UKRAINE CONFIDENCE BUILDING INITIATIVE II SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OCTOBER 2020 – MARCH 2021

The program aims to mitigate the effects of Russia's aggression by advancing efforts towards the reintegration of Donbas and Crimea, strengthening abilities to counter disinformation and malign narratives, and serving as a ready instrument to address emerging threats to national cohesion and stability. UCBI II's revised strategic framework, adopted in December 2020, focuses on reintegration and disinformation, building on previous successes and cumulative learning. The program has narrowed its geographic focus, maintaining a smaller footprint in Southeastern and Western Ukraine, while continuing to work in non-government-controlled areas (Donbas and Crimea) and in Kyiv on initiatives with national significance. The program's overarching goal is to support Ukraine's national unity and stability, guided by contextual analysis of local dynamics and geographic regions. UCBI II initiated and completed activities under two strategic frameworks during this reporting period: October-December 2020 activities aligned with the June 2019 strategic framework, and subsequent activities aligned with the December 2020 strategic framework. The June 2019 strategic framework's overarching goal was to expand acceptance of a pluralistic Ukrainian civic identity based on common values. However, the onset of COVID-19 required a quick pivot to respond to pandemic needs and strengthen government and civil society's efforts to address the crisis. UCBI II supported activities in various oblasts and at the national level, prioritizing program areas such as promoting national unity and stability, countering disinformation, and empowering local organizations. The December 2020 strategic framework positions the program to take advantage of new political opportunities presented by the Government of Ukraine to accelerate the reintegration of Donbas and Crimea. The program has shifted its focus to address emerging impediments to stability and national cohesion, while maintaining its overall intent to promote national unity and stability in Ukraine. Key issues and events directly impacting the UCBI II strategic framework during this reporting period include the Presidential Administration's announcement of the Crimean Platform Summit in January 2021 and the Government of Ukraine's release of a draft law on the transition period. These events have created new opportunities for the program to support Ukraine's national unity and stability. UCBI II has continued to work closely with the USAID Mission to hand over areas of programmatic focus, including reform-focused and civil society network building work in the Azov Region to the Democracy and Governance East project and strategic communications and media efforts to the Transformation Communications Activity (TCA). The program's commitment to strategically identifying key partners, approaches, and activities to hand over to other USAID and USG programs will enable it to work effectively while preparing to exit Ukraine in 2022.