The story of Commit Global’s work in Ukraine is also the story of how Code for Romania turned international, leading to the creation of its global spinoff. On February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Romania became for the first time a host country for refugees fleeing the war. Code for Romania immediately mobilized to respond to the digital needs of those affected and within days, we were developing solutions to support refugees, combat disinformation, and strengthen humanitarian efforts.

As the scale of the crisis grew, so did our commitment, and by mid-2022, it became clear that our impact needed to extend beyond a single country. This realization led to the birth of Commit Global — a dedicated international organization that builds civic technology solutions worldwide. Today, our work in Ukraine continues, with digital tools designed for resilience, transparency, and civic empowerment, supporting both those who remain and those displaced by the war

In times of crisis, it is crucial that the necessary resources reach those most in need in the simplest and most efficient way. The people displaced by the devastating war in Ukraine need all the support Romania can offer. But before anything else, they need reliable, timely, and straightforward information to answer their questions and ease their worries about safely entering Romania and navigating life in a new country.

Dopomoha (Help) is a web support and information platform designed to provide this critical assistance. Since its launch, over 1.4 million Ukrainian refugees have accessed Dopomoha.ro for trusted, up-to-date information in Romanian, Ukrainian, English, and Russian. The platform covers essential topics such as border entry requirements, asylum procedures, rights and obligations of asylum seekers, and access to basic services. It serves as a single point of access for verified information, helping refugees stay safe and make informed decisions.

Built in under 48 hours, Dopomoha is updated daily with information sourced from official partners, including the UNHCR, IOM, National Council for Refugees, UNICEF, and government agencies. The project is developed by Code for Romania in partnership with the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), the UN Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the National Romanian Council for Refugees (CNRR), with support from ING Bank.

This platform remains a lifeline for those fleeing war, ensuring that help is just a click away.

Romania not only shares the largest border with Ukraine but is also the only safe haven in the region for women who need access to specialized services for reproductive health such as abortions or other such procedures. Also, many of the women taking refuge in Ukraine’s neighboring countries have suffered through violence or some are victims of domestic abuse even since before the start of the war.

Women’s Center is a platform developed by Commit Global together with Centrul Filia, ANAIS Association and the Independent Association of Midwives ensuring access to accurate, verified information dedicated to women and to reproductive health services such as abortions, lactation counselors, gynecologists and also offers support and counseling to GBV or other types of abuse victims.

Women’s Center which offers detailed guidance on available services and resources related to women’s health and gender-based violence (GBV). The platform addresses a range of issues, including psychological and emotional abuse, exploitation, physical violence, abortion, miscarriage, trafficking and labor exploitation. The confidentiality features enable anyone to seek support safely and privately. By removing physical barriers and fear of judgment, Women Center helps regain control over health, safety and social support. 

We have developed a digital service to ensure access to psychological help for refugees. Together with both academic and civil society partners, we have launched a mobile app dedicated to help refugees suffering from PTSD as well as enabling access to mental health professionals that can support them through these challenging times.

PTSD Help is a free, self-help mobile app available for both Android and iOS devices, designed to help users manage symptoms related to trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The app has been originally developed by the The Department of Veterans Affairs, a department of the US federal government offering education opportunities and rehabilitation services for veterans and members of their families. Commit Global has been granted access to the source code for adapting the solution further.

The app is tailored for individuals seeking self-help, engaging in care work or wanting to learn more about mental health. Key features include coping strategies, brief assessments, psycho-education, calming exercises, self-evaluation tools and guidance on accessing emergency support, if needed. Personalization options ensure the app meets the unique needs of each user, making it a comprehensive and accessible resource that complements specialized mental health assistance.

Navigating complex legal systems can be a challenging journey. The process of accessing fundamental rights such as education, employment and housing often requires clear guidance and support. We shorten the distance between legislation and citizens by creating the Ce Zice Legea - Law Made Simple platform. The purpose of this platform is to explain legislation in simple terms so that legal texts are understandable to as many people as possible, thereby helping citizens better understand their rights and responsibilities. All information is available in four languages - English, Ukranian, Romanian, Russian.

The content of this decision was created and reviewed with the support of our partners from the Leaders for Justice community and the European Law Students Association - ELSA Bucharest.

This is one of the tens of solutions through which Commit Global has helped more than 16 million people.

Website Factory: NGO is a tool for creating websites that is tailored to the specific needs of non-profit organisations. It is a free platform that makes it possible to create and maintain fully accessible websites for free, without a single line of code!

The platform features an intuitive Website Factory Dashboard, which allows users to create, edit, and manage their websites independently. The dashboard is fully available in Ukrainian, in addition to 18 different languages, including Arabic, Bosnian, Croatian, Dutch, English, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Italian, Montenegrin, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, and Armenian. Commit Global provides tutorial webinars and step-by-step video tutorials in English and Georgian, ensuring that NGOs of all technical skill levels can successfully leverage the platform's capabilities.

Website Factory: NGO eliminates the financial burden of hiring developers or paying for costly website-building software. For small and under-resourced NGOs, it addresses the challenge of limited technical expertise within their teams. The platform rolls out automatic updates, ensuring access to the latest features and improvements. By enabling the creation of accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly websites, it boosts an NGO’s credibility and makes it easier to attract donors, partners and volunteers. Commit Global deploys Website Factory in areas where NGOs have a stake in enhancing their digital presence, expanding their reach, and operating more efficiently. 

Civic Tech 911 is an on-demand tech support service for NGOs. It helps organizations solve tech problems, streamline processes, and improve efficiency—just like having an in-house IT department. Since many NGOs do not have dedicated tech staff, Civic Tech 911 provides expert support for any tech-related needs, from troubleshooting to setting up tools and improving digital strategies. Support is available in English, Ukrainian, Romanian, Georgian, Turkish and Italian through 1-hour consultation sessions. In order to book a consultation session, an NGO needs to provide details about the issue they are facing, including the context, how it affects the organization, and any relevant information (such as legal context or similar examples). Once the details are submitted, NGO’s choose a time slot that works for them. Civic Tech 911 is available to any NGO, in any country, Monday to Friday. Sessions can be scheduled with a 48-hour notice.

In the beginning of the war in Ukraine and during the most intense phases of the conflict, Civic Tech 911 offered 24/7 tech support through our Civic Tech 911 programme to first responders on the ground to ensure they have the digital capacity to scale their impact and help as many people as possible. In parallel we are also providing CSOs with digital tools for database and volunteer management in order to relieve them of as much administrative burden as possible to allow them to focus on delivering refugees the support they need on a daily basis.