UNDP in Ukraine

The Project aims at strengthening civil society through support to civil society organizations (CSO) that promote transparency and accountability of government and introducing legislative initiatives to create a favourable legal framework for a better functioning civil society in Ukraine.

The new Project will support an expert team providing consultations to the Civic Coalition for the new law “On Civic Organizations” (draft #3371). The new law is expected to be in compliance with main international and European principles concerning CSOs, corresponding to the decision of the European Court on Human Rights stating that Ukraine’s current Law on Civic Associations contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights (decision of 3 April, 2008).

Starting in October 2009, the Project’s implementing partner – Charity Fund Counterpart Creative Centre – commenced the small grants scheme for CSOs in seven regions of Ukraine (Chernigiv, Donetsk, Kirovograd, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, and Lugansk). It is expected that at least 90 Ukrainian CSOs in seven target regions will benefit from the CSDP support. Grant allocations will vary between UAH 50,000 and UAH 220,000.

Despite some financial support to youth and socially oriented NGOs rendered by the relevant Ministries, the support of CSOs advocating for human rights protection, transparency and accountability of local governments is not a priority according to the experts’ opinion.

Due to this fact, the new Project will provide support to Ukrainian CSOs active in the field of human rights protection and improvement the rights and situation of vulnerable groups. Specifically these include people with disabilities, orphans and children devoid of parental care, “street children”, vulnerable youth and disadvantaged women. In addition, the Project's small grants scheme will address issues of humanization of practices of law enforcement and penitentiary system according to European standards. The overall Project budget during 2009-2011 makes almost USD 3,5 mn.

According to the USAID’s NGO Sustainability Index, the weakest points for CSOs in Ukraine seem to be financial viability and public image. This is supported by the data gathered by the Counterpart Creative Center that there are currently close to 52 thousand registered CSOs, in Ukraine, an approximately estimated 10% of which can be considered fully active.

According to Mykhailo Minakov, UNDP Ukraine’s Senior Programme Manager, “this project is especially relevant during the current financial and economic crisis, where the third sector, constantly experiencing scarce resources, faces severe challenges of staying capable".

"Hence, ensuring that Ukrainian CSOs become stronger, diminish their dependency on donor community are among Project’s primary goals,” he adds.

According to the Razumkov Centre’s national survey, only about 6 per cent of the population engages earnestly in civil society organizations. As a result, there exist only 11 NGOs per 10,000 citizens in Ukraine, which is a low indicator in comparison with neighbouring Hungary (46 NGOs), Croatia (85 organizations) or Estonia (201). Therefore, the new Project plans to support initiatives aimed at enhancing the citizens’ involvement in the process of decision-making on the local level, through conducting public hearings, supporting citizen councils, and community-based initiatives to increase the transparency and accountability of local governments.

For further information on Project activities please contact Vasyl Romanyuk, Public Information Specialist, at (044) 289-9990 or via e-mail: Vasyl.RomanyukATundp.org.ua