Meta-Study on Ukraine's CSO Transformation and Collaboration between InternationalCooperation and Philanthropies
July – December 2026
Research Context
Open Space Works (OSW), with Foundations for Ukraine (F4U) and GIZ, is running a six-month study on how Ukrainian CSOs have transformed since the full-scale invasion, how philanthropic actors (PA) and international cooperation (IC) agencies have supported that shift, and what better PA–IC collaboration could look like.
Key Objectives
Assess how far localisation has shifted decision-making power to Ukrainian CSOs, and what barriers remain.
Map overlaps, gaps, and untapped complementarity between PA and IC approaches.
Identify practical collaboration models (pooled funds, joint programming) drawing onF4U–GIZ and international experience.
How We Do It
Evidence review
existing research and data on CSO transformation
Funding-flows mapping
how PA/IC funding mechanisms evolved
25 key informant interviews
with IC, PA, and CSO leaders
3 focus groups
discussions with key stakeholders
Validation workshop
testing findings with stakeholders (Kyiv, Nov 2026)
How You Can Get Involved
International Cooperation actors
share how funding instruments, localisation strategies, and reporting have evolved since 2022, and what constraints limit flexibility.
Philanthropic actors (F4U members, other private philanthropies)
share how your fundingmodels work in practice, and how you see your role next to institutional donors.
Ukrainian CSO leaders
help ground the study in lived experience: unmet needs, what genuine partnership looks like, and how to demonstrate mutual benefit.
Contacts
We welcome informal questions about the study at any stage.
Maryana Zaviyska
Research Team Lead
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Natalia Harasiva,
Analyst and Research Coordinator
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