On February 8, 2024, the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law in partnership with the National Social Service of Ukraine organized an expert discussion of the draft concept of the State Program for the Development of Volunteering in Ukraine for 2025-2030.

During the event, Oleksandra Khamulenko, Head of the Equality Standards Compliance Department of the National Social Service of Ukraine (NSSU), presented the draft Concept, which aims to create a favorable environment in the state for sustainable development of the volunteer movement, solving social, humanitarian and environmental problems by involving people in volunteer activities and attracting humanitarian and charitable assistance from local, all-Ukrainian and international volunteer initiatives for joint problem solving, as well as establishing effective cooperation and consolidation of efforts of volunteer initiatives with state authorities and local self-government bodies.

The expert discussion was attended by representatives of the civic sector – Initiative Center to Support Social Action “Ednannia”, UCIPR (Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research), Caritas Ukraine, Ukrainian Volunteer Service, Red Cross Society of Ukraine, Brave CF, All-Ukrainian Public Center “Volunteer”, Always Faithful CF, IREX, ZMINA Human Rights Center, NGO “YurShtab”, UN Volunteers Program, USAID “Dream and Act” Program. Representatives of state authorities, in particular the National Social Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, also participated.

The vision of the main provisions of the draft Concept aimed at comprehensive development of the institute of volunteering in Ukraine was also presented by Natalia Povtar, CEDEM lawyer, and Oksana Bronevytska, consultant on the state programs development.

After consistent discussion of the text of the Concept, the event participants developed proposals for changes to the draft Concept. Based on the results of the event, the discussion participants prepared recommendations for finalizing the text of the draft Concept and submitted them to the NSSU. After finalizing the draft Concept, a public discussion is planned.

To get acquainted with the presentation of the draft Concept of the State Program for the Development of Volunteering in Ukraine for 2025-2030, please click here.

This event was held by CEDEM as part of the Project Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by the Initiative Center to Support Social Action “Ednannia” in partnership with the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) with the sincere support of the American people through United States Agency for International Development USAID Ukraine