The Eastern Office will work with NGOs and initiative groups in Eastern Ukraine
A presentation of the International Renaissance Foundation’s Eastern Office was held in Kharkiv. Executive Director Yevhen Bystrytsky, Eastern Office Director Olena Rozskazova, and Strategic Communication and PR Director Stanislav Lyachynsky took par in it.
Yevhen Bystrytsky spoke about the Foundation’s mission and objectives at this stage. He stressed that the Foundation tries to respond as quickly as possible to urgent challenges, particularly by support new civic movements that emerged in Ukraine after EuroMaidan. He also noted that the regional office’s expert council will include well-respected public figures from the region. “We want civil society to independently identify the most important priorities of its development and be involved in making decisions regarding various civic initiatives,” he said.
Olena Rozskazova said the office plans to work with NGOs and initiative groups in Eastern Ukraine to create the foundation for understanding and reconciliation amid the serious civil conflict.
Stanislav Lyachynsky spoke about open grant competitions, including the emergency competition “Promoting the activities, self-organization and cooperation of volunteer initiatives”, as well as the competitions on “Monitoring public procurement in the regions of Ukraine”, “Increasing the transparency and accountability of public funds for the needs of the Anti-Terrorist Operation”, “Independent audit of the use of public funds for the needs of IDPs”, “Independent audit of access by IDPs to medical care and essential medicines”. He advised that applicants submit their applications without delay, as deadlines are fast approaching.
The presentation was also attended by the acting Deputy Head of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration Ivan Varchenko and Director of the Department for the Improvement of the Competitiveness of the Region of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration Yuliya Svitlychna. They noted the importance of a strong civil society in the region, which will help guarantee the openness and accountability of government.
The participants of the presentation also had a chance to present their vision of the priorities for civil society development in the region, which included the development of public journalism and independent media, legal awareness of citizens, forming networks of independent experts, promoting European values, and others.
Contacts:
International Renaissance Foundation’s
Eastern Office
Olena Rozskazova
050 140 34 25
orozskazova@hotmail.com
