The conference hastraditionally served as the leading international platform for discussions onUkraine’s recovery, bringing together more than 6,000 participants from aroundthe world. Attendees included one of the largest gatherings of governmentleaders, representatives of international organizations, financialinstitutions, the business community, civil society, and — for the first time —local communities. The event also served as a vital platform for consolidatinginternational efforts to rebuild Ukraine’s healthcare system, which continuesto operate amid a full-scale war while simultaneously undergoing systemictransformation.

This year, theconference focused on investments in Ukraine’s recovery, human capitaldevelopment, security, reforms, and the role of civil society in shaping publicpolicy. For ZDOROVI, participating in URC 2026 provided an opportunity toshowcase the organization’s expertise, strengthen international partnerships,and advocate for the development of Ukraine’s healthcare system.

Even before themain conference program began, ZDOROVI’s Foundress and CEO, Nataliia Tulinova,took part in a series of strategic events dedicated to the role of civilsociety in Ukraine’s recovery. In particular, she moderated a panel discussionfeaturing practical case studies during the business breakfast hosted by theAlliance of Ukrainian Civil Society Organizations (Alliance UA CSO), titled “AHundred Years Ahead: Ukrainian Identity as the Foundation of the RecoveryTriangle.” She also participated in other discussions focused on shapingpeople-centered recovery policies.

Meanwhile,ZDOROVI’s official participation in the URC 2026 program was led by theorganization’s Project Director, Olena Kukharets.

Over the course ofthree days, she took part in thematic panel discussions and held meetings withrepresentatives of Ukrainian and international organizations, government institutions,donors, and potential partners.

Olena Kukharetsalso participated in the international workshop “Safe Schools: ComprehensiveSolutions for Ukraine’s Children,” organized by the Olena Zelenska Foundation.During the discussion, representatives of the Ukrainian government,international organizations, and donors addressed a comprehensive approach tocreating a safe educational environment — from modern shelters and energyresilience in schools to psychosocial support for children. The event alsomarked the announcement of a new phase of partnership between the OlenaZelenska Foundation and the Minderoo Foundation, which is investing $500,000 inthe Safe School project, enabling more than 4,000 children in frontlinecommunities to study in safer conditions.

“A safeeducational environment is a combination of physical infrastructure and supportfor children’s emotional well-being. That is why we view shelters not merely asengineering structures, but as spaces where children should feel safe, calm,and confident even in wartime,” said Viktoriia Romanova, Director of the OlenaZelenska Foundation.

ZDOROVI alsoparticipated in the international discussion “Dreaming Ukraine: ProtectingChildren’s Right to Dream – Renewing Partnerships Between Communities, Institutions,and National and International Actors,” where experts and partners examined theprotection of children’s rights, community support, and cross-sectoralcooperation as a foundation for Ukraine’s sustainable recovery. For ZDOROVI,participation in such discussions provides an opportunity to integratechildren’s health into the broader human capital recovery agenda.

At the URC 2026venues, Olena Kukharets held a series of meetings with current and prospectiveinternational partners, representatives of donor organizations, governmentagencies, and civil society. The discussions focused on future joint projects,advocacy initiatives, and identifying new opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’shealthcare system.

Among those shemet were representatives of CARE, International Medical Corps, Caritas Ukraine,the International Renaissance Foundation, GlobalGiving, ISAR Ednannia, AllianceUA CSO, and other Ukrainian and international partner organizations working onUkraine’s recovery.

According toOlena, this year, there was a particularly strong sense that internationalpartners are ready to transition from humanitarian response to systemicdevelopment investments.

“A common themeemerged across all discussions: Ukraine’s recovery is impossible without strongpeople and strong institutions. That is precisely why the voice of theUkrainian medical community must be heard at such international forums. It wasimportant for us to share the experiences of Ukrainian medical professionals,advocate for their needs, and build new partnerships that will help strengthenthe healthcare system starting today.”

Following theconclusion of the official URC 2026 program, Olena also participated in theclosing side event “From Gdańsk and Further: Immediate Reflections and NextSteps toward URC 2027,” organized by the East Europe Foundation and theInternational Renaissance Foundation.

Participantssummarized the outcomes of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, discussed keyachievements and decisions of URC 2026, identified challenges requiring furtherattention, and outlined priorities for preparing for the next Ukraine RecoveryConference, to be held in Estonia in 2027. Particular attention was given tothe role of civil society, the development of partnerships, and the need tomaintain a people-centered approach in Ukraine’s recovery process.

For ZDOROVI,participation in URC 2026 provided an opportunity to contribute to shaping theinternational recovery agenda and strengthening Ukraine’s healthcare voicewithin it.