Recently, we shared that Anzhelika Bielova was one of the distinguished speakers who opened the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW 2026) during the official opening ceremony. On March 11, the President of Voice of Romni joined an important discussion in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to inclusion in the humanitarian sector and the transfer of decision-making power to local organizations.

As part of Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week, representatives of civil society organizations from South Sudan, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Sweden also participated in the discussion. They shared their experiences of humanitarian localization and the humanitarian reset, spoke about how local organizations can be involved in the distribution of aid, and highlighted how discrimination against vulnerable groups affects their access to support.

Participants emphasized that humanitarian assistance becomes truly effective when organizations representing marginalized groups — women, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and internally displaced persons — are involved in decision-making and program implementation. Current approaches to localization still do not remove all barriers, which limits the participation of such organizations. Transferring authority, resources, and decision-making to the local level makes humanitarian assistance more effective, as local organizations understand the needs of their communities best. At the same time, without a strong focus on inclusion, reforms may deepen existing inequalities. Therefore, it is essential to ensure access to funding, participation in decision-making, and enabling conditions for local organizations to operate effectively, while also anticipating the risks of excluding the most vulnerable groups.

During the event, Anzhelika emphasized that the Roma women’s organization Voice of Romni has significant experience working with vulnerable groups. Our position for donors and partners remains consistent: to effectively support community-led organizations and strengthen their engagement, it is essential to invest directly in local initiatives and grassroots organizations, providing them with flexible and long-term funding, including resources for strengthening their institutional capacity. Today, women play a vital role in Ukraine’s recovery.

Anzhelika also spoke about the experience of Ukrainian NGOs following the start of the full-scale war. Amid constant shelling, the destruction of homes, forced displacement, and  russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, local civil society organizations are often the first to respond and support people in need. Over four exhausting and extremely difficult years, Ukrainian NGOs have managed to endure and expand their work largely thanks to the support of international partners. This assistance saves the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every day. For us, it is essential that the Roma community — one of the most vulnerable — has equal access to this support.

That is why participation in such discussions is extremely important for Voice of Romni. It is an opportunity to share the experience of our community, highlight the challenges faced by Roma women and their families, and remind the international community that supporting grassroots organizations is an investment in an inclusive and just future.