On 10–11 July 2025, world leaders meet in Rome for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), with a shared goal: shaping a sustainable, inclusive recovery for Ukraine. But behind the strategic frameworks and financial pledges lies a quieter truth: Ukraine is already rebuilding — not only its roads and power lines, but its democratic institutions, civic spirit, and independent voices.
This is a pivotal moment. Reconstruction cannot be purely technical. It must revitalise human capital and trust. Revitalisation, not just reconstruction, must be the guiding principle. And that process must be locally driven, democratically anchored, and supported now — even as war continues.
Much of Ukraine’s wartime resilience has come from its civil society — the NGOs filling governance gaps, the media informing citizens, the activists protecting rights. But today, many of these actors are under strain.
The withdrawal of U.S. assistance and fading international media attention have added to the challenges faced by civil society. Meanwhile, technocratic recovery plans are moving ahead — but they risk becoming disconnected from local realities if not properly shaped and guided by community-based actors.
There is a growing concern that Ukraine’s recovery could lean too heavily on infrastructure and speed, without sufficient focus on inclusion and long-term resilience. Without meaningful involvement of civic actors, recovery risks losing the social foundations that make it durable and truly transformative.
The European Endowment for Democracy (EED) was created to support democracy where it’s most needed and least supported. In Ukraine, EED has funded over 100 initiatives since 2022 — from investigative newsrooms and civic hubs to legal aid centres and youth-led watchdogs.
EED focuses on what others overlook: emerging leaders, local voices, neglected regions. Its partners embody the core of Ukraine’s democratic infrastructure. They:
In Sumy and Kyiv, regional media like Cukr and Grunt continue to publish high-quality journalism under constant threat. Grunt, once just a Telegram channel, now runs investigative exposés into the opaque ownership of major Ukrainian social media platforms — and is retaliated against for doing so.
On the frontline in Donetsk, Vilne Radio produces critical stories for citizens living under occupation — including the bureaucratic nightmares of veterans and the realities of life in Russia’s “integration” zones.
In Chernihiv, Eco Misto used EED support to advocate for the improvement of the city infrastructure and promoting inclusivity. They launched #BikesForUkraine — delivering 750 bicycles to aid mobility in de-occupied regions — and “Bike Kitchen” that became a hub for both transport and civic life. It’s now expanding into a social enterprise.
In Zaporizhzhia, Gender Zed became a lifeline for LGBTQ+ communities during the darkest days of the war. As rockets fell, their basement space transformed from a community centre into an emergency shelter, food depot, and safe haven. With EED’s support, Gender Zed has returned to its broader mission: inclusive education, and a growing media platform reaching hundreds of thousands across the region.
In Zakarpattia, a local activist mentored through Holka’s Active Citizens Network successfully overturned a major illegal resort development in the Carpathians. The campaign took seven years — and won in the Supreme Court.
Along 1,100km of Ukraine’s frontline, Frontliner photojournalists risk their lives to document war’s human toll. EED support has helped Frontliner maintain coverage across liberated and active conflict zones, often publishing footage that informs both domestic policy and international diplomacy.
In Russia-occupied Luhansk, Realna Gazeta continues to publish for readers who cannot safely speak. The team uses TikTok explainers, Telegram updates, and legal guides to reach citizens navigating life under Russian occupation. EED support enabled Realna Gazeta to survive the donor contraction of 2025 and prepare for the reintegration of these silent audiences when Ukraine returns.
The Ukraine Recovery Conference rightly emphasises human capital, decentralisation, and inclusive reform. But revitalisation is not an item on the agenda. It is the foundation upon which all other recovery efforts rest.
EED partners bring a simple message to Rome. If international partners are serious about supporting a stable, democratic Ukraine, they should:
Revitalisation isn’t a slogan. It’s what keeps Ukraine coherent, accountable, and human amid war. It is already happening — in bunkers, newsrooms, classrooms, and courtrooms.
