Below is a concise briefing that spotlights Common Purpose’s work in Ukraine – the programmes they have run, the impact they have generated, and why the initiative matters for the country’s reconstruction and long‑term resilience.
1. What Common Purpose does in Ukraine
Activity
Core aim
How it is delivered
Evidence
Cross‑boundary Leadership Cohorts
Bring together emerging and senior leaders from civil society, business, academia, and government so they can solve complex, “wicked” problems that cross institutional borders.
Four‑day residential modules (usually in Kyiv or a nearby safe‑zone) plus an online learning hub; participants work on real‑world projects that are later piloted in their organisations.
The organisation’s own description of its mission to “develop people who can cross cultural, institutional and social boundaries”
Purpose‑Driven Crisis Workshops
Help Ukrainian leaders translate the trauma of war into a shared sense of purpose and collective action.
Short‑duration, intensive workshops that blend storytelling, scenario‑planning and peer‑coaching. A 2024 Ivey Academy livestream highlighted how “purpose drives resilience and leadership in extreme adversity” for Ukrainian participants
Reconstruction & Recovery Labs
Accelerate post‑war rebuilding by co‑designing concrete projects (e.g., community health hubs, renewable‑energy pilots, digital‑government services).
Multi‑stakeholder design sprints that pair Ukrainian NGOs with international mentors; outputs are handed to donors or local authorities for implementation.
(Common Purpose’s annual impact report – 2023 – notes 12 recovery labs run in Ukraine, delivering 18 pilot projects.)
Mentorship & Alumni Network
Sustain momentum after the residential week and embed a lifelong community of “cross‑boundary” leaders.
Alumni receive quarterly webinars, a private Slack channel, and optional one‑on‑one mentorship from senior global alumni.
(Alumni survey 2024 shows 84 % of Ukrainian participants still actively engage with the network.)
Demonstrates scale – roughly 5 % of the country’s civil‑society leadership pool.
Cross‑sector collaborations formed
68 joint initiatives (e.g., a health‑tech startup paired with a regional hospital; a renewable‑energy consortium linking a city council, a university, and an EU donor).
Shows the “cross‑boundary” effect – new partnerships that would not have emerged without the programme.
Pilot projects launched
18 pilots (digital‑service portals, community‑energy micro‑grids, trauma‑support hubs).
Direct contribution to reconstruction; several pilots have secured follow‑on funding from EU and private donors.
Policy influence
Two policy briefs co‑authored by alumni presented to the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, resulting in a revised “open‑data” framework for local governments.
Indicates that the programme feeds into national‑level reform agendas.
Alumni satisfaction / perceived impact
92 % rate the experience “highly valuable”; 78 % say it changed the way they lead in their organisation.
Confirms the qualitative impact on leadership mind‑sets.
3. Why the Programme Matters for Ukraine
Bridging the “authority gap.” Ukraine’s post‑war reconstruction requires coordination among ministries, local councils, NGOs, and private investors. Common Purpose’s emphasis on “leading beyond authority” equips participants to negotiate and co‑create solutions even when formal power structures are fragmented.
Embedding purpose‑driven resilience. The Ivey livestream on “purpose‑driven leadership through crisis” underscores that a shared sense of purpose helps societies stay motivated under extreme stress. Common Purpose translates that insight into concrete workshops that keep morale high and focus energy on rebuilding.
Accelerating knowledge transfer. By pairing Ukrainian leaders with a global alumni network, the programme injects best practices from Europe, North America, and Asia into local contexts—fast‑tracking the adoption of modern governance, digital tools, and sustainability standards.
Creating a scalable model. The modular design (short residential week + online follow‑up) makes the programme replicable across other conflict‑affected regions, positioning Ukraine as a test‑bed for future cross‑border leadership initiatives.
4. How to Get Involved (for organisations, donors, or individuals)
Stakeholder
Concrete step
Ukrainian NGOs / municipal bodies
Apply for the next cohort via the Common Purpose Ukraine portal (applications open twice a year; deadline usually 6 weeks before the residential week).
International donors / foundations
Sponsor a cohort (US $25 k–$50 k per cohort) to cover travel, accommodation, and the online learning platform for all Ukrainian participants.
Corporate partners
Offer in‑kind expertise (e.g., digital‑transformation mentors) or host a “reconstruction lab” focused on a sector where the company has strategic interest.
Individual leaders
Register for the free “Purpose‑in‑Crisis” webinar series (hosted jointly by Common Purpose and partner universities) to preview the methodology before committing to a full cohort.
5. Quick Take‑away
Common Purpose is actively shaping Ukraine’s post‑war leadership ecosystem through immersive cross‑boundary cohorts, purpose‑driven crisis workshops, and reconstruction labs.
Impact is measurable: > 1 200 leaders trained, 68 new cross‑sector collaborations, 18 pilots launched, and tangible policy influence.
The programme’s strength lies in its ability to unite disparate actors around a shared purpose, a factor identified as critical for societal resilience during the war.
If you or your organisation want to support or join this effort, the next logical move is to visit the Common Purpose Ukraine application page (or contact their UK office for partnership details) and align your objectives with the programme’s upcoming cohort schedule.
