Tech To The Rescue calls on tech industry to support NGOs in Ukraine

Technology foundation Tech To The Rescue has launched a new campaign that aims to connect Ukrainian non-profits with technology companies capable of delivering digital solutions to increase their impact following the Russian invasion of the country this week.

Russian president Vladimir Putin moved troops into Ukrainian territories this week, leaving Ukrainian businesses facing an uncertain future under the shadow of the invasion.

TTTR, which matches technology companies with non-profit organisations, launched #TechForUkraine, which is seeking businesses to back NGOs in Ukraine.

As part of the campaign launch, Tech to the Rescue is partnering with GURT Resource Center, a Ukranian national centre for societal information and expertise.

According to the foundation, the greatest areas for need include cyber security, interaction with beneficiaries, , and coordination across non-governmental organisations within the country.

A number of non-profits in Ukraine have already joined the #TechForUkraine campaign, calling for support from the international technology industry. These include the Ukrainian Volunteer Service, whose mission is to create a culture of volunteerism and mutual assistance in Ukraine to support senior citizens in need; and Kamyanytsya Austria, an NGO working to preserve the architectural cultural heritage.

Jacek Siadkowski, founder of Tech to the Rescue, said: “The international technology community has demonstrated its solidarity with many causes in the past and, over recent months, Tech to the Rescue has been glad to connect businesses with the non-profits that require their support on a pro-bono basis. Now though, we are calling for industry leaders to mobilise in the face of an immediate threat.

“Ukrainian non-profits need support more than ever – and we call on technology innovators to apply solutions that will make a permanent different for the months ahead, contributing towards poverty relief, medical support and the continued functioning of civil society for Ukrainian citizens.”

Bogdan Maslych, director of the GURT Resource Center in Ukraine, added: “The digital age requires Ukrainian non-profits to change their structures and activities to maximise their impact in their hour of greatest need. Often, non-profits lack in-house resources for effective digital transformation and require professional software services to implement digital solutions.

“Building resilience and digital capacity of non-profits enables them to have a greater impact on Ukrainian society – particularly in the face of acute disruption we see as a result of an escalation of tensions with Russia.”

Read more: How a conflict in the Ukraine might impact the tech sector