Report of the public organization "Association for Democratic Development" — 2025

During 2025, the team of the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" significantly expanded its activities: strengthened cooperation with communities in Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions, began cooperation in communities in Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions; actively cooperated with permanent national and international partners, and also established partnerships with new ones, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). 

In 2025, the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" raised funds from donor organizations in the Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy regions for a total amount of UAH 17,361,003.00.  These funds provided an opportunity to implement a number of projects aimed at supporting such vulnerable categories of the population as women and girls, IDPs, persons with disabilities, children and their parents (guardians), large families, single mothers/parents, people of respectable age and other categories from among the population affected by the military actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. In particular, these are projects in the areas of mental health and psychosocial support; livelihood support; provision of multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) and group cash transfers (GCT); identification, prevention and response to security challenges in communities, etc.

Project "TAKE CARE OF ME ‒ support for children and parents affected by the war in Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions"

The project was implemented by the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" team together with the Foundation "ТЕР ДЕЗ ОМ ІТАЛІЯ" for funding AICS.

The goal of the project: strengthening mental health and improving the social adaptation of children and their families affected by the war in Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions, through the creation of Spaces for children and the provision of a complex of psychosocial services on their basis. 

Project involved:

Creation and arrangement of two safe and comfortable spaces for children in the Novovodolaz community (Kharkiv region) and the city of. Chernihiv; conducting group and individual psychosocial support events for children aged 4-17, their parents (guardians); conducting entertainment events for children aimed at strengthening their resilience and a positive mechanism for overcoming traumatization, as well as reducing psychological stress caused by military operations, including displacement; case management (case management) of children and families in need of additional psychological support; measures to protect the rights of minors and to prevent risks.

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Project "Group money transfers in Chernihiv region"

The project was implemented by the team of the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" together with a separate unit "Стіхтінг ЗОА Україна" funded by ZOA FoCo (Netherlands).

The goal of the project: to provide an opportunity for public organizations and initiative groups to effectively respond to the needs of the affected and vulnerable population of Chernihiv region, as well as to increase their own institutional capacity.

Project involved:

• increasing the institutional capacity of CSOs and initiative groups through the following activities: training of 13 representatives of CSOs or leaders of initiative groups on fundraising and development of own projects of grant applications; facilitation support of CSOs in the development of their own projects, technical support in writing projects;

• provision of Group monetary support to local CSOs and initiative groups: selection from submitted grant applications from the strongest project participants; distribution of cash among selected groups; facilitation of selected groups for the implementation of their group projects; monitoring and study visits, phone calls and reports on group activities.

Project "Creation of the Media Center in the Novovodolaz settlement territorial community of the Kharkiv region"

In 2025, the project was implemented by the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" team together with the public organization "Interaction-Plus" within the framework of the project "Women — agents of social cohesion and recovery in communities", which is implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Ukraine with the financial support of the French Government, provided within the framework of the "Financing Windows" initiative.

The project provided for: the creation and arrangement of a Media Center in the Novovodolaz community (Kharkiv region) with the aim of preserving the Ukrainian cultural heritage of the Novovodolaz community, emphasizing the role of women in preserving national traditions. 

Currently, in the modern Media Center, women and girls can record their performances, reproducing authentic works or creating new ones, in a modern way, inspired by cultural heritage. Also, workshops, creative meetings and master classes, recordings of folklore works: songs, stories, poems, fairy tales, legends, etc. are held in the Media Center for women of different ages and from different villages of the community. The activities of the Media Center emphasize the importance of the female voice in Ukrainian culture and contribute to its preservation in the modern information space.

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Project "Detection, prevention and response to security challenges in territorial communities of Chernihiv region"

The project was implemented by the team of the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" together with the IBF "Ukrainian Women's Fund" within the framework of the project "Women, peace, security: acting together" with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

During the project, a comprehensive series of measures aimed at strengthening the safety of women and girls was held in Ivanivska, Novobilouska and Kyivska TG of Chernihiv region. A key result was the development and approval at local community levels of three relevant Action Plans to identify and respond to security challenges, taking into account the gender-sensitive and inclusive needs of women and girls (hereinafter - the Action Plans). 

Work on the Action Plans in each community included an inaugural meeting, a two-day strategic session and a series of online and offline meetings with working groups, the composition of which was approved by the orders of the village heads of communities and contained representation of local authorities, public organizations and active residents of communities. This has ensured that different views and opinions are widely involved and taken into account, which is critical for creating effective and sustainable solutions. Strategic sessions have become a platform for in-depth analysis of security challenges, and working meetings – for detailed development of specific measures and identification of responsible persons.

The developed Action Plans were approved at the local level of communities and presented to a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of local self-government bodies, members of working groups, local public organizations and community residents. The presentations contributed to the discussion and receiving feedback, which made it possible to finalize the plans and ensure their compliance with the real needs of the communities. 

In order to widely inform the residents of Ivanivska, Kyivska and Novobilouska territorial communities about the content of the approved current Action Plans for identifying security challenges, taking into account the gender-sensitive and inclusive needs of women and girls, preventing and responding to such challenges, informational posters were developed, printed and distributed. In addition, useful contacts were placed on the information posters, which residents of the target communities can contact in the case of: 

- detection of explosive objects or remnants of ammunition, during drone attacks, artillery shelling and flooding; 

- detection of the fact of domestic or gender-based violence; 

- if community residents or loved ones have experienced conflict/war sexual violence (SNPC) and need support; 

- it is necessary to obtain information about the location of the nearest shelter and point of indomitability in the settlements of the community.

Also, in the Ivanivska, Kyivska and Novobilouska territorial communities, events were held on the topics "Fundamentals of first aid in an emergency situation" and "Responding to risks associated with the handling of explosive objects. Security in emergency situations and war". These measures were focused on the formation of community residents' skills in responding to security challenges, which were identified during the development of current Action Plans. 

In general, the project contributed to raising the level of awareness of the security challenges faced by women and girls, and also created a basis for further actions to implement the developed plans.

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Project "Psychosocial support of vulnerable population groups in communities of Chernihiv region"

The project was implemented by the NGO team "Association for Democratic Development" together with the international organization for migration, related to the United Nations, which operates through the Representation in Ukraine.

The goal of the project: to promote the expansion of access to mental health services and psychosocial support for vulnerable population groups in the communities of Chernihiv region, which in turn contributed to the development of the potential of the local sphere of mental health and psychosocial support (PZPSP) and the expansion of access to PZPSP services among people who suffered from military operations in Chernihiv region.

Project involved:

• conducting an assessment and analysis of mental health needs and psychosocial support in selected communities. Based on the results, the project team will develop a report and recommendations for mental health and psychosocial support programs with the support of IOM;

• conducting a series of events for support groups, the purpose of which will be to form family members of military personnel, veterans and veterans with self-regulation and stress resistance skills, exchange experience on endurance according to the principle of "peer-to-peer"/"peer-to-peer"
  

• conducting artistic group events to help community residents overcome the effects of stress. Group sessions will include discussions on current psychosocial topics such as adaptation to change, conflict resolution, goal setting, adaptation to new responsibilities, etc. depending on the interest and needs of the groups;

• conducting individual sessions with psychologists (including individual support and counseling, psychoeducation, etc.);

• conducting trainings on raising awareness about the integration of psychosocial and livelihood support, first psychological assistance, self-help, etc. for representatives of local authorities, social protection of the population, workers in the field of medicine, education and other specialists who provide services to vulnerable categories of the population of target communities;

• conducting livelihood support-adapted awareness-raising sessions on mental health and psychosocial support. 

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"Support in the livelihood of households from among IDPs and the local rural population affected by the war from among vulnerable categories of Shostky district of Sumy region"

The project was implemented by the NGO "Association for Democratic Development" team together with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with the financial support of Norway.

The goal of the project: meeting the most urgent needs of IDPs and the local rural population from among the vulnerable categories in the Shostkin and Yampil territorial communities of the Sumy region, namely supporting households with means of livelihood, which will contribute to increasing their self-sufficiency and well-being.

Monetary support involved not only a rapid response to the needs of IDPs and other vulnerable categories of the local population, but also providing them with the most relevant assistance for conducting agricultural activities. After all, households independently chose what exactly they needed to purchase. 120 households were supported within the framework of the project.

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"Assessment of agricultural markets and needs in the Shostky district and support in the livelihood of households from among IDPs and the local rural population affected by the war from among the vulnerable categories of the Shostky territorial community of the Sumy region"

The project was implemented by the NGO "Association for Democratic Development" team together with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with the financial support of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The goal of the project: to determine the needs of displaced and war-affected households related to agriculture (crop and animal husbandry). Market assessment and determination of value chains to identify key factors of agricultural development and obstacles faced by small farms in the front-line and urban areas of Shostky district.

As part of the project, an assessment of agricultural markets and needs in the Shostky district was carried out, which began with the development of a detailed methodology, the definition of assessment tools and the preparation of a work plan. An important element of the assessment was the holding of eight focus group discussions in the Shostkin, Yampil, Glukhiv and Bereziv territorial communities of the Shostkin district. And also 15 individual interviews that were conducted with key informants, namely representatives of: agribusiness; authorities of various levels; international and national non-governmental organizations.

The data collected as part of the assessment of agricultural markets and needs were analyzed and presented at the validation meeting to interested parties. Such a study made it possible to see the specific needs of communities and agricultural producers and allows effective planning of the provision of current assistance in the long term.

In addition, thanks to the implementation of this project, financial assistance was provided aimed at supporting the livelihood of 215 households from among IDPs and the war-affected local rural population from among vulnerable categories who live in the Yampil and Shostkin communities of the Sumy region and do not have or have lost as a result of shelling the necessary resources for cultivating the land and conducting personal agriculture.

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"Comprehensive support in the areas of housing, livelihoods, multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) and group cash transfers (GCT) for conflict-affected populations in northern and southern parts of Ukraine"

The implementation of the project was started in May 2025 by the team of the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" in partnership with ZOA in Ukraine with the financial support of the Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund.

The goal of the project: to meet the most urgent and unsatisfied humanitarian needs of IDPs, returnees and the local affected population from among vulnerable categories living in Chernihiv, Koryukiv and Novgorod-Siversky districts of Chernihiv region.

In general, the project provided:

• provision of multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) to project participants;

• provision of livelihood assistance (AgroKit) to project participants;

• conducting trainings on veterinary and agricultural topics for project participants who received agricultural support (AgroKit);

• strengthening the capacity of civil society (public organizations and initiative groups) in the border areas of Chernihiv region (Chernihiv, Koryukiv, Novgorod-Siversky districts) реагувати на базові потреби постраждалого та вразливого населення;

• conducting training and advising public organizations during their development of projects;

• provision of group money transfers (GCT) to selected public organizations and initiative groups for their implementation of approved projects.

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Project "PROMESSA: Child protection, emergency response and health care for the most vulnerable families affected by the conflict in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions"

In 2025, the team of the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" started the implementation of this project together with the "Ter des Om Italy ETS" Foundation, represented by the Branch of the "Ter des Om Italy ETS" Foundation in Ukraine with the funding of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

The goal of the project: strengthening the system of child protection and increasing the resilience of vulnerable families in the communities of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions by implementing comprehensive measures of psychosocial support, case management (case management), economic assistance and raising awareness of issues of child rights protection in the conditions of a humanitarian crisis.

Project involves:

-  creation of a safe and comfortable Space for children and teenagers (hereinafter Space) in the Tomakiv settlement territorial community of the Dnipropetrovsk region;

- additional arrangement of two Spaces for children and teenagers in Novovodolaz settlement and Zlatopil urban territorial community of Kharkiv region; 

-   conducting group psychosocial support activities for children aged 4-17;

- conducting events for teenagers aimed at the development of youth leadership;

- conducting group activities on structured psychosocial support for children aged 4-17 years;

- providing psychosocial support for parents (guardians) of children visiting the Spaces ;

-   individual socio-psychological support of families in difficult life circumstances (case management);

-   provision of cash for protection to children from among vulnerable categories;

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The results of 2025 confirmed the need to provide versatile support to residents of communities from the border regions of Ukraine. 

The NGO team "Association for Democratic Development" will continue to work towards establishing partnerships with national and international organizations to provide constant support to the war-affected population, including from among vulnerable categories. 

We are sincerely grateful to partners, local self-government bodies and residents of communities for their trust and cooperation!