Since October 2025, the digital platform BLAHO for Communities has been operational in Ukraine, enabling donors to directly support community reconstruction projects. The initiative was implemented by Epicentre K in collaboration with the Norwegian company ITERA.
The platform is changing the approach to aid delivery, making it more targeted and transparent. Communities submit projects themselves — ranging from the restoration of social infrastructure to the creation of safe spaces — and donors can choose specific initiatives to support.
A key feature of BLAHO for Communities is the absence of direct cash transfers. Aid is provided via Blaho digital vouchers, which are converted into specific goods and materials for project implementation. This ensures funds are used for their intended purpose and minimises administrative costs.
“Today, Ukraine’s reconstruction requires not only significant investment but also precise solutions at the community level. We have created a platform that allows aid to be as targeted as possible: so that the donor clearly understands where the funds are going, and the community receives a concrete result. This is about building new trust in the reconstruction system — where every hryvnia has a measurable impact,” said Iryna Shynkarenko, Deputy Head of Epicentre K LLC for Communications, Advertising, Public Relations and Media.
According to Iryna Shynkarenko, the idea for the platform arose from the experience the company gained whilst working with international organisations, including the International Organization for Migration, UN Women and the Norwegian Refugee Council. As part of this collaboration, aid was provided to Ukrainians in the form of specific goods, enabling tens of thousands of people to be supported quickly.
To date, 89 projects from communities have been registered on the platform, with a total budget of over 46.5 million UAH. Three projects have received funding from donors, and two have been fully implemented.
The platform pays particular attention to small towns and rural communities, which are often overlooked by large-scale investment programmes but have a significant need for reconstruction.
All projects undergo a multi-stage verification process — from automatic assessment of the application to confirmation by local authorities and partner organisations. This ensures donor confidence and oversight of resource use.
The platform’s developers note that interest in it is growing: communities from various regions of Ukraine — both frontline and rear areas — are joining the initiative.
The company emphasises that scaling up the project requires greater involvement from businesses, international organisations, charitable foundations and private donors.
BLAHO for Communities is set to become a tool that will bring together the needs of communities and the capabilities of donors, ensuring rapid and measurable results in the country’s reconstruction process.