© Helvetas

LOCALISATION: EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES TO DRIVE RECOVERY

© Helvetas
  • Project Name
    Supporting community led shelter assistance in Eastern Ukraine
  • Project Phase
    November 2023 to December 2024
  • Funding
    Swiss Solidarity
  • Thematic focus
    Voice, Inclusion & Cohesion

In 2024, Helvetas implemented the project «Supporting community led shelter assistance in Eastern Ukraine» — a model that combines infrastructure repair with local-system strengthening. The approach positions communities not only as beneficiaries but as active drivers of recovery, capable of restoring essential infrastructure and managing development resources effectively.

The project was carried out as part of Switzerland’s support to Ukraine through Swiss Solidarity.

Impact in Numbers

56000+

people from Kharkiv, Poltava, and Dnipropetrovsk regions received targeted humanitarian aid for reconstruction   

1000+

local volunteers and activists in the field of humanitarian response received support in capacity building of their organizations   

125

grants have been provided to CSOs to assist with the reconstruction of infrastructure in affected communities   

85,6%

recipients of assistance within the grants are satisfied with the quality of the repair and restoration work carried out

From Reconstruction to Economic Activation

The war in Ukraine has caused unprecedented destruction of critical public and residential infrastructure — from schools and hospitals to water supply and energy systems. Addressing these challenges requires not only material resources but also system-level solutions. Helvetas therefore took a localisation-driven approach: transferring knowledge, tools, and financial instruments directly to local actors, who are best positioned to prioritise needs and sustain recovery processes.

Through the project, more than 56,000 people experienced improved living conditions. Light and medium repairs were completed across apartment buildings, private homes, community shelters, and public infrastructure.

Every intervention was implemented by local contractors and tradespeople, ensuring that resources circulated within the local economy and contributed to employment retention and business continuity.

Thanks to the construction of an underground shelter, a Kharkiv gymnasium can now run a hybrid learning programme — on-site and online.
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«This shelter is one of the most robust in the district and can now accommodate up to 124 people thanks to the new ventilation system,» says school principal Oksana.
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The home where music teacher Kateryna lives with her two children was under occupation and was damaged in 2022 — the roof was peppered with shrapnel.
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«It’s incredible luck that the «Nove Misto» foundation and Helvetas are helping me. I’m very, very grateful, because I couldn’t have managed on my own»
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Community-Led Solutions

Working with local authorities and residents, Helvetas identified priorities and directed resources to where they were needed most. To put solutions into practice, 125 grants were awarded for recovery projects delivered by local organisations.

Over 1,000 volunteers and activists strengthened their civil society organisations through training in project management, procurement, monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, 40 CSOs received dedicated grants for institutional development, and 15 organisations were supported to conduct financial audits.

As a result, 31.9% of organisations reported improved access to funding, and 51.1% reported better access to national and international forums.

Drawing on several years of recovery project experienc, the Helvetas team developed Methodological Guidelines that give practical advice to CSOs on engaging with local authorities and donors, running procurement, preparing reports and, crucially, delivering projects successfully with measurable results.