In May 2025, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine launched the implementation of project In May 2025, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine launched the project "Humanitarian Response and Recovery: Strengthening the Leadership of Organizations of Women with Disabilities" with the technical support of UN Women Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). The project aims to empower women with disabilities to participate in decision-making, crisis response, and recovery efforts during martial law. It will run from May 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026. The project coordinator is Larysa Baida.
The new project focuses on building the capacity of civil society organizations led by women with disabilities, or by women working in this field, in seven regions of Ukraine heavily affected by Russia’s full-scale war: Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kropyvnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
As part of the initiative, the following actions are planned:
- Conducting trainings for representatives of organizations of women/persons with disabilities on humanitarian response, crisis management, and community recovery;
- Providing sub-grants to support local initiatives and ensure rapid response to the needs of women with disabilities in communities;
- Advocating for the rights of women and girls with disabilities in the humanitarian aid sector and promoting inclusive approaches to resource distribution.
Throughout the project, materials will be developed on the situation of women with disabilities during the full-scale war. Their purpose is to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and draw attention to systemic barriers. International webinars will also be held to share experiences with partner organizations of women with disabilities from other countries on integrating disability issues into humanitarian response, armed conflict, emergency, and disaster contexts.
In order to meet basic needs, improve living conditions, and strengthen social protection, women with disabilities, older women, internally displaced persons (IDPs) with disabilities, mothers of children with disabilities, and girls in vulnerable situations will receive targeted humanitarian assistance in the form of hygiene products, food packages, vouchers, and assistive technologies.
Women with disabilities are often excluded from humanitarian strategies and recovery processes, despite being one of the most vulnerable groups in times of crisis. This project aims to change that – by enhancing the participation of women themselves, supporting their organizations, and creating a safe and equitable environment for the realization of their rights.
The project "Humanitarian Response and Recovery: Strengthening the Leadership of Organizations of Women with Disabilities" is implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine with the technical support of UN Women Ukraine and funding from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) — a flexible and rapid financing tool supporting quality actions that enhance the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and leverage peacebuilding opportunities.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the United Nations Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), which does not imply that the views and contents expressed herein are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations."
The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is the only global financing mechanism exclusively dedicated to supporting women’s participation in peace and security processes and humanitarian action. Governed by a diverse group of civil society, government, and UN representatives, WPHF is a multi-partner trust fund that mobilizes urgently needed funding for local, women-led organizations and works alongside women on the front lines to build lasting peace. Since 2016, WPHF has provided funding and strengthened the capacities of over 1,000 local women’s civil society organizations advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda and delivering humanitarian action in 41 crisis-affected countries.
Oleksandra Perkova
Communications Manager of the Project
English 
Українська 