The Partnership Meeting of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) in Berlin brought together representatives of non-governmental organizations from around the world.

President of Voice of Romni, Anzhelika Bielova, was invited to take part in the dialogue on global humanitarian priorities and new approaches to crisis response, with Ukraine being one of the key topics of the meeting.

The ongoing full-scale war launched by russia continues to rapidly deplete resources. The humanitarian crisis affects not only frontline regions, even areas considered relatively safe are facing serious challenges.

During her address, Anzhelika urged partners to pay closer attention to the situation and needs of western Ukraine, where a large number of internally displaced people reside, yet which often remains outside the focus of international aid:

“Germany is now Ukraine’s main partner. You prioritize frontline territories in your programs, which is extremely important for affected communities. But we also need your support in western Ukraine, where many displaced people live with no place to return to. This region is also home to the largest Roma community in Ukraine, the majority of whom live below the poverty line. We must take a comprehensive approach to supporting the most vulnerable people.”

At the same time, the President of Voice of Romni expressed her gratitude for the support provided to the Roma national minority in Ukraine through their partners:

“For three years, together with Kindernothilfe, we have been working on preschool and non-formal education and the mental well-being of children from vulnerable groups. With CARE, we promote the economic empowerment of Roma women, prevent gender-based violence, and strengthen women’s leadership. Recently, together with Olam Aid, we also established a Protection and Inclusion Hub in the frontline city of Zaporizhzhia,” Anzhelika shared.

We sincerely thank the Government of Germany for supporting our partners, thanks to whom we are implementing programs that transform the lives of Roma women, children, and families across Ukraine.

Representatives of BMZ and GFFO assured that in 2026, western regions will also be among the main focus areas for support. The President of Voice of Romni also emphasized the need for the systemic inclusion of Roma communities and organizations in programs funded by the German government. Encouragingly, ministry representatives noted that the issue of national minorities remains among their priorities.

Voice of Romni was the only Roma organization present at this important meeting. It is a great honor for us to participate in events that help shape humanitarian response decisions for Ukraine. At the same time, our mission is to strengthen other Roma civil society organizations. Our team continues to work to ensure they receive proper support. This remains difficult as long as major international organizations stay on the sidelines. That’s why we are planning a meeting with the UN Country Team soon. So far, apart from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and UN Women, no other UN agency directly supports Roma civil society organizations in Ukraine — and we are working to change that in the near future.