Ukraine Engagement
We are strengthening the resilience of Ukrainian civil society and supporting its efforts toward the country’s recovery.
For more than 30 years, we have been connected by close relationships and partnerships with people and organizations in Ukraine. In response to Russia's war of aggression, and out of a sense of responsibility as a European foundation and towards our partners, in 2022 and 2023 we provided additional funds as emergency aid for organizations in Ukraine and neighboring countries. In 2024, we continued our commitment to Ukraine in a special division. We are focusing on strengthening Ukrainian civil society in the long term, building resilience in times of war and in the country's ongoing recovery process (ukr. “Vidnova”).
The situation
The full-scale Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is increasingly directed against civilian infrastructure. In addition to the energy supply and the health and education systems, cultural infrastructure is also affected, which poses a massive threat to Ukraine's cultural identity. The war has torn great wounds in society. Due to the long duration of the war, the mental strain on the population is increasing. The number of people in need of psychological support is immense. Many people are traumatized. A particularly vulnerable group is that of veterans, who, if they are allowed to leave the army due to physical or psychological damage, find it difficult to return to everyday and professional life. The high number of internally displaced persons is a challenge for families, organizations and local authorities. All of this poses major challenges for social cohesion in a country that has been largely destroyed or occupied. Reconstruction will take decades and cost billions. Ukraine will need substantial support from the international community to accomplish this enormous task. The reconstruction of Ukraine is already beginning during the war. It is not just about rebuilding the country's infrastructure, but also about renewing and modernizing all areas of society (“building back better”).
Our goals
Our primary goal is to strengthen the structures, professionalism and psychological wellbeing of Ukraine's organized civil society so that it can help shape the future of its country in a self-determined way. We systematically focus on organizations that courageously and innovatively promote reconstruction, particularly in local contexts, in a needs-oriented manner. In addition, we are committed to ensuring that Ukrainian civil society in all its diversity is recognized by the stakeholders of the recovery process – that is, by the government level in its own country as well as by partner countries, by supranational organizations and by internationally active economic actors. We are committed to ensuring that the contribution and expertise of Ukrainian civil society be valued and that it be able to participate in (inter)national reconstruction processes.
We also want to make an impact in our sector of international philanthropy. That is why we are committed to ensuring that funding reaches Ukrainian civil society in a coordinated and targeted manner and that philanthropy's engagement with Ukraine is sustained and expanded. We see cooperation between funders and other sectors, such as politics and business, as key to achieving this.
Our strategy
Our support for Ukraine is based on the conviction that Ukrainian civil society can develop solutions self-determinedly. We focus on Ukraine's needs and close a significant gap in the international funding environment. In doing so, we are contributing to a common Europe and to the defense of our shared values.
In order to effectively strengthen Ukrainian civil society in its resilience and in the recovery process, we have defined four dimensions of action, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups. In all four dimensions, the empowerment of civil society is central to our work.
• The cultural dimension refers to the preservation of Ukraine's cultural identity in all its diversity
• The societal dimension promotes social participation in the country's development
• The mental dimension strengthens the resilience of Ukrainians in the face of the stresses of war
• The ecological dimension supports socio-ecological transformation
There are numerous intersections between the four dimensions. In our project funding, we specifically seek out projects that contribute to several dimensions.
Visualization of our goals
Stories & Publications
“We are helping to break the taboo by saying: It’s OK to seek help.”
The Pivotal Role of Civil Society in Ukraine – in Wartime and Beyond
Integration Hub - Arrive in Berlin-Charlottenburg
Together with our partners at Café Kyiv
"As a German foundation, we have a special responsibility to Ukraine"
Every Second Teacher has Refugee Children from Ukraine in School
Find our projects on the map
Literature forums Meridian
Author readings and discussion events in times of war and in areas near the front line respond to the urgent need of civil society for community, dialogue, and cultural understanding. The events take place in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson und Zaporizhzhia.
Literature forums Meridian
Author readings and discussion events in times of war and in areas near the front line respond to the urgent need of civil society for community, dialogue, and cultural understanding. The events take place in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson und Zaporizhzhia.
Krisenchat Ukraine
Psychosocial online counselling for Ukrainians in Ukraine and IDPs as well with the aim of stabilizing the mental health of affected people in and from Ukraine.
Digital project that can be used from anywhere.
Strategic development of Ecoaction's agricultural program
Ecoaction is focused on the green reconstruction of Ukraine's agricultural sector, leveraging the EU accession process as a key opportunity. Our main goal - to promote sustainable agricultural practices, particularly for nutrient management. With better practices, we aim to tackle environmental issues like water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss while ensuring food security. We are strengthening our network with agricultural advisors and smallholders, engaging in advocacy and developing pilot projects to improve fertilizer management.
Strengthening civil society in Ukraine
Empowerment and education programme for and with Ukrainian refugees in Stuttgart, creating opportunities for transfer both within the refugee communities in Germany and in Ukraine. Cooperation with the partner city of Khmelnytskyi in the field of mental health.
Restart Ukraine. reshaping the future
Restart built up a bottom-up approach for the recovery of Ukrainian municipalities.
Based on complex on-site analyses, sustainable projects are initiated with the participation of the local population.
The team works in and with the following municipalities: Voznesensk, Melitopol, Chernihiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
Restart Ukraine
Restart built up a bottom-up approach for the recovery of Ukrainian municipalities.
Based on complex on-site analyses, sustainable projects are initiated with the participation of the local population.
The team works in and with the following municipalities: Voznesensk, Melitopol, Chernihiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
Support to Ukraine's Community of Practice of Dialogue Facilitators and Mediators
The pan-Ukrainian network of local mediators supports Ukrainian society in overcoming trauma and dealing with conflicts.
Vidnova
Vidnova programs are dedicated to supporting the civil society of Ukraine. They are building bridges, navigating relationships, accompanying organizational development and enabling sustainable collaborations with civil society actors, initiatives and organizations in Ukraine and other European countries.
They offer different funds and run a Fellowship programm that helps displaced civil society actors all over Ukraine.
Gender-sensitive recovery and reintegration in Ukraine
It is a project to support and empower gender equality activists, women-led organisations, and women's rights organisations in Ukraine.
The project includes Mentoring support, training programmes, and opportunities for organisational development. This project aims to increase the capacity of local women's organisations and young gender activists in possibilities to participate in e.g. decision-making processes. They also improve access to psychosocial support for women and children in remote communities.
The project will be implemented across Ukraine, primarily targeting Rivne, Poltava, and Zhytomyr oblasts.
The Untold Stories from Ukraine
Strengthening the dialog between Europe and Ukraine, providing insights and explaining complex contexts - in response to an often-lacking understanding of the current situation in Ukraine. The tvoemisto team therefore publishes a series of printed English-language editions of the newspaper “The Untold Stories from Ukraine” and distributes them at important international events both in Ukraine and in the countries of the European Union.
Fix what's broken
The NGO Insha Osvita is very active in the reintegration of veterans. One focus of its work is the field of art and culture.
The Vilno project supports the recovery of veterans.
Scattered Communities is aimed at Ukrainian artists in the country itself - and at those who left Ukraine because of the war.
A third project deals with the increasing problem of mental health among activists since the invasion.
Fix what's broken
The NGO Insha Osvita is very active in the reintegration of veterans. One focus of its work is the field of art and culture.
The Vilno project supports the recovery of veterans.
Scattered Communities is aimed at Ukrainian artists in the country itself - and at those who left Ukraine because of the war.
A third project deals with the increasing problem of mental health among activists since the invasion.
Forget-me-not
The project is a response to improving the mental health of the Ukrainian population and the immense increase in mental health problems. It is developing a non-medical training program for psychological first aid and a training program for Ukrainian PEH assistants and trainers.
The project takes place at several locations: Uzhhorod, Lviv, Pokrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Mezhova.
Forget-me-not
The project is a response to improving the mental health of the Ukrainian population and the immense increase in mental health problems. It is developing a non-medical training program for psychological first aid and a training program for Ukrainian PEH assistants and trainers.
The project takes place at several locations: Uzhhorod, Lviv, Pokrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Mezhova.
Foundations4Ukraine
Foundations for Ukraine (F4U) is a collaborative network of leading philanthropic organizations dedicated to amplifying support for Ukraine. F4U connects foundations, grantmakers and other philanthropic actors globally to align efforts and coordinate towards more impactful actions. By working together, members help address Ukraine’s immediate needs and lay a foundation for its sustainable recovery.
Youth Banks of Initiatives
Implementation of the international Youth Banks model for the empowerment of young people in rural areas through local community foundations.
Youth Banks are active in the following regions: Bar, Hlynyany, Novoyavorivsk, Stryi, Boyarka, Svitlovodsk, Hrytsiv, Vinnytsia, Koblevo, Skvyra, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Manuilovka, Strelki, Gostomel, Ladyzhyn, Odesa, Kovel & Dyadkovychi.
Youth Banks of Initiatives
Implementation of the international Youth Banks model for the empowerment of young people in rural areas through local community foundations.
Youth Banks are active in the following regions: Bar, Hlynyany, Novoyavorivsk, Stryi, Boyarka, Svitlovodsk, Hrytsiv, Vinnytsia, Koblevo, Skvyra, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Manuilovka, Strelki, Gostomel, Ladyzhyn, Odesa, Kovel & Dyadkovychi.
Harvest Way
A community-supported agriculture project launched by the National Network of Local Philanthropy Development in 2023 is promoting local vegetable growing in Ukraine through local Community Foundations and contributing to food security in times of war.
Harvest Way acts in the following regions: Stryi, Bar, Voznesensk, Novoyavorivsk, Boyarka, Vinnytsia & Dubno.
Harvest Way
A community-supported agriculture project launched by the National Network of Local Philanthropy Development in 2023 is promoting local vegetable growing in Ukraine through local Community Foundations and contributing to food security in times of war.
Harvest Way acts in the following regions: Stryi, Bar, Voznesensk, Novoyavorivsk, Boyarka, Vinnytsia & Dubno.
Rapid Expert Support for Culture and Media Policy in Ukraine
Ukrainian culture needs a new strategy. This task has been taken on by the RES-POL project, which is working on corresponding analyses, policies and strategic papers with the support of the EU and in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture. Our partner Alona Karavai, head of the NGO Insha Osvita, is involved in this process as an expert.
We, as the Robert Bosch Stiftung, fund the translation of selected reports into English.
Ukraine Research Fellow at Chatham House
The respected Think Tank Chatham House based in London provides an additional position to work with the Ukraine Forum team. The Ukraine Forum is a unique platform providing insight on internal Ukrainian dynamics in key policy areas.
Strengthening support to local peacebuilding actors
The goal of this program is to enable a high-potential local peacebuilding organization in Ukraine to achieve an organizational goal that it considers critical to strengthening its resilience and influence. PeaceNexus is the cooperation partner.
The following organizations were supported in their development:
1. Dialogue in Action
2. Center for Innovative Development (CID)
3. Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG)
4. Theater for Change
5. League of Mediators of Ukraine (LIMU)
Self-Help Platform for Youth
Comprehensive self-help platform tailored specifically for Ukrainian youth, providing accessible tools and resources to help them cope with mental health challenges amidst the ongoing war and personal and emotional issues.
Digital project that can be used from anywhere.
Promprylad Foundation
Promprylad Foundation is a mission-driven community platform which develops sustainable solutions for Ukrainians who decided to stay in Ukraine despite the war and those who plan to return as soon as it will be possible.
It´s long-term vision is to create a cross-sectoral community ecosystem model that will serve as a blueprint for sustainable recovery and development in Ukraine.