With more than 100 staff around the world, CIVIC is powered by people who bring insight, creativity, and deep care to their work every day.
We’re proud to share short spotlights on colleagues from across the organization. These snapshots are a small way to recognize the talent, humor, and determination that drive our mission forward—and to offer a glimpse of the people shaping how we protect civilians in conflict.
In November 2013, a wave of large-scale protests began in the streets of Kyiv in response to President Yanukovych’s sudden decision to abandon an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. For many Ukrainians, this decision symbolized deeper issues of corruption, authoritarianism and the lack of democratic freedoms that had troubled the country for years.
As the protests intensified, protesters were detained, arrested, and charged with crimes, often without access to legal support. In response, a small group of volunteer lawyers stepped in to provide free legal aid. What started as a grassroots initiative eventually grew into a formalized legal aid system within Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice.
I was fortunate to be part of this transformative effect. Through a project led by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, we helped establish a justice system that over time grew into a network of over 100 free legal aid centers, ensuring access to legal representation for those who could not afford a lawyer.
The team I worked with was exceptional, and some of us later joined CIVIC Ukraine. Since 2017, CIVIC has worked closely with the Ukrainian government and the Armed Forces of Ukraine to develop policies, training and tools aimed at minimizing civilian harm during armed conflict in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Initially, my role focused on managing grants, tracking finances and ensuring everything was in order as we continued supporting those affected by the ongoing occupation. But when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, our world turned upside down. My largely administrative job quickly became part of an urgent humanitarian response. Our team had to act fast and completely reprogram to respond effectively.
Thankfully, international donors did not halt the Ukrainian programs, including those of CIVIC. As new donors came on board, each with different reporting requirements, and the number of projects grew, our team was working at maximum capacity. The grant management processes, which were focused on long-term projects, needed to be adjusted to respond to the increasing need for rapid humanitarian aid.
Alongside our long-term programs of civil-military cooperation and community protection groups, CIVIC Ukraine pioneered a sub-granting program to support local organizations. Local civil society in Ukraine are often the only groups who can access civilians in need of protection, especially those with disabilities, limited mobility and the elderly. CIVIC believes that resourcing local organizations is instrumental in building resilience for the long haul. Through grants of $10,000, these communities were able to repair bomb shelters, fix air alarm systems and organize self-defense training. Though small, these grants have a real impact on the ground.
Effective humanitarian response requires a balance between rapid action and careful planning. As international aid started arriving in Ukraine, it revealed complexities of aid distribution. While the global response is quick and well-intentioned, coordination between aid organizations and local communities is often lacking. For example, some people receive aid multiple times, while others are left out. These inconsistencies lead to frustrations and conflicts within local communities.
Before sending any humanitarian support, organizations should do a thorough survey to understand the evolving needs of the affected communities and the specific challenges facing different regions. It’s much more effective to send funds directly to local organizations that understand the nuances of the situation on the ground and can distribute the aid to those that need it most.
Another significant challenge in protecting civilians is the spread of misinformation. In 2023, CIVIC conducted research on the devastating consequences of disinformation in wartime, revealing how deceptive tactics have been used to manipulate civilian populations and disrupt humanitarian efforts. We found that false reports had misled civilians into trusting so-called “green corridors” for evacuation, which turned out to be deliberately engineered traps by Russian forces. These tactics, part of Russia’s Information Psychological Situational Operations (IPSO), can quickly spread on social media, resulting in tragic consequences. CIVIC Ukraine has partnered with the Center for Countering Disinformation to establish cooperation and conduction training to our communities, so civilians are equipped with the tools and knowledge to critically assess the information they receive.
Despite the numerous challenges – blackouts, drone strikes and rocket attacks – our small team adapted quickly to the new demands while maintaining our commitment to highest standards. I’m proud that, even in the face of adversity, we consistently meet our reporting deadlines. By ensuring that CIVIC Ukraine remains accountable and transparent, we have maintained the trust of our donors and secured critical funding extensions for the coming years. This funding directly translates into lifesaving support, helping communities rebuild, strengthening civilian protection programs, and ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most.
We see the difference our work makes every day, whether in the communities we support or the lives we protect. And that is why we’ll keep moving forward.
