Since the Revolution of Dignity, the citizens of Ukraine have been committed to a democratic future of the country as a true member of the European community. We too at USAID/ENGAGE remain committed to standing with the Ukrainian citizens who, despite the challenges of the war, continue to support the European path of Ukraine.
In this edition of our newsletter, we offer you to check an infographic that testifies to citizens` EU aspirations and read our recent research on wartime adaptations of donors and advocacy-focused CSOs. We also present an inspiring collection of stories that showcase the bravery of teachers during wartime, the latest civil society updates, and a variety of grant and job opportunities. We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter!
****
What are the foreign policy orientations of Ukrainians? Do they think the government is successful in handling exterior issues? The latest survey by Razumkov Center provides some insights. Ukrainian citizens are generally favorable of the European Union (89%) and would vote for Ukraine’s accession (79%). 78% of respondents positively assess Ukraine’s foreign policy during wartime. Respondents consider as the most effective the efforts aimed at strengthening relations with other countries and international organizations (88%), improving Ukraine’s international image and authority (86%), expanding the group of allied countries that support Ukraine in resisting Russia`s aggression (86%), ensuring external support to resist Russia`s aggression (86%), promotion of Ukrainian initiatives on international platforms (86%), and distribution of objective information about the war in Ukraine to the world (86%).
****
Wartime Pivots and Adaptation: USAID/ENGAGE Mapping of Support to and Needs of Advocacy-Focused CSOs
We mapped the efforts of donors and advocacy-focused CSOs since Russia’s unprovoked invasion to better understand how they adapted and pivoted their activities.
Findings suggest that donors demonstrated considerable agility in their ability to react and provide CSOs with the flexibility of support that they needed. In their turn, CSOs took on multiple tasks, most often seen in their impromptu efforts to provide emergency assistance, use their communication platforms as points of information and coordination, and expand technical competencies to develop wartime-relevant programming. Read the full survey summary by the link below.
****
Civil Society News
Osvitoria Releases a Collection of Teachers` Stories about War
“Living to Teach” is a unique collection of 80 stories from teachers who lived through different experiences during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prepared by Osvitoria. Push the button below to read more about the courage, resilience and work of Ukrainian teachers for future generations.
****
Transparency International Ukraine Presents Results of the Transparent Cities Study
On April 11, Transparency International Ukraine presented the results of its Transparent Cities study that examined how Ukrainian cities have been functioning under wartime conditions. This year, the study identified Dnipro, Lviv, and Mukachevo as the “transparent” cities, ten cities as “partially transparent,” and 57 cities as “opaque.” The cities close to the frontline and those which had been under occupation for more than six months were not subject to evaluation.
****
CSOs Urge the High Council of Justice to Broadcast High Qualification Commission of Judges Selection Interviews
On April 7, a coalition of CSOs called on the High Council of Justice (HCJ) to interview candidates for the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) openly and ensure their live broadcast. Earlier the HCJ ruled that the interviews would not be broadcast live but made public after the completion of all the interviews. The CSOs believe this decision goes against the law and undermines public trust in the judiciary.
****
Ukrainian Antiquity Empowers Youth Civic Engagement
The “Active Position of My Region. Through the Eyes of Children” project by Ukrainian Antiquity aims to promote civic engagement among young people while inspiring them to revitalize youth spaces in Kharkiv and Chernihiv oblasts. Throughout the project, participants learned to secure funding for their ideas, establish strategic partnerships with stakeholders, and conduct needs assessments for their target audience. The initiatives of project participants include the creation of a newspaper in Anysiv, the establishment of a financial literacy club in Blyzniuky, and the launch of a film club in Eshkar. For more information, please visit the organization’s Facebook.
****
Razumkov Center Presents Analytical Report on the Establishment of Economic Freedom in Ukraine
The Razumkov Center’s analytical report “On the Establishment of Economic Freedom in Ukraine” postulates that economic freedom should become a pillar of Ukraine’s national identity, calling for the liberalization of state economic policy and a reduction in government control over the economy. The report warns that restrictive policies could keep Ukraine among Europe’s “outsiders,” and recommends continued efforts to reduce administrative and fiscal burdens on businesses, coupled with the expansion of economic freedoms.
****
Opportunities
We are Looking for Qualified Specialists
Attention job seekers! USAID/ENGAGE is offering a variety of exciting job openings. While we have already found candidates for some positions, we still have several available opportunities. We encourage all interested and qualified candidates to visit our website, review the job listings, and apply or share this information with those who may be interested. Follow our website for updates to stay up-to-date on future opportunities and other news.
****
Apply Now: We Extend an Updated Grant Competition with More Opportunities for Civil Society Actors
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.
****
We Announce New Requests for Proposals for Service Providers
We are pleased to announce new Requests for Proposals for service providers, presenting exciting opportunities for interested parties. The three available proposals are: Consultant Request for a Series of Trainings on the Implications of Martial Law; USAID/ENGAGE Partners’ Public Communication Products Translation; and Support to USAID/ENGAGE Partners’ Storytelling. Click on the link for additional information, and feel free to share this announcement with anyone who might be interested.
****
What We Read
What changed in Ukraine in 2022?
Unprovoked Russia`s aggression caused dramatic changes in Ukrainian society. In the article below, Evheniya Blyzniuk and Valerii Pekar summarised some major shifts, collecting insights from more than 70 Ukrainian researchers and supporting them with some figures.
****
