Resilience, transformation, and needs of pro-Roma NGOs in Zakarpattia Oblast
Report prepared by:
About publication
This analytical report is dedicated to assessing the needs of 18 pro-Roma non-governmental organizations in Zakarpattia Oblast as of the fall of 2025. The document describes how the full-scale invasion transformed the region into a crisis hub, forcing the local civic sector to adapt to receiving large numbers of Roma IDPs and integrating over 80 displaced activists into their teams. The report examines in detail the shift in organizational priorities from long-term development (culture, education) to crisis response.
Who will benefit?
- Local authorities
- Activists
- Journalists
Key findings:
17 out of 18 organizations depend on short-term grants, which makes institutional sustainability impossible and leads to professional burnout among staff. The activities of pro-Roma organizations have a high potential multiplicative effect. However, the effectiveness of this work is negated by institutional exclusion. Roma organizations are effectively excluded from official coordination councils and aid distribution mechanisms due to self-isolation and/or prejudice from the authorities. To maintain the region's resilience, a transition to a model of multi-year institutional funding and the formalization of partnerships is necessary.