This open letter was authored by the National Network of Local Philanthropy Development in Ukraine, and also appears on their website. Add your signature to this letter here.
We are Ukrainian civil society organizations that have been conducting humanitarian work in the midst of a full-scale war for almost three years. In 2022 we published our first open letter If Not Now, When? to international organizations and donors who sincerely want to help Ukraine. However, we must now acknowledge that sincere intentions and current approaches to providing support are not enough.
According to the 2016 Grand Bargain, international donors have committed to localizing 25% of their resources. This is a step that could have a significant impact. But where are the results? The time for discussions and declarations of commitment is long past. Local organizations remain in a position where they must deal with the aftermath of attacks on their territories while simultaneously proving their trustworthiness and the value of their proposals to donors and international organizations.
The effectiveness of the humanitarian response in Ukraine is attracting more and more attention, and for good reason. The report Passing the Buck: The Economics of Localizing Aid in Ukraine highlights that local partners can implement projects 15.5% more efficiently when they are adequately funded for their staff and administrative costs. This figure is based on an analysis of economic efficiency achieved through the redistribution of funds from international intermediaries to local organizations. According to the same study, the costs of foreign staff of UN agencies make their budgets 17 times larger than those of local organizations.
This data underscores the need for UN agencies and INGOs to reform their budgets and approaches to significantly increase resources for local organizations. While the UN’s role in previous development programmes has been notable, the current context of war demands a shift in priorities and a reduction in expenditures on activities that local organizations could implement at significantly lower costs.
Changing the distribution of power within the sector, introducing new funding and coordination mechanisms is a multi-layered process that requires the involvement of many parties. The complexity of the problem should not be an excuse for inaction. Repetitive (or recurring) discussions about supporting local partners, investing in their capacities and organizational development, and the need for change has become information noise and budget exploitation while there is no real action for localization. We will no longer be satisfied with mere references to “localization” in publications or during presentations of INGOs as partners.
The greatest obstacle remains a lack of transparency. We cannot determine how much funding is truly localized because the UN and most INGOs do not see reporting to the Ukrainian public as a necessity. This lack of accountability fosters distrust and prevents monitoring of progress. Meanwhile, the term “localization” is increasingly used as a populist slogan to attract donor funding, often bypassing local organizations entirely. This approach undermines trust and blocks progress.
We reaffirm the points outlined in our previous open letter, If Not Now, When?, and propose additional principles for standing in solidarity with local organizations:
1. Target aid evenly to the needs that exist
More donors are focusing on the needs of the eastern region and offering funding programmes for them. While the eastern regions continue to rely on (or need?) humanitarian assistance, the central and western regions are hosting IDPs, building rehabilitation centers and maintaining hospitals. Demand for early recovery programmes has grown significantly in these areas.
Review operations and advocacy efforts to ensure donors recognize the full spectrum of needs, including those beyond immediate humanitarian response.
A concerning trend is the reduced support for IDPs compared to the early months of the war, prompting many to return to areas of active hostilities. The number of humanitarian needs in frontline areas is not decreasing, but rather increasing due to the lack of sufficient shelters, evacuation programmes and psychological support. Since only a small number of donors are interested in programmes beyond emergency response, some international organizations seem to be contributing to dependence in order to extend their contracts. Is this fair to those whose lives are at stake?
2. Transparency and access to decision-making
Ukrainian organizations have irreplaceable expertise not only to identify needs, but also to participate in working groups that are called upon to make key decisions. Yet, gaining access to international panels or working groups, such as those under the Grand Bargain, remains almost impossible.
The number of Ukrainian organizations in leadership roles within clusters, committees shaping humanitarian programs, or as consultants, is minimal. Local representatives should form the majority in such roles — not the exceptions.
Provide spaces and reimburse expenses to enable Ukrainian organizations to participate in international dialogues. Ensure that every decision, discussion, or project targeting Ukraine includes the voices of those directly affected.
3. Share responsibility and risks
Requirements imposed on local organizations often fail to align with the Ukrainian context. Contracts and conditions are typically drafted in accordance with the laws of the country where the headquarters of international partners are located. This forces local partners to navigate both Ukrainian legal frameworks and additional requirements from multiple other countries associated with donors, funders, or INGOs. This creates inefficiencies and exacerbates inequality.
Challenges such as complex tax codes, unrealistic contractor requirements, and irrelevant conditions delay progress. If you have localization ambitions, these need to extend to your contracting process with local partners. If the vetting process confirms a local partner’s credibility, allow them to use their own policies and procedures instead of imposing unrealistic standards.
Share non-business integrity risks with your local partners. For example, currency fluctuations, health insurance and staff security, losses due to military operations, and infrastructure damage. Pilot new projects and test more flexible approaches without leaving all the responsibility for finding solutions on the shoulders of your local partners.
4. Prioritize sustainability over convenience
We need long-term partnerships (two years or more) for stable and effective work. Instead, international organizations often choose short-term projects (up to six months), forcing local NGOs to spend resources constantly, while searching for new partners. Meanwhile, INGOs increase the burden through frequent audits, verifications, and planning.
While it is claimed that long-term partnerships carry risks, do these risks really outweigh the costs of frequent checks and contract renewals? The situation is further complicated by the lack of budgets for organizational development, leaving local partners without funds for staff after project completion. Budgets for administrative expenses and development should become the standard, not a gesture of generosity.
Clearly communicate your policies for supporting local partners and consider what they are left with after your collaboration ends. Advocate for long-term projects alongside local organizations to reduce administrative burdens on both sides.
We want to see solidarity through action.
We urge international partners to prioritize the outcomes of their work in Ukraine over scaling operations or meeting internal localization ambitions. As local actors, we will advocate for building a sustainable local response system, not just help you fulfill your localization ambitions.
Consider being an advocacy partner that opens doors for local organizations instead of those who invent new bureaucratic norms. It makes no sense to hide the fact that international organizations have more power, resources and access to the media space. We urge you to become our allies in the fight for the country’s future.
Instead of formalities and populism, we want to see concrete actions that support local responses. Remember: every day of inaction costs lives. For us, this is not just another conflict — this is a war that defines our existence. And we will not allow it to be ignored.
Sincerely,
National Network of Local Philanthropy Development
If you stand with our colleagues in Ukraine, add your signature to this open letter here.
A version of this letter has also been translated to Ukrainian.