Understanding the Needs of Grassroots Organizations
Grassroots organizations are essential in supporting vulnerable groups. Being close to the community makes them highly trusted. Many of them are run by volunteers, which can lead to burnout, insecurity, and a lack of recognition for their work.
In one of our studies, we observed these challenges among grassroots Ukrainian organizations that emerged in the early months of the invasion and continue to operate today. This led us to pilot a participatory action research project to understand what could help these organisations grow and sustain their work. We worked with 13 organizations, chosen based on their level of development, activities, and future goals.
Pilot Program: Co-created with Participants
This pilot was different because it was designed together with participating organizations. Using an action research approach, we didn’t stick to a fixed plan—instead, we carefully listened to feedback after every session. This made it possible to create a practical, tailored toolkit that addressed real organizational needs. The pilot showed strong results, with participants gaining valuable skills, while the program remained flexible and responsive throughout.
The Civil Society Hub consists of four components:
Workshops
Expert-led training sessions, with topics often chosen collaboratively with participants to address real organizational needs, provide practical tools and skills in areas such as fundraising, advocacy, governance, and organizational branding.
Workshops
Expert-led training sessions, with topics often chosen collaboratively with participants to address real organizational needs, provide practical tools and skills in areas such as fundraising, advocacy, governance, and organizational branding.
Mentorship
Each participant was paired with an experienced manager from the Dutch NGO sector, who offered tailored guidance, strategic insight, and sector-specific expertise to help leaders navigate operational and organizational challenges.
Mentorship
Each participant was paired with an experienced manager from the Dutch NGO sector, who offered tailored guidance, strategic insight, and sector-specific expertise to help leaders navigate operational and organizational challenges.
Psychosocial Support
Acknowledging the emotional and physical demands faced by community leaders, OPORA’s Empatia team delivered psychosocial support sessions specifically designed for NGO managers, fostering resilience and well-being.
Psychosocial Support
Acknowledging the emotional and physical demands faced by community leaders, OPORA’s Empatia team delivered psychosocial support sessions specifically designed for NGO managers, fostering resilience and well-being.
Peer Learning Circles
Structured spaces facilitated by OPORA for reflection and knowledge exchange, allowing participants to share experiences, challenges, and best practices, and strengthening mutual learning throughout the project.
Peer Learning Circles
Structured spaces facilitated by OPORA for reflection and knowledge exchange, allowing participants to share experiences, challenges, and best practices, and strengthening mutual learning throughout the project.
Building on this success, the Civil Society Hub will be expanded into a full-scale program in 2026, broadening its scope to support more grassroot organizations seeking guidance and professionalization in their organizational development.
The project is implemented in collaboration with OpenEmbassy and is funded by Oranje Fonds and Nationale Postcode Loterij
Civil Society Hub
An evidence-based capacity building program designed to strengthen grassroots organizations.
Understanding the Needs of Grassroots Organizations
Grassroots organizations are essential in supporting vulnerable groups. Being close to the community makes them highly trusted. Many of them are run by volunteers, which can lead to burnout, insecurity, and a lack of recognition for their work.
In one of our studies, we observed these challenges among grassroots Ukrainian organizations that emerged in the early months of the invasion and continue to operate today. This led us to pilot a participatory action research project to understand what could help these organisations grow and sustain their work. We worked with 13 organizations, chosen based on their level of development, activities, and future goals.
Pilot Program: Co-created with Participants
This pilot was different because it was designed together with participating organizations. Using an action research approach, we didn’t stick to a fixed plan—instead, we carefully listened to feedback after every session. This made it possible to create a practical, tailored toolkit that addressed real organizational needs. The pilot showed strong results, with participants gaining valuable skills, while the program remained flexible and responsive throughout.
The Civil Society Hub consists of four components:
Workshops
Expert-led training sessions, with topics often chosen collaboratively with participants to address real organizational needs, provide practical tools and skills in areas such as fundraising, advocacy, governance, and organizational branding.
Mentorship
Each participant was paired with an experienced manager from the Dutch NGO sector, who offered tailored guidance, strategic insight, and sector-specific expertise to help leaders navigate operational and organizational challenges.
Psychosocial Support
Acknowledging the emotional and physical demands faced by community leaders, OPORA’s Empatia team delivered psychosocial support sessions specifically designed for NGO managers, fostering resilience and well-being.
Peer Learning Circles
Structured spaces facilitated by OPORA for reflection and knowledge exchange, allowing participants to share experiences, challenges, and best practices, and strengthening mutual learning throughout the project.
Building on this success, the Civil Society Hub will be expanded into a full-scale program in 2026, broadening its scope to support more grassroot organizations seeking guidance and professionalization in their organizational development.
The project is implemented in collaboration with OpenEmbassy and is funded by Oranje Fonds and Nationale Postcode Loterij