evacuation plans
making 1790 civilians more informed about how to respond to a threat
Creating safety classrooms
&
Setting up emergency info corners
Equipping 38 bomb shelters
&
Installing air raid alert systems
A Focus on Sustainability
Each project is locally designed and implemented. Our priority is to ensure communities
can continue this work independently, long after CIVIC’s direct involvement ends.
IMPACT BY REGION
CIVIC envisions a world where no civilian is harmed in conflict. Since 2003, we have supported conflict-affected communities in their pursuit of safety, while working with armed actors and institutions to prevent and respond to civilian harm.
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