The All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, supported by the USAID Agricultural and Rural Development Program (AGRO), has successfully implemented the “Support Program for Food Security: United Communities” since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This project brought together cities and villages, charitable foundations, international donors, Ukrainian companies, and volunteers around a common goal: to help communities affected by the war withstand, recover, and develop despite extremely challenging conditions.
Unfortunately, the war dealt a heavy blow to the country’s economy, causing massive destruction of infrastructure, energy facilities, threatening people’s lives, and posing a challenge to food security. Over 7 million Ukrainians were deprived of the opportunity to live and earn a living at home and were forcibly displaced to other regions of Ukraine.
Despite the ruined infrastructure and difficult conditions in frontline and affected communities, Ukrainians remained on their native land and sought to rebuild and continue their lives.
Many communities literally found themselves on the brink of humanitarian and economic crisis. People needed the most basic necessities – food, medicine, hygiene products, and more.
Therefore, to ensure the livelihoods of communities and support their residents, the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, with support from the USAID AGRO Program, began implementing the “Support Program for Food Security: United Communities.” The project’s primary task was to support communities through the logistics of essential goods.
“United Communities” is a large-scale project that includes the following components:
- LOGISTICS – transportation of critically needed goods for residents of frontline, de-occupied communities, and internally displaced persons, as well as material and technical resources for the restoration and support of critical infrastructure facilities and small-scale agricultural producers;
- SEEDS OF VICTORY – distribution of vegetable seeds to community residents from international companies;
- EXPERT SPACE – information and advisory support for territorial communities to address problematic issues in wartime conditions;
- COOPERATION OF TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES – establishing partnerships between territorial communities and seeking international partners.
Volumes of assistance:
- over 1500 tons of cargo to de-occupied and frontline communities, as well as for internally displaced persons;
- over 120 tons of aid for those affected by flooding due to the explosion of the Kakhovka HPP dam.
Who received assistance:
- over 200,000 people from nearly 600 communities, including 15,500 veterans; 30,000 residents of de-occupied communities; 100,000 women; 65,000 elderly individuals;
- communities affected by flooding.
The donors included:
- nearly 100 communities;
- over 20 organizations.
Ukrainian donor organizations participating in the project:
- Olena Zelenska Foundation;
- NGO “LYUDYNA” (Kyiv);
- NGO “BRATTYA” (Zaporizhzhia);
- NGO “MISTO SYLY” (Kherson);
- Association “Association of Border Self-Government Bodies of Zakarpattia”;
- Berehove district Maltese Aid Service;
- NGO “BO “PATRIOTYCHNA UKRAINA” (Brovary);
- NGO “VOLUNTEERISM AND PROTECTION CENTER” (Lviv);
- NGO “BT “MEREZHA” (Kryvyi Rih).
International donor organizations that provided cargo within the project:
- Israeli International Cooperation Center MASHAV;
- NGO “German-Ukrainian Forum” (Berlin, Germany);
- USAID Strengthening Trust Project (UCBI-III);
- Swedish government agency MSB;
- Howard Buffett Foundation.
International seed companies that donated seeds within the project:
- Bayer;
- Gowan;
- Enza Zaden;
- Syngenta;
- Lark Seeds;
- Nunhems;
- Rijk Zwaan;
- Hazera;
- Seminis.
Where can you find recommendations for project implementation and successful cases of mutual assistance?
In the electronic manual on logistics and cooperation of communities to ensure food security and community recovery in wartime conditions, available at: [link]
What were the results of organizing transportation logistics?
During the project implementation, donors, aid recipients, carriers, representatives of logistic and humanitarian hubs, territorial communities, central government agencies, members of the Association’s Board, and public opinion leaders joined forces to form the VAG Transport and Logistics Cluster to assist communities affected by the war.
How are logistics results tracked?
- Communities and aid recipients provide lists of individuals who received assistance, along with photos confirming the delivery of aid.
- VAG, together with USAID AGRO, conducts monitoring visits to communities and verifies the results.
We invite you to join the “United Communities” project if you have something to share with Ukrainians affected by the war and can provide them with assistance.
United we are unbeatable!
To join the “United Communities” project, please email: [email protected].