On October 21, the Resilience Conference 2.0 was held in Kyiv, a public platform for expert discussions on ways to support and enhance the resilience of human and social capital within communities. The event brought together over 150 participants, including representatives from public organizations, local governments, think tanks, and state institutions.
The conference was attended by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Anastasia Grishko.
The event’s program included keynote speeches, discussions, and practical discussions. In particular, in the introductory panel, experts Oleksandr Sushko and Oleg Sahakyan outlined the concept of resilience as a joint action that requires a combination of individual responsibility and public trust.
During the discussion “Identity for Resilience,” they explored the connection between local and national identity, seeking answers to the question of how communities can reframe their own identity in wartime realities.
The panel “Participation and Joint Action” demonstrated that civic engagement and community partnerships with authorities remain key factors in adapting to change. Among the participants were representatives of the Ministry of Community Development, local initiatives, and volunteer networks.
A separate block of discussion was devoted to human potential, including issues of rehabilitation, the integration of veterans, and support for women and youth. Experts Yulia Kyrylova and Natalia Kalmykova from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs emphasized the need for a systemic approach to working with human capital.
Participants shared examples of successful resilience cases from different parts of Ukraine: from Dnipro and Kharkiv to Kherson and Voznesensk.
A few quotes from speakers about resilience and planning for the future, and whether it is appropriate in wartime:
“The ability of people to create or find non-obvious, unconventional connections and solutions is the basis of resilience.”
“A vision of the future is what helps resilience today.”
“A vision must be long-term.”
“It is challenging to engage in strategic planning during a war, but this is what allows us to think not only about survival, but also about development.”
The event was held as part of the "Resilience Laboratory" program, which is implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation in cooperation with Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) agency, and in partnership within the framework of the Impulse Project implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the East Europe Foundation with funding from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida).
