WINGS-Ukraine wins CEB Award for Social Cohesion 2026

Warsaw - WINGS-Ukraine , a national programme led by NGO Club "Eney", has won the CEB Award for Social Cohesion 2026 for its support to women facing violence, exclusion, poverty and substance abuse in the context of war. As customary, the award ceremony took place in the margins of the CEB's Joint Meeting, which this year is being held in Warsaw.

The CEB Award Jury selected WINGS-Ukraine as the winner of this 7th edition of the award. The project, which will receive a €45 000 prize, was recognised for its strong social impact and innovative, women-led approach to safety and psychosocial support for women in Ukraine. WINGS-Ukraine operates in 16 regions across the country and assists women living at the margins of society. Many of those supported face overlapping vulnerabilities and heightened risks during the war. By equipping fragile women with practical tools to access services and rebuild their lives, the project helps restore trust, dignity and safety among those women who are often excluded from traditional support services.

"Our work is about the power of community and the changes that become possible when a woman is heard. When she is given the right to choose and the resources she needs, dignity, safety and a new beginning become possible. This award is a reminder that care, empathy and systemic work can truly change reality," said Antonina Denysova, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at NGO Club "Eney".

"Congratulations to WINGS-Ukraine, which fully embodies the values at the heart of the CEB Award for Social Cohesion," said CEB Governor Carlo Monticelli. "Its women-centred, community-based approach delivers tangible impact in one of Europe's most challenging contexts and demonstrates how innovative social programmes can continue to operate - and save lives - even in times of war."

Runner-up projects

Two runner-up projects were also recognised during the CEB Award ceremony for their valuable contributions to social cohesion and inclusion:

• Personal Assistance for Blind People from North Macedonia, a project by Esi Nelis, supports blind people in the country who face limited mobility, isolation and barriers to accessing essential services. The project provides trained assistants who help individuals move safely, complete daily tasks, and participate in education, work and community life. Blind women, who experience additional marginalisation, receive targeted support.
• I want to work, by Ateliere Fara Frontiere from Romania, a project that helps vulnerable adults facing multiple barriers to employment, combining personalised counselling with paid work experience in circular-economy social enterprises. Each year, around 30 highly vulnerable people access jobs, while more than 800 others receive tailored employment advice and job-preparation support.

Each runner-up will receive €5 000 in recognition of their work.

About the CEB Award

Launched in 2020, the CEB Award for Social Cohesion celebrates and rewards projects making significant contributions to social cohesion. As of 2024, the winning prize is €45 000. Additionally, two runners-up receive a €5 000 prize each.

The winners and runners-up are selected by an international Jury of experts based on the criteria of impact, sustainability and innovation/replicability. This year, the Jury was chaired by Gianluca Esposito, Director General, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Council of Europe. The Jury included:

- Annemiek Dresen, Founder and Director, NewBees
- Jimmy Moloney, Elected Councillor of Kerry County Council, Ireland
- Yekaterina Chzhen, Associate Professor of Sociology and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin
- Tomáš Boček, Vice-Governor for Target Group Countries, CEB

For more information visit award.coebank.org.