Since the full-scale invasion in Ukraine, there have been many initiatives that respond to humanitarian needs.
Among them are those who have formed a cool team and have the desire and ambition to develop into sustainable organisations.
Marianna Kaspryshyn, Director of the Community for Family programme, shares her tips on how to make your organisation a sustainable one
The war does not allow us to think about the transition to the recovery or development stage.We are still in the plane of humanitarian response where every day we meet people, supply food, hygiene products, and provide psychological first aid.
At the same time, a deep dive into the crisis response takes away our ability to do more and move up the Maslow Pyramid.
The humanitarian approach has the following main characteristics:access to the need satisfaction, the speed of service provision and its duration.
The quality of the humanitarian initiative depends on how we provide the service in the right place, how long we provide it, and how quickly a person obtains the opportunity to get out of the crisis to take care of themselves.
rule #1: in case of a humanitarian crisis, build friendly and trusting relationships with partners: this will allow you to respond better.
The UEP has been focusing on systemic and long-term impact all the years of its work. Since February 24, we have been responding quickly thanks to a strong base of partners who could receive aid from us and partners and distribute it locally.
rule #2: treat the humanitarian response as a research field: it is often possible to see in it the true needs and problems of people.
The UEP work specificity is that even during the humanitarian response, we are looking for deeper meanings and influences. Thus, Building Ukraine Together – BUT began to rebuild, integrating people from the affected communities into local ones; Leadership and Ministry creates hubs that will be distribution centres and always ready for crisis response; the Community for Family began to work with education so that teachers and school could quickly respond to the child’s needs in the community.
rule #3: ask those you helped yesterday to help you.
Sustainable recovery and development initiatives or projects are strongly linked to humanitarian ones. They are usually aimed at avoiding problems and meeting the needs that move along the Maslow Pyramid. The transition to revival projects requires the inclusion of those who were yesterday’s beneficiaries.
rule #4: feel.
Every assistance, whatever it is, must be a response to a need. If a person comes and wants to eat, we do not force them to build, and if they come to build, we do not feed them just for the sake of feeding. Each assistance should be provided in accordance with the assessment of the needs of the person who applied for it. Otherwise, well-organised and planned assistance can develop negative phenomena and reduce public confidence in the public sector.
The early recovery phase is transitional to the developmental phase.
The organisation itself must choose the path it will take. Perhaps your task is to respond, and you will continue to provide accommodation, food, care, guardianship, etc. Let me note that in peacetime, these services are also needed, especially for families with children and the elderly. Perhaps your organisation sees itself in early recovery and you will build, develop infrastructure, equip shelters, etc.
We are proud of your courage and your work’s scale!
Remember, we work qualitatively!
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