Ukraine Crisis Response

In late 2014, instability spread to Eastern Ukraine when the Russian Federation annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and armed separatists took control of the Donbas region. The violence affected local communities and infrastructure, and nearly three million people fled their homes. More than 1.7 million people were registered as internally displaced by the Government of Ukraine, while about 1.1 million fled to neighboring countries. Nearly four million people in the Ukraine needed humanitarian assistance. In response to the fighting, Caritas Ukraine, a national charitable foundation, established 12 new offices, hired 600 staff, and expanded its programming portfolio by over more than $14 million with the support of partner INGOs. This enabled Caritas Ukraine to meet the needs of 115,000 Ukrainians per year starting in 2014. To identify the main factors that aided Caritas Ukraine in rapidly adjusting to respond to the growing needs, this case study—undertaken by CRS staff members using qualitative data collection and analysis—draws on interviews with Caritas Ukraine employees and staff of international humanitarian organizations who partnered with Caritas throughout the crisis response. It also draws out lessons and identifies ways international partner organizations can improve partnership with Caritas Ukraine in future responses.