Amid the ongoing war, civil society supports Ukraine’s journey towards victory, enhancing democracy, combating corruption, and ensuring transparency within the recovery process. In this issue we highlight initiatives aimed to utilize frozen assets for reconstruction, combat disinformation, and commemorate the anniversary of Ukraine’s resilience. Additionally, we delve into insights from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Democracy Index, which sheds light on Ukraine’s democratic challenges amid the war. Join us and explore more of civil society’s efforts!
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The 2023 edition of the Democracy Index by Economist Intelligence Unit revealed that Ukraine experienced a decline in its democratic ranking due to the ongoing war with Russia. Coupled with corruption issues and prolonged martial law use, Ukraine’s overall score decreased from 5.42 in 2022 to 5.06 (out of a possible 10) in 2023, dropping four places to 91st globally. Specific indicators varied, with strengths in political participation (7.22) but challenges in government functioning (3.07). Concerns exist about ensuring civil liberties (4.41) and the protection of individual rights, while the electoral process (5.58) shows areas of progress and needed improvement for free and fair electoral procedures.
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Civil Society Highlights
USAID/ENGAGE Partners Launch Petition for Confiscating Russia’s Assets to Benefit Ukraine
On February 15, the Center for Civil Liberties and the Anticorruption Action Center issued a call to sign the petition demanding G7 and EU leaders for the immediate confiscation of Russia’s assets. The petition urges the creation of a collaborative G7-EU coalition to seize Russia’s assets and advocates for the commitment to confiscate and redirect to Ukraine $300 billion from the Russian Central Bank. The goal is to ensure justice, fortify Ukraine’s self-defense, and counteract further aggression.
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RISE Ukraine Coalition Joins Consultations for Upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference
On February 15, the RISE Ukraine Coalition, including the USAID/ENGAGE partner, the Institute of Analytics and Advocacy, participated in the Ukrainian-German consultations for the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2024), scheduled for June 11, 2024, in Berlin. The Coalition underlined the need for civil society’s active participation in conference discussions, addressing the allocation of Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine’s recovery, and emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in the use of funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
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Transparency International Ukraine Advocates for Transparent Selection of Recovery Projects
On February 16, Transparency International Ukraine (TIU) urged the Cabinet of Ministers to adopt a more transparent and systematic approach to funding decisions for recovery projects. While the Cabinet made significant changes to fund allocation in late January, granting itself authority to urgently finance projects related to mitigating armed aggression’s consequences, such manual selection may affect fund effectiveness and international partner trust. Therefore, it’s crucial to approve a mandatory prioritization methodology for selecting reconstruction projects for further funding.
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Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies Launches Exhibition Marking the Anniversary of Crimea‘s Occupation
On February 10, the Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies launched the exhibition titled “Crimea: Dialogue of Centuries” in Lviv, marking the 10th anniversary of Crimea’s occupation and the 2nd anniversary of Ukrainian resistance against Russia. The exhibition showcases pieces from the cultural project “Zincir/Chain. Links of Memory,” ceramic art by Rustem Skybin and genre scenes by Dmytro Dotsenko, portraying culture of the Crimean Tatar people. The exhibition will be held until March 10 at Lviv National Art Gallery named after B.G. Voznytsky; 3 Stefanyk Street. Opening Hours: 14:00 – 17:00.
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VoxUkraine Collaborates with Google News Initiative to Combat Disinformation
On February 14, VoxUkraine launched a project with the Google News Initiative, a global program by Google aiming to collaborate with publishers and journalists to fight misinformation, share resources and build a diverse and innovative news ecosystem. Vox Ukraine will support Ukrainian editorial teams in establishing fact-checking teams, securing funding, and providing nationwide training for future fact-checkers.
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Opportunities
Check Our Opportunities and Join Us!
- We are pleased to introduce our updated and enhanced Request for Applications for civil society initiatives. It provides expanded institutional and project support, contributing to increased citizen participation in democratic processes, strengthening confidence in civil society, and advancing Ukraine’s drive towards victory. We encourage you to review its terms and conditions, submit your applications, and join us in empowering civil society in Ukraine!
- We invite qualified vendors to visit our website’s procurement section to access the latest consultant requests for USAID/ENGAGE – https://bit.ly/3u391QK
- Qualified specialists interested in our job openings are encouraged to review the listings – https://bit.ly/3UKgGN7
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Call for Proposals Under Ukraine Small Projects Fund 2024-2025
The British Embassy Kyiv invites proposals for project work under the Small Projects Fund for the period from 15 April 2024 to 15 March 2025. Proposals should be sent to the British Embassy Kyiv by 5pm (Kyiv time) on 15 March 2024.
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What We Read
Here’s How to Find more Funds for Ukraine – Liquidate Russia’s $300 bn in Frozen Assets
While the aid packages are debated in the US and Europe and waiting for further approval, there is also a straightforward way to unlock more funding for Ukraine. It is time to make Russia pay by confiscating the $300bn in Russian central bank assets currently frozen by western states. Read more on how to ensure this process in the article by Olena Halushka, co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory.
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