Winter is coming. Only 70 days left before the start of another heating season in Ukraine.
It could become one of the country’s most challenging winters since the start of the full-scale invasion. Continued attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure, combined with the growing pressure on communities, mean that preparation cannot wait.
❓One question guided us: What needs to be done now to ensure that civil society organizations can continue supporting people when winter arrives?
To explore practical answers, ISAR Ednannia organized and facilitated a closed practitioners’ meeting, “Winter Starts Today,” bringing together civil society organizations, donors, government institutions, and experts.
The discussion focused on one shared goal: strengthening the resilience of Ukraine’s civil society before the next crisis unfolds.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
🔹 Preparation cannot wait. Business continuity plans, backup power, reliable communications, and essential equipment should already be part of every organization’s planning.
🔹 Coordination is just as important as resources. Civil society, local authorities, and communities need to coordinate their efforts in advance to avoid duplication and respond more effectively to people’s needs.
🔹 Communities need clear emergency protocols. Everyone should understand their role and know how to act before a crisis unfolds.
🔹 Prepared communities are more resilient communities. People need practical guidance on how to cope with prolonged disruptions to electricity, heating, water supply, and communications.
🔹 Donors have an important role to play before a crisis begins. Investing in organizational resilience, energy resilience, and preparedness enables civil society organizations to continue delivering essential services throughout the winter.
🔹 Civil society organizations also need to invest in their own resilience. Organizations can only support communities if they are able to keep operating under difficult conditions.
Recognizing these challenges, ISAR Ednannia is preparing a new round of grant support through the Askold and Dir Fund, supported by Norad and Sida, to help Ukrainian civil society organizations strengthen their capacity for the months ahead.
