The International Renaissance Foundation, together with the East Europe Foundation, with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation (NORAD) and in partnership with Sweden (Sida), is launching a program to help Ukrainian civil society become stronger.
The program will help more than 100 local organizations working in the war-affected regions of Ukraine. We will focus on supporting veterans, internally displaced persons and youth to help them integrate into communities, develop useful skills and create opportunities for active participation in society.
“Ukraine has always demonstrated that the strength of civil society is the foundation of its democratic development and sustainability, especially in the most difficult times,” emphasizes Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation. ”Today, as the country fights for its freedom and moves closer to European integration, civil society needs more support to remain a driving force for change. Together with the East Europe Foundation, we are launching this initiative to provide organizations with new tools, knowledge and resources to participate in the country’s recovery, implement reforms and build a sustainable future.”
The project has three main goals: to help civil society organizations (CSOs) become stronger in management, finance and communications; to engage them in the country’s recovery through support for environmentally friendly, inclusive and gender-balanced projects; and to teach them how to influence reforms, conduct advocacy and promote transparency.
“We are pleased to cooperate with the International Renaissance Foundation to support Ukrainian civil society organizations now. Our role in this program is to train and strengthen the capacity of 100 CSOs so that they can add to the challenges of war, strengthen their capacity, and effectively help those in need,” said Viktor Liakh, President of the East Europe Foundation.
Для досягненнFor these purposes, we will work with the following tools:
- Training and development. Civil society organizations will be able to join trainings, mentoring programs and consultations to strengthen management, financial and communication skills, as well as gender mainstreaming, environmental standards and transparency.
- Civil Society Resilience Index: We will conduct regular surveys to assess the status, needs, and prospects of CSOs, which will form the basis for support strategies.
- Small grants: We will support projects that promote recovery, inclusiveness, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
- Online course: Organizations will be able to take free training on the educational online platform Znakomo! for activists, civic leaders, and anyone interested in participating in the recovery.
- Resilience Forum: Every year we will organize events to share experiences, expand networks and cooperation between CSOs.
- Civic Engagement Centers: We will develop a network of regional centers to support local initiatives, training and interaction of communities with the authorities.
- Internships: Young people and activists will be able to undergo specialized internship programs in the strongest organizations, forming a new generation of civil society professionals.
The project will run until 2027. In order not to miss the opportunities that our new project will open up for CSOs and activists, follow the announcements on the pages of the International Renaissance Foundation and the East Europe Foundation.
