Advancing Ukraine's unified, democratic, and Europe-oriented recovery in areas most affected by Russia's full-scale invasion
WHY USAID/OTI IS IN UKRAINE
Russia's unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine threatens the sovereignty of a democratic partner and has profoundly altered core transatlantic security principles. Since 2014, OTI has worked in Ukraine to strengthen national unity and build support for Ukraine's reforms and Euro-Atlantic trajectory. Following Russia's full-scale invasion, OTI adapted its Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative (UCBI) to augment the U.S. response. UCBI 4 is a flexible, rapid-response mechanism designed to help Ukraine's citizens, civil society, and government authorities advance Ukraine's unified, democratic, and Europe-oriented recovery in areas most affected by Russia's full-scale invasion.
USAID/OTI’S ROLE IN UKRAINE
OTI works with Ukrainian civil society, government, media, and other partners along two main lines of effort:
- Strengthening resilience and accelerate short-term recovery in frontline and liberated areas so communities feel the impact of rapid economic revitalization, have improved access to quality education, and feel supported by key stakeholders; and
- Reinforcing connections between people in the temporarily occupied territories and the rest of Ukraine.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Access to quality education is critical for frontline and occupied communities’ resilience and recovery, but Russia’s full-scale invasion has created dire challenges for both educators and students. In response, OTI supported a civil society partner to analyze obstacles to quality education and draft policy recommendations to overcome these obstacles. Following field visits and consultations with subject matter experts, the policy recommendations were presented to government officials, educators, and students from war-affected communities and will inform the Ministry of Education’s strategic planning.
- Women-led small and medium-sized enterprises are playing a vital role in driving Ukraine’s economic recovery. To support women entrepreneurs, particularly in frontline and liberated communities, OTI partnered with Diia.Business, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and Visa to support the “Brave 2.0” acceleration program, which provided online training for 5,000 women entrepreneurs and $5,000 grants to 40 women-owned businesses.
- OTI is reinforcing connections between people in temporarily occupied territories and the rest of Ukraine through creative media products. OTI supported the production of "The Resistance," a four-part documentary series showcasing the bravery of Ukrainians who resisted Russia’s aggression while under occupation to increase visibility and support for Ukraine’s nonviolent civic action movements.