Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative Semi-Annual Report, Aug 2015-Jan 2016

The initiative aimed to complement ongoing USAID efforts to support a successful democratic transition and promote national cohesion in the wake of the conflict in the East. During the period of August 2015 – January 2016, UCBI maintained the same geographic and operational footprint, continuing to operate in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kyiv, and the liberated territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, supported by three Grants Management Units (GMUs). This fall, UCBI conducted geographic assessments of three locations: Mariupol, Odesa, and liberated areas of Luhansk. Based on this assessment, UCBI plans to initiate new programming in Mariupol and southern Donetsk and ramp up efforts in Luhansk, using existing GMU resources, in the coming year. UCBI assistance comes in the form of small, in-kind grants (goods, services, and technical support) and fixed amount awards to a range of partners, including national and local civilian government entities, civil society organizations, and community leaders. UCBI provides targeted assistance in order to: strengthen capacity of vulnerable local communities to manage tensions exacerbated by the conflict in the East; increase constructive engagement between government and citizens in vulnerable communities; and promote resilience to divisive and biased information by improving the reach and capacity of regional media. The UCBI Program Areas prioritize the following objectives by region: reducing tensions and frustrations around limited resources in conflict-affected communities (Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv); promoting unity and productive engagement between citizens in divided communities (Luhansk, Donetsk, Mariupol); promoting social inclusion of vulnerable groups in conflict-affected communities (Dnipropetrovsk); supporting members of local government to demonstrate reform (Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk Luhansk); increasing civic engagement in issues of local governance and implementation of national reform processes (Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Mariupol); increasing consumption of diverse and balanced sources of information (Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Mariupol); and increasing capacity of regional media to produce useful, demand-driven news and information for local audiences (Kharkiv, Northern Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol). Constitutional reform in Ukraine was a significant development during the reporting period. Constitutional amendments promoting decentralization by increasing regional and local authority were adopted at the first Parliament reading on August 31, 2015. The amendments provide for the transfer of authority and greater autonomy to the non-government controlled areas (NGCAs) of Donetsk and Luhansk. The decentralization legislation will create a special law on local government in these territories. Local elections were held across Ukraine on October 25, 2015. The elections were not conducted in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, and NGCAs of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Results indicated that the parties currently in power have lost ground, while opposition forces, including members of the pre-Maidan political elite, are slowly regaining their positions. The governing coalition had a strong electoral showing in western and parts of central Ukraine. Voters in southern and eastern Ukraine showed robust support for the Opposition Bloc, which includes former members of the Party of Regions. A ceasefire was implemented on August 26, 2015, between the Government of Ukraine and leaders of the separatist forces. However, the fragile ceasefire was broken in November when fighting was reported in the Donetsk region, despite claims from both sides of withdrawing weapons. During the latest talks in December 2015, leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France agreed to extend the deadline for the implementation of the Minsk Agreement into 2016.