Norway will allocate NOK 60 million ($5.9 million) to Ukrainian women’s organizations through a three-year partnership with FOKUS (Forum for Women and Development), the Norwegian government announced on 26 June.

The funding targets initiatives to strengthen women’s rights, prevent gender-based violence, and promote women’s participation in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. Up to 90 Ukrainian women’s organizations will receive support under the agreement, with many located in smaller towns and remote areas beyond Kyiv.

“Women have an important role to play both in Ukraine’s fight for freedom and in the country’s reconstruction efforts,” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said. “It is essential to invest in strengthening women’s rights and participation in these processes to build a free, fair and sustainable Ukraine.”

FOKUS will collaborate with two central Ukrainian women’s organizations to distribute the funds. The Ukrainian Women’s Fund (UWF) will handle disbursement to local organizations, while La Strada Ukraine operates the country’s largest helpline for victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence.

The need for such assistance has increased dramatically since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, according to Norwegian officials. La Strada Ukraine’s services have seen heightened demand as the conflict continues.

“In the midst of a brutal, ongoing war, Ukrainian women have taken responsibility for keeping their communities functioning,” Eide explained.

Local women’s organizations possess unique insight into their communities’ needs and will play a pivotal role in reconstruction efforts, Norwegian authorities noted. The funding will also support establishing networks of women’s organizations and strengthening women’s economic and political participation in society.

The three-year duration provides partner organizations with predictability and flexibility for long-term planning. Funding comes from Norway’s Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine.

The announcement follows Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s earlier declaration that Norway will provide 1 billion euros in humanitarian and civilian aid to Ukraine in 2025. Recent polling shows most Norwegians support increasing assistance to Ukraine.

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