Shared decision-making is a defining feature of the Help Localisation Facility (HLF). Local and international civil society actors actively shape the HLF’s strategic direction and participate in decisions on funding priorities and grant allocations. To operationalise this approach, the HLF has established two complementary and participatory governance bodies that share decision-making authority: the HLF Steering Committee and the HLF Grants Committee. The HLF committees bring together civil society actors, the German Federal Foreign Office, and Help in shared decision-making processes.
More information about the HLF Steering Committee and its role in the governance of the HLF is available on the HLF global website.
The HLF Grants Committee Ukraine is the key decision-making body for the allocation of HLF funding. It ensures that funding decisions are made fairly, transparently, based on needs, and with local perspectives represented. Funding applications are assessed by the Committee through an anonymised review process designed to promote fairness, impartiality, and equal opportunity, and to ensure that decisions are based solely on the quality and relevance of the project proposals. Civil society actors make up at least half of the Committee, ensuring that local knowledge, lived experience and contextual expertise are central to funding decisions.
The HLF Grants Committee Ukraine began its work in April 2025. Members include local civil society actors and Help. The German Federal Foreign Office is represented by an observer.
Experts from Ukrainian Civil Society
➯ Mila Leonova
Mila Leonova, Director of the Alliance of Ukrainian Civil Society Organisations (Alliance UA CSO)
Mila Leonova has 20 years of experience in strategic communications. She began her career as a journalist before transitioning into communications, working across both government and private sectors. Over the years, she has held leadership roles, including Head of Monitoring and Analysis, and later Head of Communications and Content Departments. Her areas of focus have included enhancing investment attractiveness, supporting decentralisation reform in Ukraine, and leading strategic projects to promote socially responsible businesses and civil society development.
Before the war, she began working in the non-governmental sector, where she established the external relations and the advocacy department at Caritas Ukraine. The Alliance of Ukrainian CSOs was one of these initiatives, and she was later elected as the Director. The Alliance currently brings together 16 Ukrainian CSOs and functions as a think tank, dialogue forum and advocacy platform. It promotes localisation in humanitarian response and recovery efforts, both within Ukraine and globally. Mila holds a Master’s degree in political science, has a background in practical psychology and positive psychotherapy, studied negotiation and conflict management, and has a degree as a peace engineer.
Mila Leonova is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
➯ Viktoriia Zablotska
Viktoriia Zablotska, Program Manager at National Network of Local Philanthropy Development (NNLPD)
Viktoriia Zablotska is a Program Manager at the National Network of Local Philanthropy Development (NNLPD), where she leads research and initiatives focused on building a culture of philanthropy in Ukraine. With a background in journalism and over four years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Viktoriia combines strong communication skills with deep expertise in fundraising, grant writing, and partnership development.
In her previous role as Partnership & Fundraising Manager at NNLPD, she increased the organisation’s budget fivefold within a single year. As Program Manager, Viktoriia led the first Ukrainian study of philanthropy — “Philanthropy in Ukrainian: Who Gives, How and Why” — challenging narratives about passive civic engagement and demonstrating that giving is becoming a core part of Ukrainian identity. She continues to drive research and advocacy efforts to promote a culture of philanthropy among Ukrainians.
A committed learner, Viktoriia continuously invests in her professional development through international programs. She is an alumna of the CUNY International Fellows Program on Community Philanthropy at the City University of New York, the NGO Leadership Workshop at the William Davidson Institute, and the Next Visionaries Program — an 8-month leadership and European integration initiative by ERSTE Foundation and Internews Ukraine. These experiences have shaped her understanding of international philanthropy practices and strengthened her capacity to apply global perspectives to the Ukrainian context.
Viktoriia holds a master’s degree in Journalism from Ternopil National Pedagogical University and believes that civil society organisations are key drivers of Ukraine’s democratic future.
Viktoriia Zablotska is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
➯ Fredric Larsson
Fredric Larsson, Director NGO Resource Center
Fredric Larsson brings more than 20 years of senior management experience from the humanitarian and development sector, with a unique combination of knowledge gained from working with Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), international as well as national NGOs, donors, and grant committees. In addition, he has been a member of the HCT and ICCG in Ukraine, as well as being a former board member of UHF. He has extensive and practical knowledge of the humanitarian landscape and context in Ukraine and is strong and relentless advocate for a locally led humanitarian response.
Fredric Larsson is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
➯ Viktor Kirik
Viktor Kirik, Head of Program Development & Partnerships, CO “CF Team4UA”
Viktor Kirik has over 7 years of experience in the NGO sector (3 in senior management roles); developed and oversaw $50M+ worth of successful programming, funded by over 20 donors; distributed over $25M+ worth of subgrants. As director of programs at CO “RCC,” he scaled the program portfolio by 8 times over 2 years from under $1M to over $7M annually, securing over 60 grants and subgrants, including HLF funding. In his current role at CO “CF Team4UA,” he focuses on consortium-level programming and partnerships. Viktor brings a comprehensive view and expertise on localisation and partnerships.
Viktor Kirik is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
The HLF Grants Committee Ukraine brings together civil society experts and representatives from Help Ukraine. For funding decisions, proposals are assessed through an anonymised review process designed to promote fairness, impartiality and equal opportunity. Reviewers include civil society experts from the HLF Grants Committee and independent reviewers from Help who have not been involved in supporting the respective applicants during earlier stages of the HLF funding process. Funding decisions are then discussed and agreed collectively during the HLF Grants Review Meeting.
➯ Oleksandr Novykov
Oleksandr Novykov, Country Director, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Oleksandr Novykov holds a Master’s degree in Law and a PhD in Constitutional Law of Foreign Countries from Yaroslav Mudryj National Law University. Over the course of his career, he has combined academic work—both scientific and pedagogical—at his alma mater in Kharkiv with management positions in international business. With the outbreak of the war in 2022, he decided to devote his career fully to humanitarian work. He worked his way up from an officer to become the Country Director of Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in Ukraine. In this role, he takes pride in Help’s commitment to meaningful localisation—demonstrated through initiatives like the HLF, which he sees as a vital contribution to the locally led development of civil society in Ukraine. If you ask Oleksandr to describe the HLF in one sentence, he will say: “Help for self-help – this is our vision of localisation!”
➯ Kostiantyn Nenakhov
Kostiantyn Nenakhov, Deputy Country Director and Head of Administration and Finance, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Kostiantyn Nenakhov is the Head of Administration and Finance and Deputy Country Director at Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in Ukraine, bringing extensive experience in financial management and compliance. In his current position, he is responsible for ensuring that financial processes are transparent, compliant, and support the effective implementation of humanitarian and development projects. He works closely with local partners, supporting high standards of accountability while remaining attuned to the realities of project delivery. Kostiantyn believes in transparency, fairness, and upholding rigorous standards when evaluating projects. Every grant decision should be fair, well-grounded, and contribute to strengthening civil society. As a member of the HLF Grants Committee, he applies his expertise to ensure that resources are allocated responsibly and funded projects meet the expectations of both donor and local organisations. He is committed to open dialogue and to supporting initiatives that create meaningful, lasting impact in communities.
Kostiantyn Nenakhov is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
➯ Yuliia Suvorova
Yuliia Suvorova, Programme Management and Controlling, Help Localisation Facility, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Yuliia Suvorova has been working in the finance department of Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in Ukraine since June 2022. She is responsible for budget oversight, verifying financial reports from partner organisations, ensuring donor compliance (e.g. UHF, GFFO), and preparing financial documentation. Her role extends well beyond formal controls—she actively supports partners in financial reporting, audit preparation, and strengthening their overall financial capacity. Before entering the humanitarian field, she spent over 15 years in the banking sector, where she managed branch operations, conducted credit risk assessments, provided financing to SMEs, and prepared documentation for audits conducted by the National Bank of Ukraine. As an independent consultant, she also supported entrepreneurs in developing investment projects for international funding. This experience shaped her strategic and systematic approach to finance, attention to risk, and commitment to high-quality documentation. As a member of the HLF Grants Committee, she plays a key role in shaping the HLF and is responsible for the financial review of applications, conducting risk analyses, and contributing to well-informed, evidence-based funding decisions. In her role as Programme Manager and Controller for the HLF, Yuliia believes that effective partnerships are grounded in transparency, open dialogue, and shared responsibility. She sees these principles as essential for building trust and ensuring the responsible management of humanitarian resources.
Yuliia Suvorova is recusing herself from the Grants Review Meetings to ensure an anonymous review process. During these meetings, the Grants Committee will determine which grants are funded under the HLF.
➯ Serhii Skashchuk
Serhii Skashchuk, Programme Management and Coordination, Help Localisation Facility, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Serhii Skashchuk holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Kharkiv National University of Economics. His professional background spans local government bodies, state agencies, and private manufacturing enterprises. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, he has fully dedicated his career to the humanitarian sector. He has worked on projects focused on institutional development and healthcare support, and has been involved in the design, application and management of humanitarian initiatives in cooperation with major international donors, including UHF, BMZ, GFFO, and ECHO. His experience also includes work in high-risk areas such as Kupiansk, Zolochiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. As Programme Manager and Coordinator for the HLF, and a member of the HLF Grants Committee, Serhii is confident that the strong presence of young, ambitious local humanitarian organisations—along with the dedication of the HLF team—will ensure the facility’s successful implementation and contribute to building a more resilient local humanitarian community.
Serhii Skashchuk is recusing himself from the Grants Review Meetings to ensure an anonymous review process. During these meetings, the Grants Committee will determine which grants are funded under the HLF.
➯ Liliia Domnicheva
Liliia Domnicheva, External Relations and Coordination Officer, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Liliia Domnicheva holds a Master’s degree in English and German Philology and Translation from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. She has professional experience in communications, coordination, and international cooperation. Liliia joined Help in 2024, focusing on external relations and inter-organizational engagement. Her work includes preparing grant proposals for international donors such as UHF, AICS, and BMZ. Previously, she worked with humanitarian and technology initiatives, including the Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD) and the defense technology cluster Brave1, where she was responsible for strategic communications, partnership engagement, and project information support. Liliia is committed to strengthening the capacities of Ukrainian organizations and expanding their participation in joint humanitarian initiatives.
Liliia Domnicheva is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
➯ Dmytro Zhovtonozhko
Dmytro Zhovtonozhko, Team Lead (Partnership Support), Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Dmytro holds a Master’s degree in Administrative Management from Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University. Dmytro joined Help in 2021, progressing from Field Officer to Team Lead for Business and Partnership Support. He leads partner assessments to ensure alignment with Help’s standards and strategic objectives and provides ongoing technical and coordination support throughout the application and implementation process. He contributes to the design and development of project concepts and proposals for institutional donors such as GFFO, UHF, ECHO, AICS, and ADH. Additionally, he prepares narrative reports, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and the submission of project information. He helps partners strengthen their operational capacity through regular consultations and ongoing technical support, ensuring high-quality implementation and compliance with donor requirements. Dmytro focuses on strengthening local capacities, supporting entrepreneurship, and enhancing the participation of Ukrainian organizations in humanitarian and recovery efforts.
Dmytro Zhovtonozhko is part of the reviewer panel for the Grants Review Meetings, where the Grants Committee will determine the grants to be funded under the HLF.
Facilitator HLF Grants Committee Ukraine
➯ Viktoriia Romanenko
Viktoriia Romanenko, Capacity Sharing and Learning Officer HLF, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Ukraine
Viktoriia Romanenko holds a Master’s degree in Economic Cybernetics from Kharkiv National Technical University of Construction and Architecture. Since 2023, she has dedicated her career to supporting the humanitarian response in Ukraine. She has worked with international humanitarian organisations, including the International Rescue Committee and Solidarités International, focusing on monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning, partnership support, and feedback and complaints mechanisms. Regular field visits to communities near frontline areas have given her a deeper understanding of the realities faced by conflict-affected people and strengthened her commitment to ensuring that humanitarian assistance remains responsive, accessible and grounded in communities’ needs.
Viktoriia currently serves as Capacity Sharing and Learning Officer for the Help Localisation Facility at Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in Ukraine. In this role, she works closely with local partners and Ukrainian civil society organisations, supporting organisational capacity strengthening, partner-led learning and knowledge exchange, as well as the practical implementation of organisational development priorities. As Secretariat and Facilitator of the HLF Grants Committee, she supports committee coordination, documentation, communication with applicants and committee members, and governance procedures, contributing to transparent, well-structured and partner-centred processes within the HLF.
