Project "Reinforcing the CSOs role in the democratisation of Ukraine" will make civil society organisations more capable to advocate democratisation reforms on regional and local levels. This will be achieved through financial support to regional CSOs, broad communication of CSO activity results, and capacity building (internal control and leadership, development of professional management of non-profit organizations).
Taking into account the dramatic political, economic, social, and humanitarian effects of Russian aggression against Ukraine, IER re-purposes the project “Reinforcing the CSOs role in the democratization of Ukraine” since February 24, 2022.
The overall objective of the action is “to strengthen the role of CSOs (including grassroots organisations) as governance actors in Ukraine through their capacity to participate in the democratisation process” and “in the properly reaction to the challenges brought about by the war” that could be fully embedded into the global objective of the Call “to strengthen the role of CSOs as governance actors in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood”. The action will target CSOs with special focus on regional NGOs. The action is aimed at providing them with financial support and ensuring that results of the CSOs activities are widely communicated to public.

The project has four specific objectives:
1.Increase the involvement of a wider range of civil society (CS) actors in the democratisation process in Ukraine, with a focus on the actors outside of the capital; after 24.02.2022 the special emphasis is made on the CSOs role in the solution of the war-related problems.
2.Enhancement of the capacity of CS actors in their own outreach and engagement with citizens and communities, in particular in war-related initiatives;
3.Strengthening of regional CSOs internal control and governance, development of professional not-for-profit management; after 24.02.2022 the focus is made on reinforcing CSOs institutional and adaptive capacities under the war conditions.
4.Advance regional and thematic policy dialogue between civil society and relevant stakeholders by means of providing Ukrainian citizens with information about international assistance to Ukraine, counteracting Russian propaganda and trends of Ukrainian economy.

a) Increased involvement of various CS actors in the democratisation and war-related process in Ukraine (35 grants; 25 and types of CSOs involved; regional coverage);
b) Enhanced capacity of CS actors to engage with citizens and communities in war-related initiatives; (4 communication trainings, 80 persons trained; 20 events conducted by grantees; 400 people participating the events by grantees etc.);
c) Strengthened regional CSOs internal control and governance, development of professional not-for-profit management as well as institutional and adaptive capacities after February 24, 2022 (15 internal policies implemented; 4 trainings, 80 persons trained; etc.);
d) Advanced regional and thematic policy dialogue between civil society and relevant stakeholders through the information activities (2000 readers; 100 regional publications; analytical publications, etc.).