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Civil Society in Ukraine: “D Riving Engine Or Spare Wheel for Change ?”

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Civil Society in Ukraine: “D Riving Engine Or Spare Wheel for Change ?” CIVIL SOCIETY IN UKRAINE: “D RIVING ENGINE OR SPARE WHEEL FOR CHANGE ?” CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Ukraine Written by Svitlana Kuts, national civil society expert Assisted by Lyuba Palyvoda, researcher Kyiv, 2006 Center for Philanthropy Counterpart Creative Center CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation 1 FOREWORD The Civil Society Index (CSI) project was accomplished by a partnership of two Ukrainian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The missions of these two NGOs are to support civil society and civic initiatives. The two NGOs are the Counterpart Creative Center and the Center for Philanthropy. The Counterpart Creative Center (CCC) is a Ukrainian non- governmental not-for-profit organisation registered as an international charitable foundation and an official branch of Counterpart International, Inc. in Ukraine. The mission of Counterpart Creative Center is to support civic initiatives aimed at developing and strengthening civic society in Ukraine. Counterpart Creative Center works in the following fields: providing informational and consulting services, delivering trainings and seminars, conducting research, evaluations and surveys, administration of grants programs and preparing and issuing publications. CCC Target groups, partners and beneficiaries include NGOs and civil society leaders, national and local state administration and self-governing bodies, international and donor organisations, mass media, general public. The mission of Center for Philanthropy (CFP) is to develop a culture of philanthropy by creating a favourable environment for citizens participating in civil society organisations in Ukraine. The mission is realised by following the objectives to provide information and reference services for NGOs and potential philanthropists, to educate social service providers on fundraising and local donors on value and importance of civil society, to research issues of vital importance to philanthropy and civil society development in Ukraine and to provide networking opportunities for NGOs, business, government and mass-media. The CFP was established in 1998. Since then the Center has accomplished more than 20 projects supported by international donors and local philanthropists, published about 20 publications, issued several TV and radio programs and conducted study tours, trainings and workshops. In 1999-2001 Counterpart Creative Center and Center for Philanthropy partnered with the League of Regional Resource Centers during the pilot implementation of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI). The current project is a follow up on this previous research. By conceptualizing the role and significance of civil society more broadly than was the case in the 1990s, the CSI project has initiated a new debate on the concept and implication of civil society. The current study is action oriented research project, which involved a wide range of stakeholders from throughout the country. It will be used to inform civil society organisations (CSOs), as well as researchers, government officials, national and foreign donors and the general public. The CSI project in 2003-2005 took place in cooperation with a wide range of organisations, individuals and members of the National Advisory group (NAG). The project has laid the ground for productive cooperation in the name of civil society development in Ukraine. Lastly, the report title poses a question whether Ukrainian civil society is like a fountain unexpectedly and powerfully outburst to protect citizens choice and dignity in November 2004 and then returned to its usual passive state or civil society has become a lasting source of energy for continuing change at all levels of society. Today a strong effort should be made to provide civil society with powerful instruments for change and hope that the product of our research will be a small input in this process. Svitlana Kuts President of the Center for Philanthropy CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Ukraine 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Civil Society Index (CSI) study was carried out by Counterpart Creative Center and the Center for Philanthropy in Ukraine. The project’s approach and research methodology was developed by the international non-governmental organisation CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. We are tremendously thankful to all the staff, volunteers, members and regional representatives of Counterpart Creative Center and Center for Philanthropy. We would like to thank the CSI team in CIVICUS, above all Mahi Khallaf and Volkhart Finn Heinrich, for their support throughout the project and for the invaluable input and comments to this report. Many thanks to the general Secretary General of CIVICUS, Kumi Naidoo, for encouragement and enlightening in the course of project implementation. We would like to express our gratitude to the funders and supporters of the project: CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, and the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine. Deep thanks for the material support go to the Initiative Consortium “Ukraine – It’s Us”. Thanks to the Department of Communication and Public Relations of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for valuable comments and taking the project as a framework for developing relationships between civil society and Ukrainian government. The National Advisory Group (NAG) of the project has become a governing body and collaborated on the creation of the CSI from the outset. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the group’s members for the time and energy they put into the project: Khusnutdinov Valery, Ukrainian Union of Youth Organisations, Volochaj Olena, International League of Professional Support of Civic Initiatives, Rogalin Yakiv, Charitable Foundation “Kindness”, Katkova Irina, Turbota pro litnih (Age Concern) in Ukraine, Semenova Olena, AIDS/HIV International Alliance in Ukraine, Katchanova Natalia, Community Initiatives Foundation, Khalilov Aider, advisor to Crimean Parliament, Mitsay Andriy, Ministry of Economy and European Integration of Ukraine, Kremeshna Tetiana, “Olesia” Company, Korovchenko Bohdan, Internews Ukraine, Volodymyr Panniotto, Kyiv International Institute for Sociology, Rubtsov Valerij, Institute of Local Democracy and Ilko Kucheriv, Democratic Initiatives Foundation. Specific thanks for the organisational support and coordinating in the regions of Ukraine to such organisations and people working in them: Community Initiatives Foundation from Kharkiv, International Alliance for Professional Support of Civic Initiatives, Institute for Local Democracy, Crimean Center “Perspective”, Ukrainian World Coordinating Council, and personally to Olena Volochaj, Alla Shestakova, Yulia Tykhomyrova, Sergij Volochay, Valerii Rubtsov, Yavorska Vira for invaluable input to the work of the project. This report draws on ideas, arguments and examples brought up during the course of the work of the NAG, discussions with colleagues at CCC and CFP, the regional stakeholder consultations, and the National seminar that was held at the end of project to discuss and build upon its findings. All these stakeholders and participants contributed strongly to this report. CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Ukraine 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD ...............................................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................3 TABLES AND FIGURES ...............................................................................................................................................4 LIST OF ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................................6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................................9 I. CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX PROJECT & APPROACH......................................................................................11 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................................................11 2. PROJECT APPROACH ..........................................................................................................................................13 2.1 Conceptual Framework....................................................................................................................................13 2.2 Project Methodology .......................................................................................................................................14 2.3 Linking Research with Action .........................................................................................................................16 2.4 Project Outputs ................................................................................................................................................17 II. CIVIL SOCIETY IN UKRAINE ......................................................................................................................18
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