Four years after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, daily life for millions remains a struggle, marked by economic insecurity, power outages during harsh winters, constant security threats, and displacement. Amid this, Ukrainian women have shown remarkable resilience and leadership, managing humanitarian response from the earliest days of the conflict. They have kept communities functioning, distributed aid, maintained essential services, cared for the sick, and even fought on the front lines. Despite their pivotal role, women and women-led organizations now face a critical funding crisis that threatens their ability to continue this essential work.
Dramatic cuts in international donor funding have severely impacted women-led organizations in Ukraine, with an estimated USD 27.4 million lost in 2025 and an anticipated USD 25 million reduction in 2026. These cuts disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations, including refugees, internally displaced women, single mothers, older women, women with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence. As a result, tens of thousands are at risk of losing access to vital services, from economic empowerment programs to protection and psychosocial support.
UN Women has been actively supporting Ukrainian women since the start of the conflict, ensuring that their perspectives shape humanitarian response, gender-responsive recovery plans, and political decisions. By funding women-led organizations on the front lines, UN Women helps deliver essential services such as emergency shelter, psychological counseling, legal aid, and cash assistance. Since 2022, 150,000 women and girls have benefited from these programs, supported through initiatives like the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, which has mobilized over USD 26 million for women’s organizations across Ukraine.
UN Women also amplifies women’s voices through the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, uniting more than 400 organizations to ensure aid and recovery efforts reflect women’s needs. This platform strengthens both women-led and survivor-led organizations, including groups focused on LGBTIQ+, Roma, and disability rights, ensuring humanitarian action reaches those who need it most.
Economic empowerment is another key focus. Programs such as Women for the Future, Dream and Achieve Academy, and She Drives provide women with mentorship, training, and job opportunities, opening new career paths and challenging gender stereotypes. More than 80,000 women have accessed mentorship and employment, while over 10,000 women entrepreneurs have gained skills to expand their businesses. These initiatives help women sustain livelihoods, support families, and participate actively in Ukraine’s economic recovery.
Women’s leadership and political participation are central to Ukraine’s recovery. The Alliance on Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery, launched with UN Women, mobilizes political and financial support for women’s leadership in recovery efforts. Programs like She Leads Ukraine train women in political leadership, addressing their underrepresentation in Parliament and local governance. These initiatives foster decision-making power and ensure women shape the policies that affect their lives.
Finally, women are actively involved in mine action and reconstruction. With Ukraine among the most mine-contaminated countries globally, UN Women’s She Demines project trains women in technical demining skills, enabling them to safely clear land, restore agricultural activity, and lead recovery efforts. These efforts demonstrate that women are critical leaders in all aspects of reconstruction, from humanitarian aid to post-conflict recovery.
Sustained investment and support for Ukrainian women remain essential. By funding and empowering women-led organizations, amplifying women’s voices, fostering economic and political leadership, and involving women in recovery and mine action, UN Women ensures that women remain central to Ukraine’s humanitarian, peace, and reconstruction efforts.
