Strengthening the role of women-led diaspora organizations in advancing inclusive reconstruction in Ukraine

Three years into Russia’s military attack in Ukraine, Ukrainian civil society, especially women-led organizations (WLOs), has demonstrated agility, leadership, and community-rooted problem-solving capacities across Ukraine and in countries hosting Ukrainian refugees and diaspora organizations.

However, these organizations now face a convergence of challenges: declining funding, institutional barriers, leaders’ burnout, and limited access to decision-making platforms. At the same time, diaspora communities in Europe, particularly in Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, have emerged as key humanitarian actors, especially women-led groups that serve refugee populations and maintain vital links with Ukrainian civil society.

The workshop - building on the recommendations of the 2024 ODIHR report Engaging the Ukrainian Diaspora in Reconstruction and Development - will provide a critical space for reflection, empowerment, and strategic planning among diaspora and CSO representatives who have played – and will continue to play – a vital role in Ukraine’s recovery. 

Objectives

• Enhance the capacity of diaspora and Ukrainian CSO representatives – especially women-led and minority-led organizations – to promote and integrate gender equality as well as the rights of minorities and persons with disabilities in reconstruction efforts.
• Facilitate peer learning and exchange of good practices between Ukrainian civil society and diaspora actors on democratic dialogue, effective advocacy building on Ukrainian CSO innovations and challenges, inclusive policy development, and navigating institutional systems in host countries
• Support diaspora and Ukrainian CSO advocacy cooperation for inclusive reconstruction within host countries and toward Ukrainian institutions, amplifying the voices of women leaders and marginalized communities
• Address the structural and psychological barriers faced by WLOs, including burnout, lack of sustainable funding, and exclusion from political processes, by providing tools, networks, and strategies to overcome them

Participation

This event is by invitation only.

Up to 26 participants will be invited, including:

• Representatives from Ukrainian diaspora organizations based in Poland, Germany, and Czechia engaged in recovery efforts in Ukraine and advocacy for inclusive and human rights-driven reconstruction and future development, with a priority for women-led groups
• Civil society actors in Ukraine engaged in recovery and human rights efforts and collaborating with Ukrainian diaspora organizations, or with a strong interest and capacity to do so
• Actors within the diaspora and civil society sphere focusing on intersectional challenges faced by ethnic minorities, displaced persons, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities

For further information, please contact lola.girard@odihr.pl