Within the USAID Rada: Next Generation Program, Internews Ukraine announces a competition among non-governmental organizations to implement projects intended to involve citizens in the legislative process and oversight capacities, in particular through building interaction between MPs (parliamentary factions, committees) and their constituents, engaging citizens in the work of the Parliament, communicating reforms, and conducting public consultations.
The aim of the RADA: The Next Generation Program is to promote the next generation of reforms in the Parliament that will contribute to the establishment of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as a modern, effective institution, which will improve its accountability to the public and democratic development in Ukraine. The program is implemented by Internews Ukraine with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The program has four focus areas:
Goal 1. Constituents' participation in the legislative process, including through better and more systematic engagement between the MPs of Ukraine and their constituents, professional communities, and overall civil society, raising awareness and understanding of the role of the Parliament, its objectives and functions among citizens;
Goal 2. Strengthening and expanding the analytical and oversight capacities of the Parliament to ensure the full legislative cycle;
Goal 3. Increasing the level of efficiency and performance of the Parliament's functions defined by the Constitution of Ukraine with the use of technological and innovative solutions.
Goal 4. Supporting the Parliament's activities under martial law, preparation for work in peacetime and post-war reconstruction.
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For more information about the USAID Rada: Next Generation Program, please follow this link.
Grant Program
"Citizens and Parliament: Democratic Representation and Effective Interaction under Martial Law"
Within the USAID Rada: Next Generation Program, Internews Ukraine announces a grant competition among non-governmental organizations.
The representative function of the Parliament is one of the key ones and includes various formats of direct and indirect interaction between the MPs and their constituents, which is an essential part of the exercise of the MP's powers. Such cooperation promotes the involvement of constituents in the decision-making process, contributes to the formation of the level of trust in the Parliament as an institution, and increases the legitimacy of decisions drafted and adopted at the parliamentary level.
The main objective of the grant program is to strengthen the interaction and cooperation of the MPs of Ukraine (parliamentary factions, committees) with constituents and target groups under martial law; involvement of constituents in the decision-making process and work of the Parliament; engagement of the constituents in the oversight capacity of the Parliament; reform communication, study of problematic issues that require legislative regulation and public consultations.
Activities within the Grant Program can include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Development and provision of tools for the public and MPs of Ukraine to exercise their representative, legislative and oversight functions. Propose effective and efficient mechanisms for sustainable interaction between MPs of Ukraine (parliamentary factions, committees) and representative institutions, professional associations, NGOs through the establishment of a system of public consultations, as well as strategic targeted (focused on solving complex challenges) communications. Assist local professional associations and bodies of local self-government in organizing a strategic aimed dialogue with MPs of Ukraine (parliamentary factions, committees) to solve problems, mutual exchange of positions and information, proposals for developing optimal solutions, communicating reforms, explaining the agenda and arguments of resolutions adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
- Creation and development of dialogue platforms for studying problematic issues, searching and advocating for public policy solutions (advocacy, parliamentary and municipal, expert, professional platforms, partner networks, etc.) Engaging citizens in the decision-making process, improving the level and quality of interaction between MPs of Ukraine (parliamentary factions, committees) and citizens with the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders (non-governmental organizations, local authorities and self-government bodies, business representatives, professional communities, youth, IDPs, veterans and other groups) for targeted communication; identifying problems and reaching consensus, where representatives of local authorities and self-government, NGOs, professional communities and MPs of Ukraine (parliamentary factions, committees) can join forces to formulate and study problematic issues, set the agenda, search, develop, adopt and advocate for effective solutions; create models for solving regional, interregional, and national problems at the level of parliament and the executive authorities, in particular through legislative initiatives.
- Strengthening the gender component and social inclusion in the work of the Parliament. Raising awareness of MPs and their staff, as well as the VRU Secretariat and the secretariats of VRU committees, on gender equality, social inclusion and policy of inclusiveness. The activities may include the preparation of analytical products, information and advocacy campaigns, events held jointly with parliamentary factions, committees on the preparation of draft laws or the implementation of Ukrainian legislation and international commitments in the field of gender equality, inclusion and barrier-free access, and other activities. Close cooperation with stakeholders (NGOs, local authorities and self-government bodies, business representatives, professional communities, the youth, IDPs, veterans and other groups) is important.
- Support of the Parliament in exercising its oversight function and analyzing the practice of applying legislation. Raising awareness of MPs and their teams about the available instruments of parliamentary oversight. Proposing mechanisms for the implementation of the oversight function, in particular in terms of cooperation with the Government, control over the use of budget funds, and supporting MPs in their implementation. Recommend approaches to analyzing the practice of applying legislation and conduct at least one approbation of the proposed mechanisms, upon its results, prepare a report and recommendations.
- Preparation of shadow reports for the Committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Government's implementation of the European Commission's reports in the Committees' area of responsibility, analysis of the Government's materials on the implementation of EU requirements, fulfillment of the Ukraine Facility Plan, completion of other program documents related to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Support of the Committees in the implementation of the oversight function and monitoring of the Government's fulfillment of its commitments as part of European integration, analysis of documents provided by relevant ministries and preparation of analytical materials on the results. Develop an effective mechanism for the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine's Integration into the EU to monitor and control the Government's activities in the field of European integration, fulfillment of commitments undertaken in the framework of cooperation with the EU, and work within the negotiation process.
We invite officially registered civil society organizations from all regions of Ukraine, located in the territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine, with sufficient capacities and experience to implement the corresponding project.
All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by an independent commission of experts based on the following selection criteria:
1. project relevance and effectiveness:
- clear definition of the problem, identification and analysis of the causes, consequences and solutions proposed by the project;
- compliance of the proposed goals, activities and expected results with the objectives of the grant;
- focus of the project on results with measurable short-term and long-term outcomes;
- clear role and active involvement of all stakeholders;
- innovative approach to work;
- identification of risks and ways to minimize them;
- feasibility and justification of the planned financial expenditures;
- sustainable impact on target groups.
2. organization's capacity:
- previous experience in successful project implementation;
- partnership with local authorities and local self-government bodies, secretariats of parliamentary factions, MPs of Ukraine and their staff, as well as media, NGOs, and the public;
- expertise of the organization's members and external experts.
Maximum grant amount - up to UAH 2,000,000 for one organization
Expected start of activity - December 1, 2024
Project implementation period should not exceed 1.5 years.
How to apply
Organizations should fill out and submit:
- Application form (application form)
- Logic model (model form)
- Budget (budget form)
- Documents that confirm the state registration of the NGO
Please note that:
- in the framework of this competition grants cannot be provided to commercial organizations, political parties, religious organizations and individuals;
- in order to avoid conflicts of interest, applications from organizations whose governing bodies include members of the Ukrainian Parliament of the current convocation, their assistants, and projects whose leaders are nominated as assistants to members of the Ukrainian Parliament of the current convocation will not be accepted. The restriction provided by this clause does not apply to associations of members of the Ukrainian Parliament whose activities are provided for by the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of a Ukrainian Parliamentarian”;
- application must be submitted in Ukrainian;
- applicants will be notified of the results of their application review by e-mail;
- decision of the competition commission is final and not subject to review;
- up to 10% of the grant funds may be used to develop the institutional capacity of the organization.
In addition, Internews Ukraine will not provide funding for:
- construction or repair of buildings and office premises;
- payment of existing financial or other debts of the organization;
- participation in academic programs and trainings abroad;
- activities related to political or religious activities.
The application deadline is October 20, 2024.
All applications must be sent to grants@internews.ua no later than 23:59, October 20, 2024.
Questions regarding the announcement may be sent to grants@internews.ua by October 16, 2024.
