This month, the “TENET Center for Social Transformations” participated in the “Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week 2025” in Geneva. The event, held with the support of Oxfam, brought together 25 civil society representatives to discuss the critical role of Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs) in humanitarian aid.
Our organization’s head, Tetiana Storozhko, presented a unique perspective on the situation in Ukraine, combining her experience as an activist and a researcher of the Roma civil society movement.
A Long-Term Perspective: The Fruits of Past Investments and Future Threats
In her speech, Tetyana Storozhko emphasized that the Roma community’s effective response to the full-scale invasion was made possible by years of investment in the development of youth and women leaders.
“At the start of the war, we saw the results of previous work. It was thanks to established contacts that Roma networks were able to organize evacuations, create shelters, and provide urgent aid when Roma faced discrimination. This was possible due to a structured approach to education and leadership development,” Tetyana noted.
At the same time, she highlighted an alarming trend: the departure of key donors who supported development projects from Ukraine is creating a “gap” among the new generation of activists.
Funding Challenges: Between Survival and Development
The main part of the speech was dedicated to the systemic barriers in accessing funding that hinder the sustainable work of WROs, especially those working with Roma women and youth.
Key Problems:
- Short-term Projects: Most grants are designed for 6-9 months, which prevents the building of long-term strategies and leads to team burnout.
- Lack of Core Funding: A shortage of institutional funding makes it impossible to retain a stable team or cover administrative costs.
- Competition for Resources: Funding cuts will intensify competition, making it difficult for small, local organizations to compete with larger players.
Solutions and a Bold Step Forward
Concluding her speech, Tetyana Storozhko proposed concrete steps for international partners and donors to ensure the sustainability of the women’s rights movement in Ukraine.
Recommendations:
- Diversify Funding: Support not only humanitarian aid (“here and now”) but also development projects that yield long-term results.
- Implement Longer Grant Programs: Transition to multi-year funding.
- Invest in Capacity Building: Provide small organizations with resources for training and professionalizing their teams.
- Prioritize the formation of new leaders to avoid an even larger gap in the future.
When asked about one bold step that must be taken now, Tetyana responded:
“We must demand and secure long-term, flexible, and core funding for Women’s Rights Organizations, especially those working with marginalized groups. This will allow them to build sustainable operations, develop leadership, and strengthen their capacity.”
She described her vision for the sector’s future in three words: Strong, Empowered, Sustainable.
