Financing: USAID DG East / Chemonics International

Role of MDI: Project implementer

Project implementation period: April 2021 – February 2022

The “Good Neighbors – One Country” Programme is aimed at the improvement of civic culture via mobilization of the civic activity in multiapartment residential sector (OSBBs (Ukr. for homeowners associations), multi-apartment buildings (MUB) co-owners, MUB residents, etc.), building up of civic trust, engagement of citizens living in MUBs, to the civic initiatives in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. In particular, the targeted 15 municipalities are Bakhmut, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Kramatotsk, Lysychansk, Mariupol, Pokrovsk, Popasna, Rubizhne, Svatove, Sievierodonetsk, Sloviansk, Stanytsia Luhanska. Starobilsk, and Toretsk.

The objectives of the activity are as follows:

• To ensure increased community engagement of citizens in public life of the cities and to build good partnerships between local councils, OSBBs, NGOs, and citizens;
• To increase the culture of good neighborliness and civic culture in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, demonstrating to the whole of Ukraine the possibilities and advantages of uniting citizens in groups and coalitions;
• To increase the interaction of citizens with civil society groups.

As part of the grant activity, the MDI will (1) conduct a comprehensive information and outreach campaign – informing about and promoting good-neighborliness; (2) conduct an educational campaign for apartment buildings co-owners/OSBB chairpersons; (3) conduct an educational campaign for local authorities; (4) provide advisory support and mentoring to OSBBs and initiative groups; (5) create incentives for setting up non-profit associations (NGOs) and Associations of OSBBs (AOSBBs); (6) conduct a campaign on experience exchange among OSBBs; (7) conduct a campaign for mobilization of MUB co-owners; (8) conduct campaign for institutionalizing of dialogue between OSBBs and local authorities.; (9) carry out advocacy campaigns, lobbying changes in legislation and protecting interests of MUB co-owners.

In the grant activity, MDI will be guided by the international, as well as the national legal norms on gender equality and social inclusion. Given the situation in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts during recent years, MDI will apply conflict-sensitive approach.