Donor:
Project:
ReDonbass is an online platform and mobile application for iOS and Android that allow monitoring of the destruction in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions during the anti-terrorist operation.
The spring of 2014 marked the onset of the conflict in Donbas, triggered by the resistance of some residents of Eastern Ukraine to the revolutionary change in Kyiv. The declaration of the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Lugansk People's Republics in April reflected the deep-seated tensions. While Kyiv swiftly regained control over Kharkiv, full-fledged war erupted in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Despite the formal end of the "hot" phase with the Minsk agreements in February 2015, clashes and shelling persisted.
SocialBoost embarked on a transformative initiative in 2015 in response to the ongoing war. With the backing of the UN Development Program, they launched redonbass.org, an innovative online platform and mobile application for iOS and Android. This initiative aimed to monitor the destruction in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions during the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation.
Redonbass.org was a pioneering digital solution providing a comprehensive framework for monitoring and reporting destruction in conflict-affected regions. The platform included an interactive map that displayed detailed information about the extent of destruction. Regardless of technical expertise, users could contribute by reporting instances of damaged homes, hospitals, or schools directly through the platform.
The interface incorporated filters for location, object categories, degree of destruction, and restoration stage, enhancing the precision of information dissemination. This user-friendly approach ensured that the platform remained accessible to a diverse range of contributors, fostering a decentralized and participatory model for data collection.
The impact of redonbass.org extended beyond information gathering. Data collected on the platform was seamlessly transferred to the Donbas Reconstruction Agency, providing real-time insights for government restoration work planning. This had proven crucial in orchestrating targeted responses to the evolving situation on the ground.
Moreover, the database generated by redonbass.org has become a potent tool for attracting international funding. The detailed and up-to-date information on the destruction facilitated transparent communication with potential donors and aid organizations. This financial support, in turn, catalyzed the restoration of affected cities and villages in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
The project's decentralized approach to information gathering, inviting every individual with a mobile phone and internet access to contribute, added a layer of community-driven resilience. Participants actively contributed to restoring critical infrastructure — schools, hospitals, or homes- by entering information and photographs into the database. This grassroots involvement accelerated the recovery process and underscored the power of technology in fostering collective action in the face of complex socio-political challenges.
