Summary

The activities of civil society and local stakeholder engagement in Ukraine’s communities have been decisive in ensuring societal resilience and the positive impact of international assistance in the country. In the context of overlapping crises—including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s full-scale invasion, economic recession, outward migration, and internal displacement—local actors have been vital. But they are also constrained by the increasing centralization of power. A better understanding of how civic actors cooperate with other stakeholders at the local level during the war is key to strengthening Ukraine’s democracy and advancing its long-term recovery. 

The German Marshall Fund of the United States and Institute Respublica conducted a comprehensive expert survey about the engagement and capabilities of various local stakeholders in Ukraine. This focused on 18 localities of different sizes and in different regions, including rural communities, administrative hubs, economic hubs, and conflict-affected communities. The stakeholders that were the object of the survey are civil society, local public authorities and the central government, local and national media, the private sector, and international organizations.

Civil society is judged to be the stakeholder most engaged and interested in local affairs, and its influence is rated positively, but only a small minority say this influence is very large. Local public authorities and the private sector are seen as more influential and more capable of mobilizing resources effectively. International organizations are viewed as interested in local affairs but lacking influence. National media receive lower scores on interest and influence.

A relatively small minority of respondents say their community was prepared for the war, but there is also a strong recognition of the agility and adaptability of communities in dealing with its impacts. Civil society is the most positively rated stakeholder for agility and ability to overcome challenges, followed by the private sector. Local public authorities and the central government are seen as slower to react but more capable of having an impact in communities.

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