Ukraine has already shown that successful cooperation between state and citizens delivers highly effective structural reforms.
Orysia Lutsevych explains that, given this record, the country’s government and international partners should work with Ukraine’s civil society organizations (CSOs) in recovery planning, oversight, and implementation.
Citizen groups have already been deeply involved in reconstruction and relief work since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, but many feel sidelined by national and regional authorities in planning and delivering the recovery.
Orysia highlights the invaluable skills and experience of millions of Ukrainians who want a greater stake in determining how their country will be rebuilt, and that public accountability from institutions is vitally important.
This video interview supports a briefing paper which draws on insights from a Chatham House survey of Ukrainian CSOs conducted at the end of 2022.
It examines their ambitions for engaging in recovery planning and delivery, their perceptions of the factors which could jeopardize modernization and reform as the country rebuilds, and sets out practical steps to foster effective and sustainable cooperation between the state and civil society.