Ukraine’s civil society urged to reduce dependence on foreign funding

One of the most notable distinctions between Ukraine and russia is the strength and scope of Ukraine’s civil society. Since the outbreak of the full-scale war, the sector has experienced significant transformation. Recently, representatives from civil society organizations conducted a study to evaluate the resilience of the sector, examining seven key dimensions: legal environment, organizational capacity, advocacy, financial sustainability, service delivery, sectoral infrastructure, and public perception. The findings indicate that nonprofits across Ukraine have strengthened their resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.

Valeriia Skvortsova, executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR), discussed the findings at the Media Center Ukraine.

“The past ten years have been extremely intense for Ukraine’s civil society organizations. Since 2014, CSOs have  been actively involved in shaping the country’s future path. In 2017-2018, the Ukrainian authorities made some attempts to limit non-governmental organizations’ activities. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale invasion, CSOs proved their resilience and ability to respond effectively to crises,” she said.

Skvortsova added that with the withdrawal of some international donors from Ukraine, a trend toward resource localization has begun. She emphasized that civil society organizations need to diversify their revenue streams to be less vulnerable to foreign grants.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news