Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative Final Report

The initiative aimed to complement ongoing USAID efforts to support a successful democratic transition and promote national cohesion in Ukraine. UCBI programming expanded visible and tangible public service delivery improvements in eastern Ukraine, helped quicken reform, and made local government decision-making more transparent and inclusive. The initiative helped citizens embrace a new Ukrainian civic identity by providing them with opportunities to play a more productive role in their communities. This was accomplished by supporting civil society's efforts to hold government accountable and by using media as a platform to better disseminate balanced information and to increase public awareness of reforms. During the early phases of the project, UCBI assisted the government of Ukraine and civil society with strategic communications and supported conflict mitigation efforts. From 2014-2016, the program had three main objectives: increasing constructive engagement between government and citizens at the local level, managing tensions exacerbated by the conflict in the East, and increasing citizen resilience against divisive and biased information. As a result of political and social volatility in eastern Ukraine and the slow pace of reforms, UCBI adjusted its objectives over the life of the project, prioritizing efforts to demonstrate reform and promote national identity in Ukraine's Donbas region. To advance the project goal of enabling vulnerable eastern communities to actively participate in, benefit from, and advocate for Ukraine's transition to a prosperous, unified, and democratic state, UCBI shifted to two objectives and associated sub-objectives to target critical areas in which OTI had a comparative advantage among existing international donors in 2016. The two objectives were: increasing support for and participation in the development of an inclusive Ukrainian identity and increasing citizen confidence and engagement in the reform process at the local level. This shift came as a result of ongoing analysis of the political situation, and helped UCBI address an evolving environment and prioritize local efforts to mitigate effects of the crisis. UCBI's programming in eastern Ukraine focused on supporting the rollout of national reforms and building an inclusive national identity. The initiative helped shape an appropriate response to citizen desire for reform and greater participation in decision-making. UCBI's assistance came in the form of small, in-kind grants, direct distribution of goods and services, stand-alone short-term technical assistance, and cash grants to a range of partners, including national and local civilian government entities, civil society organizations, and community leaders. Throughout implementation, UCBI worked closely with host authorities and communities in Kyiv and other regions to ensure that its programming was responsive to local needs and priorities. The initiative's efforts were guided by a commitment to promoting national cohesion and supporting Ukraine's transition to a prosperous, unified, and democratic state. UCBI's programming was implemented in the context of a complex and evolving political situation in Ukraine. The initiative faced significant challenges, including the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region and the slow pace of reforms. However, despite these challenges, UCBI made significant progress in promoting national cohesion and supporting Ukraine's transition to a democratic state. The initiative's efforts were focused on supporting the development of an inclusive Ukrainian identity and increasing citizen confidence and engagement in the reform process at the local level. UCBI's programming was designed to be responsive to local needs and priorities, and the initiative worked closely with host authorities and communities to ensure that its efforts were effective and sustainable. Overall, UCBI's programming in Ukraine was guided by a commitment to promoting national cohesion and supporting the country's transition to a prosperous, unified, and democratic state. The initiative's efforts were focused on supporting the development of an inclusive Ukrainian identity and increasing citizen confidence and engagement in the reform process at the local level.