On Wednesday, 26 November, Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA) and the Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Development Cooperation Division, Irish Aid. Under this agreement, Ireland allocates €400,000 to the Latvian-implemented project “Latvia to Ukraine: Restoration of Chernihiv” to provide practical support to women and children affected by the war in Ukraine and to promote the reconstruction of the Chernihiv region.
The signed Memorandum of Understanding complements the existing Latvian funding, under which €400,000 was allocated from the state budget in 2025 to the MARTA Centre for the establishment of two community resilience centers in the Chernihiv region (Kulykivka and Honcharivske). With Ireland’s contribution, the total project funding now reaches €800,000.
Support Based on Real Needs in Ukraine
The MARTA Centre has been working in Ukraine since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, providing emotional, psychological, and practical assistance to women and children, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. The organization closely cooperates with local women’s groups, social services, and Ukrainian municipalities, and its work is recognized both nationally and internationally.
The signed Memorandum of Understanding enables the continuation and expansion of support in regions where assistance is most needed. The funding will be used to:
- Establish and equip new resilience centers in several Ukrainian communities;
- Provide psychosocial assistance to women and children traumatized by war;
- Develop economic opportunities, including financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills;
- Strengthen the capacity of local specialists and municipalities working with war-affected populations;
- Deliver training for judges and lawyers on gender perspectives and incorporating victims’ needs in judicial processes;
- Promote safety, support, and recovery for women and children in communities most affected by the war.
Currently, the MARTA Centre has already established three support centers in Ukraine, and since the start of its activities, thousands of women and children have received assistance.
Latvia and Ireland’s Joint Contribution to Ukraine’s Recovery
As the lead institution for the project, CFCA will ensure financial oversight, transparency, and cooperation between Latvian, Irish, and Ukrainian partners. The Memorandum of Understanding confirms both countries’ shared commitment to supporting Ukraine in the long term—not only by rebuilding infrastructure but also by strengthening people and communities facing the harshest challenges of war.
“Support for Ukraine is one of the cornerstones of our development cooperation. We highly value Ireland’s involvement and trust in Latvia and the MARTA Centre’s work in Ukraine,” said Dana Heiberga, Director of the Development Cooperation Department at CFCA.
About the Project
The project “Latvia to Ukraine: Restoration of Chernihiv” will be implemented from May 2025 until the end of 2026, and its direct assistance will reach:
- 7,500 women and children across various regions of Ukraine;
- 60 local specialists who will receive training and professional support;
- Several Ukrainian municipalities and civil society organizations involved in the operation of resilience centers.
The project is implemented by the MARTA Centre in cooperation with Ukrainian organizations such as Eleos, Chernihiv NETWORK, Kremenchuk Anti-Corruption Center, Active Community, and others.
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