Iryna Shynkarenko

When we talk about rebuilding Ukraine today, we often think in terms of large numbers, international conferences, and strategic investments. But in reality, recovery begins much closer to the ground — within individual communities, their daily challenges, and the needs of the people who live there.

That is why, together with Itera, we created the BLAHO for Communities platform — a digital tool designed to fundamentally change the logic of how aid is delivered. It represents a shift from complex and often opaque mechanisms to direct, targeted interaction between those who need support and those who are ready to provide it.

At the core of the platform is a principle that is essential to us: every hryvnia of donor support must deliver real impact. No losses to administrative costs, no unnecessary intermediaries, only full transparency and the ability to track every stage of project implementation.

The platform’s mechanism is simple and clear. A donor selects a verified project and supports it through Blaho digital certificates. These funds are not transferred as direct cash payments. Instead, we ensure the delivery of the necessary materials directly to the community to implement the project. This approach guarantees targeted use of funds, eliminates inefficiencies, and ensures full transparency. Every stage, from project selection to completion, can be tracked in real time.

This approach did not emerge overnight. Since the start of the full-scale war, Epicentr has developed an entirely new digital solution, the “Blaho” certificate program. International organizations, including IOM, UN Women, and Norwegian Refugee Council, have used this model to support Ukrainians by covering specific goods for specific individuals. As a result, tens of thousands of people received assistance quickly, directly, and without unnecessary bureaucracy.

BLAHO for Communities is the scaling of this experience to the community level. The platform enables cities and villages to define their own needs, from restoring social infrastructure to creating safe spaces or support centers for internally displaced people. At the same time, it allows donors to choose exactly which projects they want to support, fully understanding their importance and seeing tangible impact.

We are still at an early stage, but the first results already demonstrate strong demand for this model.

As of today:

89 projects have been submitted by Ukrainian communities;
total funding requests exceed UAH 46.5 million;
3 projects have received donor funding;
2 projects have been fully implemented.

These are not just numbers. They represent real stories of change, from restored facilities to improved conditions that help people regain a sense of safety and normalcy.

Importantly, the platform focuses on small towns and rural communities, those often overlooked by large-scale investment programs, yet in urgent need of support. In such places, even small projects can have a critically important social impact.

Another key aspect is transparency. Each project undergoes a multi-level verification process, from automated application assessment to confirmation by local authorities and partner organizations. This ensures that donors can trust that their contributions are directed exactly where they are needed and used effectively.

We are seeing growing interest in the platform. Communities from across Ukraine, from frontline areas to relatively safer regions, are joining. Each brings its own needs, its own story, and its own vision for recovery.

However, for this system to reach its full potential, a broader coalition of partners is essential.

Today, I would like to address businesses, international organizations, foundations, and private donors. Ukraine needs not only large-scale solutions, but also targeted, direct support. It is often this type of support that delivers the fastest and most tangible results.

BLAHO for Communities offers a new way to contribute to rebuilding the country, a format where every contribution leads to a clear, measurable outcome. Where support is defined not only by financial value, but by real changes in people’s lives. And where trust is reinforced by technology and transparent processes.

We believe that this model of collaboration, between communities, businesses, and donors, can become one of the key pillars of Ukraine’s recovery.

Supporting reconstruction today is simple: choose a project on the BLAHO for Communities platform and contribute to a community, with a transparent and tangible result.

Iryna Shynkarenko
Deputy Head of Epicentr K for Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, and Media