Since childhood, we are told that personal growth is the key to success. Develop yourself, strive for improvement, constantly learn – all your biggest dreams and aspirations will come true. We can use this parallel when talking about Ukraine and its reform path. To create a solid economy, equal rights and opportunities for everyone, our state must reinforce its democratic principles through successive reforms.
In this issue of our newsletter, we would like to take a deep look into Ukrainians` perception of reforms, recent CSO efforts aimed at preventing the roll-back of the reform pace and offer you a handful of opportunities for the development of civil society. Get engaged in our weekly digest!
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Reform efforts in Ukraine faced numerous challenges due to Russia`s full-fledged aggression. However, Ukrainians are convinced their state should proceed with reforms no matter what. According to our Civic Engagement Poll, 88% of citizens think so. Among the most important issues Ukraine should resolve after the war, respondents name housing for people who lost their homes (45%), corruption (36%) and strengthening defense capabilities (30%). Check more insights from our poll at ENGAGE’s updated website.
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Civil Society Highlights
New Europe Center Explores the Attitude of Ukrainians Towards European Integration During the War
On January 10, New Europe Center released the results of a public opinion poll regarding Ukraine’s movement to the EU during the war. Ukrainians are aware that the path to the EU lies through reforms and believe that these two processes are inseparable. Two-thirds of Ukrainians support the pressure from the EU on Ukraine to tackle corruption. At the same time, Ukrainians are optimistic about the European integration of our state – half of the respondents believe that Ukraine will become a member of the EU in the next 1-5 years. Click on the link to read more findings.
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CSOs Urge the Government to Involve the Public in Consultations on Changes in
ProZorro Auctions
Anti-Corruption Action Center and Transparency International Ukraine criticized the decision of the government to temporarily suspend three-stage auctions in the ProZorro public procurement system in favor of the first price sealed-bid auction. The CSOs highlight that this decision was made without prior analysis and consultations with professionals and call the government to involve the public and business community representatives in consultations before introducing any changes in the public procurement system.
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Rise Ukraine Coalition Calls for Restoring Access
to Open Data
On January 10, RISE Ukraine coalition issued a statement calling to restore access to priority data sets. Activists believe that accountable and transparent reconstruction of Ukraine depends on the availability of open data. They agree that temporary restriction of access to certain information during wartime is justified, however, it must meet clear criteria. The coalition calls to restore access to priority data sets to the extent that it does not pose a security threat and to provide a rationale for withholding information that threatens security.
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CHESNO Pushes to Oust MPs of Banned pro-Russia`s Parties from the Parliament
On January 4, CHESNO Movement released the article “Parliamentary Crisis: Why It Takes So Long to Remove the Opposition Platform from the Office?” within its advocacy campaign to bring collaborators to justice and prevent them from taking government positions in the future. The respective appeal to the parliament speaker collected 95 out of 150 signatures, with 70 MPs refusing to sign it. Read the article below to learn why the process takes that long and what steps need to be taken to change the situation.
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Gender Zed Raises Visibility of Women and LGBT+ Community in Media
The war has a great impact on the most vulnerable groups of society, including women and representatives of the LGBT+ community. To raise the visibility of these groups in media and share their contribution to future victory, Gender Zed recently finished two journalism programs for women. Click on the link and read the materials created by program participants.
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Opportunities
New Opportunities: USAID/ENGAGE is Looking for Qualified Specialists
We have updated the list of vacancies on the USAID/ENGAGE website! New opportunities include Senior Strategic Communications Advisor, Grants and Contracts Assistant, and Inclusion Program Officer. Click on the link to view all opportunities and do not hesitate to apply! Follow the updates on our website in the “Opportunities” section.
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USAID/ENGAGE Announces Grant Competition
Since the outbreak of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, civil society organizations faced major challenges. To support them, USAID/ENGAGE launched an adapted rapid response grants mechanism for civic initiatives that address the urgent needs of the Ukrainian people. Interested organizations can submit their applications until May 15, 2023. Click on the link below to learn more on our website.
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Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility Project Launches Storytelling Course
for Civil Society
Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility Project accepts applications for an online course “Storytelling for Civil Society.” The course is delivered in English through the “Cities of Learning” web platform, with a playlist of 12 videos, workshops and exercises. The participants will understand why stories are the most powerful communication tool and learn to create, shape, convert and broadcast their own stories. The application deadline is January 20, 2023.
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British Embassy Announces Grant Competition
British Embassy in Kyiv announces the opening of the Programme Fund under its Support to Civil Society programme in Ukraine. The funding opportunity will support CSOs that address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups and support integration and social cohesion in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. The opportunity is open until February 6, 2023.
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What We Read
The Art of Misunderstanding. How to Preserve a Dignity While Keeping the Attention of Western Institutions
Since the beginning of the full-fledged aggression that broke out on 24 February 2022, the Ukrainian cultural community has been actively looking for a solution to the problem of “compulsive reconciliation”, trying to tread the fine and sometimes dangerous line between preserving one’s dignity and the need to retain the interest and attention of western cultural institutions, media and platforms where one can talk about the war in Ukraine. Does a general solution exist and how to preserve the meaning and autonomy of culture?
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