Country: Ukraine Source: Center for Civilians in Conflict Please refer to the attached file. Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) has launched a new round of applications for its Local Initiatives Fund (LIF) for 2025 to strengthen the protection of civilians across Ukraine. As attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure continue, there is an urgent need for practical, community-led protection solutions. This grant mechanism supports community-driven projects that build resilience and address urgent protection needs in war-affected regions.“At CIVIC, we believe that working alongside local communities is not just an add-on to the protection of civilians, it is at the heart of it,” said Karyna Anapriiuk, Grant Officer at CIVIC Ukraine. “Through the LIF, people living with daily risks gain the agency and resources to lead efforts to make their communities safer.”Established in 2022, the LIF has become a cornerstone of CIVIC’s work in Ukraine, rooted in the belief that local leadership is essential to community safety. The fund provides grants to civil society organizations, local authorities, and grassroots actors to deliver practical, locally driven solutions to real protection challenges, from improving bomb shelter access to conducting life-saving safety training.Locally-led initiatives are saving lives in Ukraine’s most vulnerable areas. By giving people the skills and resources to respond to threats, these initiatives keep communities safe when government support is unavailable or overstretched.In Mykolaiv region, LIF-supported projects helped hospitals in Pivdennoukrainsk and Arbuzynka communities strengthen their emergency response systems for mass casualty incidents, specifically for people who were injured during shelling. Improvements included spatial reorganization, streamlined triage protocols, and faster diagnostic workflows. As a result, trauma patients now reach the operating room 2.6 times faster, significantly improving survival rates during attacks.“Behind the numbers are lives saved,” said Nina Verbytska, Hospital Coordinator. “Every system improvement from diagnostics to triage and staff mobilization can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.” LIF-supported projects include trainings that give local communities practical skills to stay safe. In Chernihiv region, one resident who received tactical medical training later saved two lives of people who got injured in a missile attack. “He said it was that training from CIVIC that gave him the knowledge to act,” shared Oleksii Karpenko, Head of the Safety and Social Cohesion Center in the Menа community, Chernihiv region.Since its launch, the LIF has supported 53 local projects across Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblasts, providing a total of $695,446 USD in subgrants. These projects have delivered 511 community trainings on topics such as mine safety, first aid, psychological support, emergency response, gender-based violence prevention, air raid protocols, and media literacy. As a result, more than 5,000 civilians – including displaced people, older adults, persons with disabilities, local residents, civil servants, and children – have gained practical skills to stay safe during emergencies. Beyond these immediate results, the fund has helped communities strengthen their preparedness and response, ultimately saving lives and making them more resilient in the face of continued attacks.In 2025, CIVIC plans to expand LIF’s reach to additional frontline and high-risk communities. The focus will be on practical safety solutions, early warning systems, and making sure protection efforts include everyone. Civil society organizations in eligible oblasts are encouraged to apply with proposals that offer practical ways to keep all civilians safe.Applications are open until August 10, 2025, Kyiv time.“Local communities know best what will keep them safe,” said Anapriiuk. “Our role is to stand alongside them, listen, and help turn their ideas into lifesaving action.”For details and eligibility criteria, please visit: https://lifcivic.com/CIVIC in UkraineCIVIC has been present in Ukraine since 2017, conducting research and on-the-ground activities assisting the Ukrainian government and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the development and implementation of tools, training, and policies on the protection of civilians. CIVIC in Ukraine is also supporting local communities in the areas at risk of escalation of hostilities and in newly liberated areas by strengthening their preparedness and resilience to protection threats, building effective coordination systems with the military, local authorities and communities, and amplifying civilians’ voices through research and advocacy.Learn more about the protection of civilians in UkraineFor more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:Global CIVIC Communications: comms@civiliansinconflict.org