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Nonviolent Peaceforce: Early Interventions for Community Resilience 2026-2028


Switzerland has taken a leading role in advancing Duty of Care and localisation in the Ukraine response by promoting the protection and empowerment of local humanitarian actors, while also spearheading UN Security Council Resolution 2730 on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel. The proposed credit enhances capacities of local humanitarian actors to deal with the physical threats and psychological impact in frontline regions (Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa) and addresses critical needs of vulnerable populations, at the same time preparing them for a potential recovery in case of ceasefire.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Ukraine
Emergency Relief and Protection
nothemedefined
Protection, access & security
01.05.2026 - 30.06.2028
 CHF  3’020’000
The project in brief
Background After four years into the large-scale war, local humanitarian workers are under-supported in safety measures. At the same time, the conflict is evolving with new threats, particularly the use of First-Person View drones, which are increasingly responsible for civilian casualties and among humanitarian workers. This situation underscores the urgent need to enhance civilian protection and adapt safety mechanisms to the current context. Additionally, sexual and gender-based violence and youth detentions related to "collaborative" activities with Russian intelligence are on the rise, particularly in frontline communities with sustained military presence and troop rotations. Current conflict dynamics are not conducive to peace negotiations; however, in the event of a cessation of hostilities the population is not prepared for a potential ceasefire. The proposed project will implement a range of interventions to reduce the negative impacts on war-affected Ukrainians through elevating civilians’ physical and psychological protection and help them prepare for a potential ceasefire.
Objectives Protecting civilians and particularly vulnerable groups from the consequences of the conflict.
Target groups
  • Local Humanitarian Workers and Duty Bearers (collective site workers, local government officials)
  • Veterans, perpetrators of violence, SGBV survivors, detained youth; men avoiding conscription
  • Internally displaced people
Medium-term outcomes Resilience of war-affected civilians has improved, through elevating their physical as well as mental protection
Results

Expected results:  

  1. Establish a community-based Peer-Welfare Cohort, that serve key functions along the displacement route (e.g. evacuation teams)
  2. Foster strengthening of expertise of humanitarian workers in key safety and security thematics through direct and contracted training
  3. Enhance the ability of existing (formal and informal) service providers and duty bearers to engage in Early Warning, Early Response programming
  4. Provide assets and services to increase physical protection to frontline humanitarian workers 
  5. Provide services to increase mental protection to frontline humanitarian workers and the civilians they support
  6. Co-create traumatic stress relief implementation strategies and resources with relevant local partner organisations
  7. Provide Peer and Community-Centred Psychosocial Care 


Results from previous phases:  

  • Local frontline responders improved their ability to operate safely in high-risk areas through access to protective equipment, first aid support, and specialised drone training. The provision of PPE, IFAKs, first aid training, and drone awareness training enhanced their capacity to mitigate risks from drones and shelling.
  • Local humanitarian actors bolstered their resilience and sustainability through financial support, psychosocial resources, and peer support mechanisms. Initiatives like the Volunteer Insurance Program and Volunteer Resilience Program equipped responders to maintain operations, manage stress, and shift to more structured responses.
  • Coordination and protection responses were strengthened through NP-supported volunteer hubs and referral pathways. The established hubs in Kherson and Kramatorsk facilitated collaboration among local organisations and international actors, leading to improved evacuation support and enhanced protection for conflict-affected civilians.
  • The project supported 5,402 civilians to evacuate from Kharkivska and Donetska regions.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Nonviolent Peaceforce


Coordination with other projects and actors
  • National Protection Cluster
  • Child Protection Area of Responsibility
  • GBV Area of Responsibility
  • Health Cluster
  • Area Based Coordination Kherson
  • NGO Platform
  • Humanitarian Operational Coordination Groups
  • Relief Coordination Centre Project Listen to Everyone
  • Mh4Ukraine
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    3’020’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    500’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   3’514’692 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   6’535’048
Project phases Phase 3 01.05.2026 - 30.06.2028   (Current phase) Phase 2 01.05.2024 - 30.04.2026   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EMERGENCY RESPONSE
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Material relief assistance and services
    Cross-cutting topics Conflict reduction
    Aid Type Project and programme contribution
    Project number

    7F11021

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Last update 05.12.2024