Social cohesion brief Social cohesion brief

The United Nations Development with a number of partnering UN agencies Programme has been active and present in (UN Women, FAO, UNFPA). The brief is based eastern for the past decade, prior mostly on practices and experiences of UNDP to the conflict, with a focus on community Ukraine’s work via UN RPP. development, civil society development, and environmental protection. Work on Social cohesion refers to the state of a addressing the specific conflict-related society’s convergence, or the “common development challenges built on this earlier bonds” that unify different people and engagement, established partnerships, groups that share space or territory . started in 2015 through the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme It reflects the quality of relationships (UN RPP). UN RPP is a multi-donor funded between individuals and groups in a society framework programme formulated and (horizontal aspect) and also between people led by the UNDP in collaboration with the and the institutions that serve them (vertical Government of Ukraine and in cooperation aspect). Key approaches to measuring social cohesion

Troitske Social cohesion can be Lozno- Oleksandrivka measured: evidence-based Bilolutsk Nyzhnia Duvanka analysis Krasnorichenske Chmyrivka Shulhynka

Kreminna The Social Cohesion and Reconciliation

Sloviansk Krasna Talivka Shyrokyi Zvanivka Nyzhnioteple Index (SCORE) for eastern Ukraine is an Stanytsia Katerynivka Sentianivka Luhanska analytical tool designed to improve the Pervomaisk PopasnaKlynove Krynychanske LUHANSK Mykolaivka OBLAST Kadiivka Novosvitlivka understanding of societal dynamics in Sukhodilsk Novhorodske Pokrovsk Chornukhyne Petrovo- Ocheretyne KrasnosLUHANSKillia OBLAST Donetsk and Luhansk , as well Verkhnyotoretske Izvaryne (NGCA) Pervomaiske Khrustalnyi Dovzhansk

Petro Mykhailivka Novodarivka as selected areas along the Mykhailivka Voznesenivka Liubymivka Biriukove Pavli DONETSK Naholno- vka Tarasivka Shyroke Dmytrivka Diakove Mariinka coastline in Oblast. This ZAPORIZHZHIA Dolynske Komyshuvakha Vozdvyzhivka (NGCA) Tavriiske Olhynka helps to identify strategic entry points for Kalmiuske Bilenke Preobrazhenka policies and programs that contribute to Mala Tokmachka Khlibodarivka Vodiane Voskresenka Kamianka Dniprovska Pidhirne Myrne strengthening social cohesion . Ostrykivka Pavlopil Chernihiv ka Hnutove Velyka Tokmak Sartana Plodorodne Berestove Chkalove Manhush Novouspenivka Novobohdanivka

Osypenko SCORE for eastern Ukraine has built a library Vesele Berdiansk of more than 200 indicators since its first wave Botieve Hirsivka in 2017 that can be used to measure different SEA OF AZOV aspects in societies seeking to transform Kyrylivka conflict. Data is available at regional, sub- regional and city levels, and disaggregated by various demographics.

The SCORE 2019 findings cover government The SCORE also gives an option for predictive and non-government-controlled areas of analysis and shows how support for one Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, including statement may influence support for another responses from residents along the contact within a selected group of respondents. Such line, ex-combatants, and a city booster from analysis helps identify strategic entry points selected cities of Donetsk and Luhansk for advocating or implementing positive and oblasts. desirable changes in society. How can SCORE be used? High social tolerance

• Profile target groups based on context- Tolerant passive group Tolerant active group appropriate criteria (i.e., displacement Have less negative stereotypes and Are most economically and status, gender or political preferences, feel less threatened; report a lower politically secure; have more contact group characteristics, inter-relationships) tendency to migrate and lower trust and are more ready for dialogue with and analyse them to understand their in the local authorities; are less different groups; are more satisfied anxious with their locality experiences, perspectives and concerns.

For example, the initial programming Low civic engagement High civic engagement focus has been on IDPs, however, evidence suggested that IDPs have been gradually Intolerant passive group Intolerant active group integrating into host communities. At the same time, ex-combatants emerged as a Are less satisfied with their locality; Justify violence more often; have distinct group facing similar tensions to are less ecomomically and politically stronger negative stereotypes and secure; have less contact and are feel more threatened; are more those IDPs used to experience. less ready for dialogue with different anxious groups • Identify entry points and key actors for greater efficacy of programs: SCORE Low social tolerance helped identify change-makers in the society, constructive types of civic activity, and entry points that can address either passive civic behaviour or radicalisation. A cluster analysis was used to identify key groups based on their views of different scenarios for conflict resolution in government and non-government- controlled areas. Such an approach provides a better understanding of the motives behind different conflict resolution visions and helps identify entry points for a dialogue towards a common future.

• Adjust and refine programming rationale. SCORE demonstrated that disempowerment is the main explanation for the outmigration of young people from the Donetsk and Luhansk GCAs. Their perception of not being given opportunities for making a difference, is identified as a powerful negative driver. A belief that they could change nothing was driving them away more than any other considerations, including fragile security or the lack of jobs. Based on this insight, programmes aimed at civic empowerment through better institutionalised participation in decision making, support for socially minded business, and innovation will put local young people at the centre of change, help them become change-makers. A meeting of a Community Security and Social Cohesion Working Group in

Social cohesion is based on the voluntary collaborative approaches. The “Peace decision of an individual to participate in Ambassadors” is a network of teachers that Community community life. UNDP Ukraine provides a receive UNDP training and get other support mobilisation: a framework that helps community members for innovative school projects. “give and take” “get a taste” of cooperative practices, practice of social develop a shared vision and strategy, and University students become multipliers cohesion impact politics. and active agents of change among young people. UNDP has helped universities and Youth programs at schools and universities students that live and study in difficult foster self-government, while school conditions in conflict-affected areas in parliaments and other forms of participation eastern Ukraine, some of them IDPs from that provide young students with the the conflict area, to develop community experience of being in charge nurture projects, form environmental movements, civic responsibility and accustom them to engage in various forms of activism, and democratic practices. “move and shake” others at the university and in the community. UNDP Ukraine supports teachers, helping them to be better prepared to teach in a UNDP Ukraine works with communities reformed school environment, manage at the local level. To include different conflicts constructively, and develop voices from the community, and to secure representation regardless of a person’s Even though CSWGs function sustainably group affiliation, vulnerability, age, income, through various regulations or decrees gender, occupation, etc. UNDP encouraged adopted by local councils, they are a and supported the creation of Community rather flexible tool. Practically, CSWGs Security and Social Cohesion Working attract resources and enhance cooperation Groups (CSWGs). The CSWG, as an open between different stakeholders. The dialogue platform and community level UNDP community mobilisation approach advisory body, contributes to strengthening encourages intercommunity cooperation. both vertical and horizontal ties in the social Thus, the CSWG network that has been cohesion matrix. created helps to consolidate work at the regional level, exchange best practices, and UNDP Ukraine supports CSWGs in 48 enhance coordination. communities across in four oblasts. Regular meetings of CSWGs are attended by local As a democracy tool CSWGs help to build authority officials, initiative and advocacy community dialogue, blurring the line group representatives, civic activists, between "we" and "they" in a community, representatives of vulnerable groups, and increasing trust. In such a way, the local businesses representatives, and working groups are transforming the security services providers. Any community relationships and dynamics between member who wants to participate can local authorities and the local population, do so. In order to bring change, CSWGs enabling people to better engage in the life actively use the potential of communities of their communities. for civic engagement through civil society organisations and initiative groups. Project’s target communities covered by a network of CSWGs

Communities with active CSWGs in place

Troitske Pryvillia Lozno- Oleksandrivka

Bilolutsk

Nyzhnia Duvanka

Bilokurakyne Novopskov Markivka

Svatove Milove

Starobilsk Krasnorichenske Chmyrivka Bilovodsk Shulhynka

Kreminna RubizhnLe UHANSK OBLAST Sievierodonetsk Novoaidar

Sloviansk Siversk Krasna Talivka Lysychansk Shyrokyi Zvanivka Nyzhnioteple Hirske Kramatorsk Shchastia Oleksandrivka Stanytsia Soledar Zolote Luhanska Novodonetske Katerynivka Slovianoserbsk Druzhkivka Sentianivka Bakhmut Pervomaisk Klynove Krynychanske Mykolaivka Kadiivka LUHANSK Illinivka Alchevsk Svitlodarsk Brianka Novosvitlivka Lutuhyne Sukhodilsk Novhorodske Debaltseve PokrovskMyrnohrad Krasnodon Chornukhyne Petrovo- Ocheretyne Vuhlehirsk Krasnosillia Verkhnyotoretske Izvaryne Novohrodivka Avdiivka Antratsyt Pervomaiske Khrustalnyi Rovenky Dovzhansk

Petro Mykhailivka Miusynsk Novodarivka Krasnohorivka Makiivka Shakhtarsk Mykhailivka Voznesenivka Torez Liubymivka Biriukove Pavlivka Mariinka DONETSK Naholno- Tarasivka Shyroke Dmytrivka Diakove Ilovaisk Velyka Novosilka ZAPORIZHZHIA Mospyne Vuhledar Dolynske DONETSK OBLAST Amvrosiivka Komyshuvakha Vozdvyzhivka Olhynka Tavriiske Kalmiuske Bilenke Preobrazhenka Huliaipole Volnovakha Orikhiv

Mala Tokmachka Khlibodarivka Vodiane Voskresenka Kamianka Dniprovska Pidhirne Myrne Telmanove Rozivka ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST Ostrykivka Pavlopil Chernihiv ka Bilmak Nikolske Hnutove Velyka Bilozerka Tokmak Sartana Plodorodne Mariupol Novoazovsk Berestove Chkalove Manhush Novouspenivka Novobohdanivka

Osypenko Vesele

Berdiansk Melitopol Prymorsk Pryazovske

Botieve Hirsivka Yakymivka AZOV SEA

Kyrylivka Social cohesion is strengthened through community action

Communities’ efforts to strengthen social disabilities led to a major change in the cohesion may be restricted by inadequate Ministry of Social Policy’s approach to funding Advocacy and laws, corrupt policymaking, and the national, regional and local programs for social change for disconnect between powerholders and the people with disabilities. Thanks to the efforts social cohesion public. Removal of structural barriers to social of inclusive advisers from the Luhansk and cohesion through advocacy and solidarity Donetsk oblasts, a new transparent tender helps take social cohesion to the next level. system was introduced at the national level. Moreover, a new position of Adviser to the UNDP support for a network of inclusivity Governor of Donetsk Oblast was offered to advisers from a group of people with one of the UNDP inclusivity advisers.

Private business is a key factor in the services or goods it most needs, and the economic well-being of a community. The business applicant that has a plan to deliver Social cohesion more a business responds to the needs of them is supported with a grant. and a responsible the customers, the more it “gets it right” – the private sector greater the profit. Targeted business support programs for IDPs in the early months after the cease-fire in Cooperative decision making on the priority the led to the feelings of exclusion needs for the community is an innovative among businesses in the host communities. practice that UNDP supports within the Based on this feedback, UNDP re-formatted framework of its business grants program. its support for entrepreneurs, focusing This is important because the community on social cohesion and shared benefits. must co-finance the investment. In a Specifically, job creation and value chain transparent discussion and decision-making sustenance were set as priorities for business process, the community determines which support. What is particularly important for the recovery of communities in eastern Ukraine is building shared value based cross-sectoral partnerships which involve local authorities, civil society and private sector. UNDP approach invites communities to change their perspective and look at the business not just as the source of economic profit but what is more important – as the change-maker in the process of social value co-creation.

The research has been conducted to examine private sector engagement in the development of communities in Eastern Ukraine. It identified the main factors hindering the partnerships development:

• Lack of understanding of the shared value of economic and social improvements in the community by both businesses and local authorities

• Low awareness among local entrepreneurs and local government officials regarding effective models of cooperation with the private sector in combination with the elements of distrust

• Often a bias, among local government representatives towards business structures and vice versa

Professional use of social cohesion tools (dialogue facilitation, conflict mediation, leadership support and evidence-based stakeholders’ capacity building) resulted in some positive experiences in this field. In Novhorodske, close to contact line community, Donetsk oblast, representatives of the village council and the public have raised debates on expediency of the big local private enterprise social programme for the next year. As a result of dialogue- based community mobilisation efforts, the Coordinating Council for Cooperation between government, business and society was established to make joint decisions on the community development priorities. Community development HUB “Ukrainian New York” has been created in the renovated historical building of Novhorodske as a co-financed by community, private sector and UNDP project.

Democratic institutions and procedures, rule the community. Participatory budgets, of law and justice, and human rights and innovative programs and the principle of Good governance non-discrimination help turn social cohesion co-financing have significantly changed bolsters social into a political resource for the community. local politics in the communities targeted cohesion Citizen participation in decision making, a for UNDP support, increasing “vertical” strong, independent civil society, grassroots cohesion and enhancing the government’s initiatives, and activism change the way the legitimacy and accountability. authorities interact with the community. Social cohesion councils are a democratic UNDP Ukraine support for local civil society, innovation supported by UNDP at the local helping it evolve and become an acclaimed level. Civil society, local authorities, and other and appreciated local agent of change, community actors volunteer to regularly promotes more cooperative and transparent meet and discuss community needs, as well relationships between the authorities and as plan and budget activities and strategies. Over the last several years, a critical mass of amalgamation, and other similarly people has been trained by UNDP and other important societal concerns. To ensure Piloting new international organisations in effective ways the mediators have sufficient capacity, a methods for to resolve conflicts to reconcile and build series of specialised training sessions have conflict resolution mutual understanding in communities. been organised to enhance the skills of the These people have significantly developed mediators in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. their potential as “conflict mediators.” To make further use of this meaningful network A special set of training sessions on of people who are ready to consolidate their improving debating skills has been efforts, a pilot system dubbed GISMAERC launched for young people who are (Geoinformation System for Monitoring, actively participating in community life of Analysis, Evaluation and Resolution of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The training Conflicts) has been launched and is now sessions are aimed at increasing the level publicly available. of argumentation in the communications of youth leaders and improving their public The system comprises an online platform speaking skills, as well as promoting and that receives information from ordinary popularising debates as a non-conflict residents and activists on current conflicts communication and dispute-resolution in communities. Residents can visit the method. UNDP supports a unique “Donbas web-platform, select a conflict category, Dialogue” project that was created by three and submit detailed information on the IDPs from Donetsk and Luhansk with the nature of the conflict. The reports are aim of repairing the relationships between then submitted for in-depth discussion people that ended up on different sides of and scrutiny by members of the Advisory the armed conflict in Donbas. Since face- Groups on Social Cohesion, who, in close to-face dialogue in the given circumstances cooperation with the network of mediators, was extremely difficult and risky for the rate the conflicts, and select one to tackle participants, the project created a space with an action plan that they devise. for dialogue and communication within a closed Facebook group that has since grown The mediators have already reviewed and and now has 480 members from the two analysed seven conflict cases in targeted sides. Ideas for dialogues are crowdsourced. communities, most of them related to The process is crowned with two annual tackling tensions between the IDPs and week-long dialogue marathons. Some of the their host communities, public property marathoners gather in person, while others management, the resistance of some participate virtually. There have been eight communities to the prospect of territorial dialogue marathons held since 2015.

Dialogue reports are made https://www.facebook.com/groups/DonbassDialog/ public and appear on one https://online-dialogue.org/ of the Donbas Dialogue virtual platforms, together https://www.donbassdialog.org.ua/ with the methodology, blogs and ongoing The platform adheres communication: to the “Do No Harm” principle The "green room" in Druzhkivka

The concepts of community security and for police command staff, district police social cohesion are mutually reinforcing. officers and juvenile-crime prevention Social Cohesion If communities feel physically secure, then officers, and a guidebook on Community and Community they are likely to act in more cohesive ways, Policing in rural areas has been produced. Security and vice versa. Hence social cohesion Community Policing was identified as one should be understood as both an essential of the key areas for UNDP grant support component of, and a compliment to, under joint projects between civil society the overall aim of achieving community organisations and the police. security. Inclusiveness Enhancing the capacity of police to be openly and proactively engaged with local Social exclusion is a significant contributor communities and respond to their needs to insecurity in communities, as the affected and priorities is key in strengthening trust groups and individuals lose confidence in in these institutions, and thus supporting the institutions designed to protect them. vertical cohesion. Community Policing UNDP Ukraine has implemented several pilot projects to increase the inclusiveness UNDP Ukraine is carrying out wide-ranging of security providers and remove barriers to work on introducing the Community access to security services by various groups Policing approach to police activities in of people. The refurbished front offices conflict-affected regions. A series of training of police stations, which are now friendly sessions on the topic have been conducted to persons with disabilities and people The building of the rehabilitated Vuhledar city court after a major refurbishment in line with universal design principles with limited mobility; specially equipped of dialogue processes and collective "green rooms" in police departments for mechanisms to manage disputes and work with child victims or witnesses of develop solutions to problems. Tensions crimes, or children in conflict with the and disagreements are a regular occurrence law; the development of the “101” mobile in crisis-affected communities. application for reporting emergencies or dangerous situations, which is adapted for UNDP Ukraine reinvigorated the School people with hearing and visual impairments; Reconciliation Service system by training sign language courses for patrol, district mediators among juvenile-crime and juvenile-crime prevention police prevention police officers and school officers – these are all simple and low-cost psychologists in Donetsk and Luhansk interventions that provide quick results in oblasts, whose task was to identify and involving various groups in community life prepare mediators among schoolchildren. and increasing public confidence in security Thus, adolescents can address emerging institutions. and potential conflicts in their environment in a non-conflict manner, using mediation School Mediation techniques and, when appropriate, without involving the school administration or the A key aspect that the social cohesion police, which helps to resolve conflicts that component brings out is the development previously remained latent.