UNDP in Ukraine

WHAT IS THE SITUATION?

The process of transition in Ukraine has presented challenges, opportunities and new roles, with varying degrees of exposure, for the youth of Ukraine. It has also exposed human security and development related pressures and problems that were not so acute or did not exist previously. In the past decade Ukraine has gone through transformation affecting all facets of governance and development, from societal to economic to political, as the country returned to independent statehood and moved toward democracy and a market economy.

Recent events, following the 21 November 2004 Presidential voting in Ukraine, demonstrate the increasingly significant roles the youth of Ukraine can play in further transforming and strengthening the system of democratic governance. If adequately empowered, through agovernance and human security policies and practices, the youth (men and women) of Ukraine can be the “key driving force” for vital changes that the entire Ukrainian people aspire. These events show that the youth of Ukraine are demanding and ready for the “next level or second generation of reforms in policies and practices”. The active participation of the youth by contributing through their choices in shaping the future of democratic governance and social economic security of Ukraine is now most important.

WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF OUR PROGRAMME?

Program consists of three major components:
(a) Governance for self-reliance and dignity;
(b) Youth and social security;
(c) Youth and economic security.

The Program focuses directly on helping individuals find meaning and optimism through positive individual and collective actions supported through their own self-governing organizations and democratically-elected local councils and authorities. Besides, the project is helping individual youths and youth organizations to help themselves within a democratic context through the process of self-governance.

OUR TARGET GROUPS:

The program due to its multiple objectives, aims to work with the following five target groups in every region of the country:

• Young men and women of Ukraine (representatives of Youth NGO’s, Centers of Youth self-governance, institutions of education and working youth);
• Administration at all levels;
• Business sector;
• International Community;
• Mass media.

The Program aims to work with all above-mentioned target groups under each component, covering all aspects of the youth human security.