One of the remarkable aspects of the past few months has been the scale of the involvement of local communities and civil society in the Ukraine response in CEE. Much of the burden has fallen on community organisations and individuals, who have worked assiduously and stepped in to fill gaps that public institutions could not. With so much to focus on, it is easy to forget the fact that formal and structured civil society only emerged in the region three decades ago, after the fall of Communism, and until 2022, the civil society and government have often had a fraught relationship. Yet, in the context of the Ukraine response, these actors have learnt to coexist and, in many cases, recognize the value of a synergetic approach. This fact reflects how much these societies have matured, and this should continue to be the frame through which the region welcomes and includes Ukrainians.
