- Members’ Stories
Iryna Kuropas works for the Local Economic Development Agency of the Yaroviv District in Ukraine. Her organisation is a member of the EaP CSF Ukraine National Platform (UNP) and of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. On 10 and 11 July, she was at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome where she represented the UNP and the EaP CSF as the Working Group 2 Coordinator of the UNP.
Following the Conference, we asked her some of the key takeaways from the event.
Iryna, you represented the EaP CSF Ukraine National Platform at the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Could you explain why this conference was important?
Iryna Kuropas: “This year’s Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025) in Rome was more than just a platform for diplomacy and formal agreements. For me, it was a moment of clarity: Ukraine’s recovery will not happen without partnerships at the community level, without investment in people, and without honest dialogue about the challenges that connect the frontline, the home front, and the future. And it is critically important to talk about recovery now — on every possible platform and in every language.
The URC 2025 programme focused on four key areas:
- The business dimension: mobilising the private sector for reconstruction and economic growth;
- The human dimension: social recovery and human capital for Ukraine’s future;
- The local and regional dimension: rebuilding communities and regions;
- The EU dimension: EU accession and the reforms it entails.
These priorities are far from accidental. They reflect the real, urgent issues Ukraine faces today.”
What resonated most with you during these two days of debate?
Iryna: “What resonated most with me was the focus on human capital. It’s true: we can talk about billions in investments, cutting-edge technology, or infrastructure projects, but none of this is possible without people — people who have the knowledge, strength, and motivation to make it happen. Without teachers, doctors, builders, volunteers, entrepreneurs — recovery is impossible. And social resilience, dignity, and belief in one’s own strength are the foundation of every reform.
At the same time, we must consider how to bring people back and motivate them, both those who were forced to leave their homes because of the Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, and those who are now on the frontlines. The success of Ukraine’s recovery depends on the return and active participation of each and every one of them.
Another key point is the role of communities. This year, I heard it especially clearly: Ukrainian communities are no longer seen as passive recipients of aid. They are partners. They are not just ready to take on responsibility — they already do. And this is exactly what the world is looking for: actors who know their territory, their people, and their resources. At URC, we were reminded once again: no project happens in the abstract — everything takes place in a specific community. And when there is trust, cooperation, and competence at that level — results follow.
I was encouraged to see that combining discussions of defence and recovery is no longer taboo. We all understand that as long as the war continues, recovery must include a security dimension. In Ukraine’s case, this security focus can never be left out. That’s why discussions about investment insurance, infrastructure protection, and the development of defence industry facilities — which will enable both current defence and future security — are not signs of weakness, but of strategic thinking. Much work remains, but we are no longer afraid to talk about it — and that is progress.
URC 2025 also clearly demonstrated that Ukraine is a leader in the Eastern Partnership region. We are not just recipients of aid and a country fighting a war — against the same aggressor that threatens the entire region: Russia. We are carriers of experience. And now, when many countries in the region are under the influence of Russian narratives, Ukraine has both the chance — and the responsibility — to become a point of support. We must not only build our own resilience but also share what we’ve learned: how to preserve democracy during war, how to maintain and strengthen communities, how to implement necessary reforms, how to engage people in meaningful change. All of this, despite the conditions of full-scale invasion. This role demands great responsibility — but it is one we are ready to fulfil. URC 2025 is a powerful confirmation of that.”
What key takeaway do you retain from the Conference?
Iryna: “To summarise, URC 2025 gave me a clear answer: Ukraine’s recovery is not only about government plans and donor funds. It is about partnerships. And the most important partners are those on the ground — in communities where life continues every day. That’s where the needs are — and the potential. We must keep this focus, because communities are becoming the growth points of a new Ukraine.
In this context, civil society, including through the Ukrainian National Platform plays a critically important role as a partner to both the state and local communities. It connects people’s needs with decision-making, brings substance to processes, and ensures transparency and accountability. During the war, civil society organizations have proven their effectiveness in delivering aid, mobilising resources, and responding quickly to crises. But now their role is even broader — to be drivers of real change, uniting communities, government, and business around practical solutions. Without a strong, professional, motivated, and influential civic sector, no recovery strategy will be complete.”
Additional resources
- Ukraine Recovery Conference website
- The EaP CSF Ukraine National Platform held a summary webinar following the URC, which you can view here in English or here in Ukrainian.
