Ukraine is affected by a complex, protracted humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022. The invasion and ongoing aggression have caused massive human casualties and widescale damage to civilian infrastructure, forcing people to flee in search of safety and assistance. This Humanitarian Update on Sumy Region describes the Humanitarian needs and priorities of women and girls, UN Women’s humanitarian response activities, and coordination and partnership efforts through GIHA Working Group, Government, UN, NGOs and INGOs.

This study is intended to become a conceptual, methodological and practical foundation for all stakeholders – from state and local authorities, international organizations to the private sector, civil society and the media.

In March 2022, with the technical support of UN Women as the Management Entity, WPHF swiftly responded to the full-scale war in Ukraine through its emergency response mechanism, directing urgent funding to local women’s civil society organizations. WPHF’s support to UN Women’s work in Ukraine has been made possible through generous contributions from the governments of the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, and private sector partners.

This brochure features ten unique stories of women’s entrepreneurship, craft production, and socially responsible businesses to amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs and underscore their vital role in Ukraine’s recovery.

The Handbook “Training Materials and Online Courses on Gender Equality” is a practical tool for those seeking to integrate gender perspectives into their professional work. It features over 50 up-to-date resources and courses on gender policy, budgeting, governance, analysis, inclusive language, and more.

The report outlines the commitments made by members upon joining the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine and details the initial steps taken by the Core Group to monitor and report on these pledges.

Report based on the results of a research of the impact of security challenges on girls and boys, women and men, taking into account age, place of residence, and other social characteristics, as well as the interests of different social groups in post-war reconstruction in 2024-2025

In the third year of the full-scale war, Ukrainian women continued to lead — in communities, in business, in government, and in recovery. This report captures a year of progress, resilience, and partnership. With support from our donors and partners, UN Women Ukraine reached over 180,000 women and girls in 2024, expanded collaboration across sectors, and helped ensure that gender equality remains central to Ukraine’s recovery.

UN Women’s Strategic Note is a comprehensive multi-year roadmap that defines our vision, priorities, and concrete steps toward advancing gender equality and empowering all women and girls. Developed in close consultation with national partners and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, UN Women’s Global Strategic Plan, and key gender-equality commitments, the Strategic Note outlines our intended results, targets, and resource needs. It is a call to action — and a commitment — to build a more just, inclusive, and equal society for - for all women and girls!

Gender equality is a cornerstone of effective and equitable humanitarian response in Ukraine. Women and girls make up over 64% of all internally displaced persons and often face greater needs and barriers to accessing aid — especially those from Roma communities, ethnic minorities, women with disabilities, and those living with HIV. This report, developed by the Gender in Humanitarian Action working group co-led by UN Women Ukraine, CARE Ukraine and Girls NGO – compiles best practices and key lessons learned from three years of Russia’s full-scale war. It highlights the role of women’s rights organizations, women’s leadership in policy-making, the importance of gender analysis, and ongoing challenges in financing and participation in decision-making.

"Gender Gaps in the Municipal Transport Sector" is the first study in Ukraine focused on analyzing the factors that contribute to gender gaps in the field of municipal transport.

The study titled “Gender Dimension of the Energy Crisis in Ukraine: Pathways to Resilience” is the first comprehensive research in Ukraine examining how the war and energy instability impact women in their daily lives, work, and public engagements. It identifies both socio-economic challenges stemming from rising energy costs and power outages, as well as the gender-specific effects of the crisis.

In its comprehensive guidance, officially known as General Recommendation 40, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) made it clear that “equal and inclusive representation” requires no less than 50-50 parity between women and men. This undisputable standard ensures equal access for all women and girls within any decision-making system, which the Committee underlined should include public, private sector, political, economic, and digital spaces.

Women-led and women’s rights organizations (WROs) in Ukraine have been severely impacted by funding suspensions by the United States (U.S), a new survey by UN Women, the Apparatus of the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy of Ukraine, and the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group, reveals. UN Women calls for more direct, flexible, and long-term funding to women’s rights organizations to ensure life-saving programs for women and girls to meet sudden funding gaps.

To support government bodies in addressing the challenges posed by the war, UN Women Ukraine presents a new Guide on Gender Mainstreaming in Regional and Local Development Strategies for Recovery. This essential resource equips civil servants and officials with practical tools to integrate gender perspectives into strategic documents, ensuring equitable and inclusive development and recovery for all.

UN Women presents the analytical brief “Women’s economic empowerment in Ukraine during Russia’s Invasion”. The document is based on the latest studies on the impact of Russia's war against Ukraine on women and girls. The report contains valuable information that will help develop initiatives, programs, and policies aimed at the economic empowerment of women and girls in the context of Ukraine's gender-responsible recovery.

This report presents the results of a study on the impact of the full-scale war in Ukraine on women living with HIV. The report describes how the war has affected the employment, economic, and property status of women living with HIV, how it has impacted their health, and the challenges women have faced in raising children, family planning, accessing HIV services, and seeking help. The research was conducted under the guidance of the community within the framework of the UNAIDS UBRAF Country Envelope and the UN Women in Ukraine project "Transformative Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine", supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and funded by Sweden.

Women and men, girls and boys, in all their diversities, have been profoundly impacted by over two years of full-scale war in Ukraine. The humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with varied and uneven gendered impacts. 56 per cent of the 3.7 million officially registered IDPs are women, and women make up 93 per cent of the 4.6 million people returning to Ukraine and seeking to re-integrate into society.  As of December 2023, at least 14.5 million people (one-third of the population) need humanitarian aid, of which 56 per cent are women and girls. 

As the full-fledged war in Ukraine entered its’ second year, addressing the needs and priorities of women and girls remains paramount. Women account for 61% of those displaced by May 2023 and out of the 17.5 million people in need of assistance, 56% are women and girls.1 Women’s civil society organisations (CSOs) working across Ukraine continue to highlight the urgent needs of women and girls and how the war is disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable populations. The UN Women Ukraine Strategic Note for 2023 is in line with the priorities of the UN Transitional Framework for 2023 and has been developed in close consultation with women’s CSOs and government counterparts. This brief provides an update on UN Women’s contributions to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in Ukraine, during the first half of 2023.

Policy Brief: A Gender Responsive Recovery for Ukraine: Introduction