Image Credit: Alisdare Hickson from Woolwich, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
By Dr Roch Dunin-Wąsowicz & Inara Zeynalova
This article is part of a collaborative series of research papers written with the 89 Initiative.
This report analyzes Poland’s societal response to the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It highlights how an organic, bottom-up civic ecosystem—not traditional institutions—played a pivotal role in averting a larger crisis by rapidly mobilizing diverse actors to provide aid to millions of Ukrainian refugees.
Key Findings:
- Emergence of a Civic Ecosystem:
A highly effective grassroots network—comprising local activists, volunteers, entrepreneurs, and businesses—responded swiftly to the refugee emergency. Drawing on Poland’s strong civic culture, these groups mobilized without significant reliance on traditional top-down structures. - Civic Culture and Historical Readiness:
Poland’s history of grassroots activism and its network of over 200,000 civil society organizations provided the foundation for an agile response. Long-standing activist practices merged with new actors and business ecosystems to form a flexible and adaptive civic response. - Limited State Role, Substantial Private Involvement:
While the Polish state offered modest financial and legal support (e.g., PESEL registration, stipends), over 75% of citizens contributed aid directly. Estimates suggest that private funding for humanitarian relief vastly exceeded state spending. This illustrates the effectiveness of hybrid models combining limited state support with civic initiative. - Business Sector and Tech Engagement:
Businesses like Amazon, Google, IKEA, and local Polish companies provided substantial material and financial aid. Their flexibility and resources often surpassed the capabilities of state and international actors, emphasizing the value of private-public synergy during emergencies. - Social Media as a Mobilization Tool:
Facebook groups served as vital digital infrastructures for information sharing, coordination, and service delivery. These platforms showcased the diversity, interconnectedness, and civic engagement of the ecosystem, uniting newcomers and experienced actors. - Case Studies of Local Action:
Cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Lublin witnessed rapid volunteer mobilization and the formation of collaborative hubs involving NGOs, businesses, and local government actors. For instance, over 6,000 volunteers registered in Warsaw within two weeks of the invasion.
Conclusion:
Poland’s civic response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis presents a compelling model of grassroots humanitarianism. Rather than relying solely on traditional state mechanisms, the success of the response lay in the collaborative and spontaneous efforts of a dynamic civic ecosystem. This model demonstrates the power of local initiative, social trust, and adaptability in managing large-scale humanitarian challenges. The report calls for governments to formally recognize and support such bottom-up systems in future emergencies, leveraging their speed, flexibility, and inclusiveness to ensure more resilient crisis responses.