“ISAR Ednannia considers this model of solidarity to be extremely important – when support for Ukraine becomes not just a matter of isolated gestures, but a shared policy of the entire civilised world.”

• The support of the European Union plays a key role in ensuring Ukraine’s resilience, both in matters of security and macro-financial stability, as well as in the development of civil society, strengthening of institutions, and support for recovery processes. ISAR Ednannia has direct experience in implementing EU programmes and recognizes the systematic, long-term, and strategically consistent nature of this support, as well as its high flexibility and adaptability in the context of full-scale war.

• As part of the “EU Emergency Support to Civil Society” project, administered by ISAR Ednannia in 2022–2023, we held a grant competition titled “Emergency Support of the Capacities of Ukrainian Civil Society to Act in Emergency Situations” During 2022–2023, more than 90 organisations received funding totalling over UAH 36 million. This helped the quickly respond to emerging humanitarian challenges, support internally displaced persons, establish shelters, launch digital services, and provide psychological and legal assistance, among other activities.

• Flexibility and rapid response became critical factors for effectiveness. Thanks to EU support, just two months after the start of the Russian invasion, ISAR Ednannia organised the first large-scale civil society conference in Warsaw. It was the first time sector-level discussions were held on topics such as international justice, documentation of war crimes, and countering disinformation.
• One of the key factors in the effective support of Ukraine is the European Union’s ability not only to provide direct assistance but also to foster broader coalitions of partner countries. This allows for the consolidation of resources and the achievement of joint action in areas where an individual country would find it difficult to act independently, particularly in security.
• Such coalitions enhance Ukraine’s capacity to attract the necessary aid, both humanitarian and defence-related, as this approach simplifies the communication of complex requests and ensures collective decision-making and the sharing of responsibility. For example, the coalition format led by Denmark, which supports the production of ammunition in Ukraine, exemplifies how partnerships involving several countries achieve greater strategic effectiveness.
• ISAR Ednannia considers this model of solidarity to be extremely important, whereby support for Ukraine becomes not merely a series of isolated gestures but a shared policy of the entire civilised world. Thanks to such approaches, trust, predictability, and the sustainability of assistance increase, and consequently, so do our chances of victory and recovery.
• One of the most effective examples of ISAR Ednannia’s cooperation with the European Union was the institutional support project for the Kyiv branch of the Civic Network “OPORA”. It was implemented between September 2022 and January 2023 as part of the “EU Emergency Support to Civil Society” initiative.
• The goal of the project was to help co-owners of damaged housing obtain compensation and to develop and test recovery algorithms: from filing applications to the court via the free legal aid system to applying to the Energy Efficiency Fund, local programmes, and crowdfunding. At the same time, the team worked on recommendations for homeowners’ associations (HOA) on organising life during wartime and blackouts.
• A striking example of effectiveness is the story of the HOA “Zatyshniy” in Irpin, where legal support and the developed tools made it possible to move from damage documentation to concrete steps for reconstruction.
• Beyond the already mentioned outcomes, the project strengthened the institutional capacity of OPORA and its partners: a strategic plan was developed, new commercial products were created, and further grant applications were prepared. It is an example of how EU support transforms into sustainable solutions that enable communities not only to respond to wartime challenges but also to shape a fair recovery at the local level.

• We work in extremely difficult wartime conditions, but there are projects and people who inspire. One example that truly impressed us is the project by Lyuk, an independent online media outlet, titled “Kharkiv, Where is your face?” implemented as part of the competition Support to CSOs to strengthen their counteraction of propaganda and disinformation managed by ISAR Ednannia with financial support from the European Union. The project became not just an informational initiative but an example of deep cultural intervention. It offered a new perspective on the Ukrainian identity of Kharkiv, a city under constant pressure from both physical attacks and ideological erosion.
• The Lyuk team not only reminded city residents of its Ukrainian roots through historical figures like Pavlo Tychyna, Mykola Khvyliovy, Marko Vovchok, and others, but also took this dialogue offline through posters, city lights, memes, and a printed publication. This is an example of a subtle and precise approach to working with urban space, combining culture, journalism, and civic stance. Such a project is particularly valuable in a frontline city, where the fight for identity is a fight for the future. It demonstrates how cultural memory, and local initiative can become tools of resilience, resistance, and self-awareness during wartime.

• The involvement of Ukrainians in EU-supported projects is not only about outreach. It is about depth of impact, trust in institutions, shared responsibility, and sustainability of decisions. It is the active participation of citizens and civil society organisations that makes this support not external, but shared, something perceived as an integral part of our path to recovery, reform, and European integration.
• A clear example is the Emergency Grants administered by ISAR Ednannia during 2022–2023 under the “EU Emergency Support to Civil Society” project. These grants enabled rapid involvement of local CSOs in addressing humanitarian challenges. These organisations not only provided aid but also established communication with community residents, engaged people in joint decision-making, and contributed to maintaining social resilience in times of extreme uncertainty – from organising evacuations to opening shelters and supporting vulnerable groups.
• Scaling such participation is absolutely necessary, especially in the context of long-term reconstruction. It ensures that reforms do not remain “on paper” but become part of everyday life. Here, the EU acts not just as a donor but as a builder of trust between citizens, organisations, authorities, and the international community.
• Our three-year project EU Unity4Community recently launched with the support of the European Union, our strategic partner. Despite the war and global uncertainty, Ukrainian civil society has the capacity to adapt and drive change, to learn and to teach. It can serve as a focal point for unity, helping us achieve our ambitious goal, which we’re fighting for on our public squares and at the front lines: to become an equal and influential partner within the family of European states. This project is another powerful opportunity for civil society to drive the changes that will lead Ukraine into the EU. The project will help communities unite, collectively overcome challenges, and build and strengthen trust among civil society, authorities, and local communities, fostering unity among all Ukrainians. Real and irreversible changes are only possible where people and communities work consciously and in synergy. EU Unity4Community is a project about open dialogue and partnership, designed to help build a European Ukraine. This is our shared goal with the European Union, and we thank the EU for its unwavering support and reliable partnership.