East Europe Foundation has selected the winners of the first round of the competition “Support to CSO Advocacy Campaigns on the Recovery of Territorial Communities and Ukraine’s Preparation for EU Accession,” implemented within the framework of the “Phoenix: The Power of Communities” project with the support of the European Union.

The Expert Committee selected nine organisations that will receive funding ranging from UAH 800,000 to UAH 1,100,000 to implement their projects. These initiatives aim to ensure transparency and accountability in recovery processes, strengthen cooperation between civil society and the public sector, and raise awareness of recovery efforts, particularly in the context of Ukraine’s European integration course.

Below is more information about the winners and their projects:

• The charity organization “Svitlo Nadii” will implement a project aimed at strengthening the advocacy capacity of veterans in the Poltava City Territorial Community by updating the Strategy of Veteran Policy of the Poltava City Territorial Community in a new edition, as well as other regulatory acts affecting the lives of veterans and their families, in line with the needs and interests of the veteran community.
• The charity foundation “Podilska Hromada Community Foundation” will implement a project designed to increase the engagement of residents of the Vinnytsia City Territorial Community in local governance processes and strengthen their awareness of available tools for participation in local decision-making.
• The NGO “Kryholam” will carry out a nationwide campaign showcasing successful examples of civic advocacy, effective participation tools, and principles of good governance aligned with European standards. The campaign will raise public awareness of advocacy tools and encourage citizen engagement in decision-making processes.
• The NGO “Scientific Society ‘Ukrainian School of Archetypics’” will implement a project aimed at improving the quality and inclusiveness of public governance in Ukraine by strengthening the role and institutional capacity of youth councils in decision-making, fostering democratic culture, and engaging young people in recovery processes.
• The NGO “National Media Association” will support civil society organisations in three territorial communities in communicating with authorities, media, and citizens, and in effectively using advocacy and information campaigns as a tool for meaningful citizen participation in recovery, democratic reforms, and Ukraine’s preparation for EU accession at the local level.
• The NGO “Ukrainian Women’s Congress” will work to strengthen the participation of women from smaller territorial communities in transparent, inclusive, and gender-responsive recovery processes, including by expanding their influence on local decisions and policies. The project will include a regional Ukrainian Women’s Congress and an advocacy campaign to support the implementation of recommendations developed during the Congress.
• The NGO “Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law” will implement a project that includes analysis of legislation, practices, and needs related to the functioning of temporary accommodation facilities and housing provision for internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as advocacy for policy changes on IDP housing at various levels of governance.
• The NGO “Economic Growth Center ‘LRHub’” will work on improving local policies in the areas of municipal property management (public spaces for trade), parking organisation on municipal land, and the collection of tourist tax in the Lviv City Territorial Community by actively engaging residents in decision-making processes.
• The NGO “Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition” will support local self-government bodies of territorial communities in applying citizen engagement tools and ensuring sustainable community development. In particular, the organisation will analyse best European practices of democratic tools, develop practical recommendations, and disseminate them among local governments, associations, and civil society representatives.

We congratulate the winners and wish them successful project implementation. We are confident that their initiatives will contribute to greater openness in recovery processes, strengthen cooperation between the state and civil society, and help citizens better navigate and more actively use available participation tools.