Our Clarifying Moment: A Global Call To Action
Address the Long-Term Impacts of the Conflict in Ukraine
The current conflict in Ukraine requires serious, acute attention, but the international community must also develop a strategy to address the long-term impacts of the conflict. The World Bank estimates the cost of reconstruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy to be around $500 billion over the next decade. Beyond the immediate need to rebuild roads, schools, hospitals, homes, factories, and businesses, donors must consider ways to support the democratically-elected government and Ukraine’s robust civil society in the days, months, and years ahead. The international community must consider flexible programming that anticipates evolving needs and allows for adaptation, as well as support Ukrainian refugees unable or unwilling to return home. Through contingency planning now and the development of a long-term strategy, the U.S. and international community can articulate a “clear, positive” vision focused on a prosperous Ukraine, rather than a more negative vision of countering Russia.
Immediate actions needed:
The international community, legal institutions, and Ukrainians must thoroughly investigate, document, coordinate, and adjudicate all alleged violations of international law perpetrated throughout the conflict and bring those responsible to justice.
To the extent stabilization is possible, donors must provide sustained development, economic, and other assistance to rebuild critical infrastructure, institutions, and capacity and address the healthcare needs, particularly mental health, through psychosocial, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed support. Donors should look to and amplify the work of organizations like Disaster Ready and The KonTerra Group, which published a series of free videos on mental health topics regarding the conflict in Ukraine, as well as online courses on key humanitarian topics.
Donors must also fund robust programming for peacebuilding, democracy and governance, cybersecurity, and combatting mis/disinformation to ensure social cohesion, build resilience, and prevent future destabilizing actions by Russia. Funding should include specific support for local organizations and salaries.
Critically, donors should also support anti-corruption efforts to safeguard the large influx of foreign assistance flowing to Ukraine and address potential post-conflict social, economic, and political challenges.
If Ukraine remains occupied and stabilization programming is not possible, then donors must provide contingency “humanitarian plus” programming that continues the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as supports the democratically-elected government and Ukrainian civil society and promotes activism, non-violent resistance, social movements, and unarmed civilian protection.
Donors must recognize the gendered impacts of the conflict and support and advocate for the inclusion of women in decision-making and all peace and security efforts to address the conflict and its aftermath in line with the WPS Agenda.
Donors must support a survivor-centered approach to help victims of conflict-related sexual violence receive access to necessary aid, including medical care, psychological support, and legal assistance. Without access to these essential services, many women survivors may face long-term health consequences that compound existing gender inequalities. Donors must also create programs and support for children born of conflict-related sexual violence.
Donors must provide the same level of support and empowerment tools to men and boys who are also survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. The impact of sexual violence against men and boys has not been given the same attention as against women and girls, and donors must provide adequate resources to address all forms of sexual violence in a conflict zone. The international community must deploy a comprehensive, gender-sensitive, trauma-informed, and victim-centered approach to assist those who have experienced violence, human trafficking, and abuse in the conflict to address their long-term psychosocial and physical needs.
Donors, civil society organizations, and justice institutions participating in accountability processes must ensure that all witnesses receive gender-sensitive and trauma-informed support and protection during interviews, testimony, and other processes to secure their safety and avoid re-traumatization.
Donors and the private sector must continue to invest in host countries of Ukrainian and Russian refugees to promote social cohesion and peacebuilding focused on relationship-building, community relationship management, and the equitable availability of social services for populations facing protection needs.
Donors, governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society must work to prevent the long-term availability of weapons in Ukraine amid the proliferation of weapons to all parties of the conflict. They must plan for and support long-term disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programming upon the cessation of hostilities. Significant resources in funding and technical capacity must be provided to undertake extensive demining efforts.
Donors must ensure that all future assistance is flexible and adaptive and programming is locally-led and owned.
Ukrainian refugees will continue to require sustained socio-economic support, including classes in local languages, job assistance, and childcare services. The U.S. and other host countries must enhance resettlement support and reduce the burdens towards legal pathways of entry and status for those fleeing the conflict.
The “Laptops for Ukraine“ Initiative launched by the EU in December 2022 must continue to receive support as it helps Ukrainians stay connected to the world and is now supporting museums to digitally safeguard Ukrainian culture and documents.