This week, the U.S. State Department is hosting the second Summit for Democracy, seeking to create a united front against authoritarianism and defend democratic values. Despite the strong political will to safeguard democracy, it is equally important to remember the essential role that civil society plays in this process. Through its continuous efforts, it makes a significant impact on the preservation and enhancement of democratic principles, both in Ukraine and around the world.
In this edition of our newsletter, we encourage you to read our thought leadership piece on the local voices in the fight against corruption and toward democratic renewal. We also feature the latest updates from civil society actors working tirelessly to enhance democracy, support victims of war, preserve transparency and the rule of law, and draw your attention to our job opportunities and an updated grant competition for civic initiatives. Don’t miss out on these exciting developments and enjoy reading!
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According to Democracy Index 2022 by the Economist, merely 8% of the world’s population resides in “full democracies”. Ukraine is ranked 86 out of 167 falling under the category of a hybrid regime. Amidst full-scale invasion, its score declined from 5.57 in 2021 to 5.42 in 2022. Despite the overall decline, Ukraine can boast improvements in three out of five categories – functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. See more details in our infographics.
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Elevating Local Voices in the Fight Against Corruption and toward Democratic Renewal
At the end of December 2022, the 20th International Anti-Corruption Conference was held in the United States, jointly organized by the US government and Transparency International. In addition to demonstrating political will, the event aimed to engage civil society organizations and activists in the active fight against corruption. Read the article to find out what issues deserve more attention at future international gatherings and how to ensure stakeholders committed to advancing democracy carry the hard-earned lessons of the past into the future.
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Civil Society News
Center of United Actions Releases Study on Civil Society During Wartime
On March 28, the Center of United Actions released research on civil society during wartime. The study analyzes directions of volunteer work among civil society initiatives that emerged after February 24, 2022, examines who they collaborated with most actively, why some of them ceased their activities, which formats of initiatives turned out to be the most effective, and more. The research provides valuable insight into how the grassroots civil movement became active, organized, and mass-oriented.
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Transparency International Ukraine Analyzes the State Anti-Corruption Program
At the beginning of March, the government approved the State Anti-Corruption Program, crucial to facilitate the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2021-2025. The Program aims at reducing corruption prevalence, safeguarding whistleblowers, ensuring accountability for corrupt practices, promoting impartiality in the judiciary, and more. Transparency International Ukraine has played an active role in the Program`s development, providing valuable recommendations to strengthen its efficacy. Read CSO`s legal analysis to learn more about the Program, as well as which recommendations were incorporated.
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CHESNO Movement Analyzes the Transparency of City and Regional Councils
On March 27, the CHESNO Movement released a comprehensive analysis of the transparency level of city and regional councils in Ukraine during the second half of 2022. Taking into account the challenges of the pandemic and ongoing war, the CSO revealed that some institutions still do not provide access to information, which prevents citizens from influencing decision-making. The Poltava city and regional councils were ranked as the least transparent, while the Dnipropetrovsk, Rivne, and Ternopil city councils were recognized as leading in terms of openness.
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SavED Releases Report on Winter 2022-2023 Efforts to Rebuild War-Damaged Schools
The SavED team has released a report on their work during the winter of 2022-2023. Together with partners, the organization has equipped 20 Points of Invincibility in schools, repaired school shelters in border villages, renovated classrooms in School 20 in Chernihiv, launched a grant program for teenagers, established collaboration with Finnish educators, and began the creation of five educational centers in Mykolaiv. Click the link to learn more results.
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EdCamp Ukraine Launches Educational Course on Landmine Safety
The course “Teaching about Landmine Safety: Learning and Teaching Others,” created by EdCamp Ukraine, offers basic knowledge on types of explosive devices, ways of recognizing areas contaminated with landmines and teaches adults and children about safe behavior. Registration is open until April 5, 2023.
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Opportunities
We are Hiring: USAID/ENGAGE is Looking for Qualified Specialists
Check out the list of vacancies on the USAID/ENGAGE website! Available opportunities include Grants and Contracts Assistant, and Inclusion Program Officer. Click on the link to view all opportunities and do not hesitate to apply or share with those who may be interested! Follow the updates on our website.
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Apply Now: USAID/ENGAGE Extends an Updated Grant Competition with More Opportunities for Civil Society Actors
We are excited to announce that the request for applications for civil society initiatives, launched by USAID/ENGAGE, has been extended and updated to provide even greater institutional and project support for the urgent needs of CSOs. If you have not yet applied, we invite you to do so. Interested organizations may submit their applications until May 15, 2025. To learn more about these new opportunities and updates, please click on the link below to visit our website.
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Kyiv-Mohyla Business School Announces a Scholarship Program
The scholarship program of the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School is designed for those who plan to implement a well-founded, socially significant project. It aims to develop a community of managers in various sectors of activity, from cultural and creative industries to non-profit organizations that solve complex humanitarian and social issues in Ukraine and globally. Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2023.
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