More than four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, hostilities continue to intensify as conditions across the country deteriorate, driving large-scale displacement and steadily eroding community safety, access to basic services, and livelihoods. The situation is further exacerbated by the targeted destruction of energy infrastructure, with energy systems damaged or destroyed across 17 regions in January alone. Recovery needs remain immense and centering local leadership is vital, even as humanitarian funding has sharply declined over the past year. These cuts have strained recovery efforts, driving many national NGOs to suspend programs, or scale back operations, weakening local response systems and eroding hard-won localization gains. In this context, prioritizing funding to national and local actors is no longer optional, it is central to sustaining recovery in both Ukraine and neighboring countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. 

During a visit to Poland last year, members of our team met with local and national partners supporting Ukrainian refugees and saw firsthand the consequences of shrinking humanitarian assistance. These cuts have impacted the essential support and protection services that Ukrainian refugees rely on. Community centers and gathering points have been similarly affected by funding cuts, limiting access to spaces that foster social and cultural connections. The impact has been most severe for organizations serving marginalized Ukrainian refugee groups, including survivors of domestic violence, people with disabilities, and Roma communities, further constraining access to critical services. 

CDP remains committed to supporting locally-led, inclusive, and equitable recovery, recognizing the importance of centering local leadership. Through the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund, CDP is addressing medium- to long-term recovery needs by continuing to invest in national and local organizations that play a critical role in reaching marginalized communities, supporting essential services, and anchoring recovery in community-driven solutions. In this round of grants, approximately 97% went to locally led organizations, reinforcing local capacity at a moment when it is most under strain. 

These grants reflect CDP’s approach to equitable recovery and locally led solutions, centering recovery priorities identified by community-based organizations and partners and using those insights to guide grantmaking decisions. CDP is grateful to our donors who make this work possible and who share the conviction that equitable recovery requires time, trust, and flexibility.

The Latest Grants From the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recovery Fund, Centering Local Leadership

We are pleased to announce more than $2.3 million in grants to 24 organizations supporting recovery in Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and Romania. 

  • Association Jududoro received an additional $40,000 to establish and equip a community center in Kraków, which will serve as a safe and inclusive space for both the Roma community and the broader local community. The remaining project activities will continue unchanged. The center will also provide crucial support for Roma students in learning Polish, catching up on school material, and strengthening their skills in mathematics and languages. 

Read the full article about centering local leadership in Ukraine by Ruwani Dharmakirthi at Center for Disaster Philanthropy.