UK DIGIT продовжить роботу, розпочату в межах проєкту «Підтримка цифрової трансформації», що впроваджувався Фондом Євразія та фінансувався Агентством США з міжнародного розвитку (USAID) і UK Dev. 

«Історична цифрова трансформація України встановила стандарт належного врядування та реформ у всьому світі, – зазначає Ліза Колл, президентка Фонду Євразія. – Ми прагнемо надалі розвивати цю спадщину передового досвіду для підтримки відновлення та відбудови України, і ми безмежно вдячні UK Dev та народу Сполученого Королівства за їхню підтримку».  

UK DIGIT сприятиме економічному зростанню через оптимізацію торгівлі, спрощення правил і норм провадження бізнесу та зміцнення ключових галузей за допомогою цифрових послуг, що усувають вартісну бюрократію та корупційні ризики. Проєкт також розширить цифрову екосистему для підзвітного управління відновленням (DREAM) та інші механізми прозорості, що сприятимуть відбудові України. 

«Цифрові інструменти підтримують Україну під час війни і сприятимуть зростанню та добробуту країни після війни, – зазначає Роберт О’Донован, старший віцепрезидент із програмного розвитку Фонду Євразія. – Ми пишаємося партнерством з UK Dev задля зміцнення цих критично важливих систем».  

Фонд Євразія – неприбуткова міжнародна організація з розвитку, яка віддана ідеї, що суспільства функціонують найкраще, коли люди беруть на себе відповідальність за власне громадянське та економічне процвітання. Ми бачимо майбутнє, де всі люди мають можливість реалізувати свій потенціал і змінити своє суспільство. Починаючи від 1992 року Фонд Євразія забезпечує перспективних людей в Європі, Євразії, Азії, на Близькому Сході та у Північній Африці інструментами, знаннями та ресурсами, необхідними для вирішення проблем, що викликають занепокоєння в їхніх громадах. Наш успіх демонструє силу динамічного громадянського суспільства, яке сприяє справжнім і тривалим змінам. Слідкуйте за Фондом Євразія на X, Facebook, Instagram, та LinkedIn.

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UK DIGIT will continue the work initiated under Eurasia Foundation’s Digital Transformation Activity, funded by USAID and UK Dev. 

“Ukraine’s historic digital transformation has set the standard for good governance and reforms worldwide,” said Lisa Coll, Eurasia Foundation president. “We are committed to building on that legacy of excellence to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, and we are immensely grateful to UK Dev and the people of the United Kingdom for their support.” 

UK DIGIT will facilitate economic growth by streamlining trade, simplifying the rules and regulations for conducting business, and bolstering key industries through efficient digital services, which eliminates costly bureaucracy and opportunities for corruption. The project will also expand the Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management (DREAM) and other transparency mechanisms facilitating Ukraine’s reconstruction. 

“Digital tools have sustained Ukraine during wartime and will contribute to the country’s growth and well-being after the war,” said Rob O’Donovan, Senior Vice President for Programs at Eurasia Foundation. “We are proud to partner with UK Dev to strengthen these critical systems.” 

Eurasia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to the idea that societies function best when people take responsibility for their own civic and economic prosperity. We envision a future where all people have the opportunity to realize their potential and transform their societies. Since 1992, Eurasia Foundation has equipped forward-thinking people across Europe, Eurasia, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to address issues of concern in their communities. Our success showcases the power of a vibrant civil society to drive real and lasting change. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Change is in the air at Eurasia Foundation. Our programs expanded this year, both in size and scope. As a result, our team nearly doubled, bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy to our internal and external operations. We bid farewell to two long-standing programs but embraced even more new opportunities.  

I’ve thought a lot about Eurasia Foundation’s legacy during this season, reflecting on how our history informs our future. I’ve found that we are able to embrace bold changes because we remain grounded in the mission and values that have guided us for over 30 years. This has been 2024’s theme: maintaining our roots while rising to meet the moment. 

2024 kicked off with the launch of our Ukraine Digital Transformation Activity (DTA). This five-year, $150 million award by USAID and UK Dev expands on the work of our TAPAS project, which ended in June after 8 successful years. DTA builds on this legacy by enhancing Ukraine’s digital capabilities and building resilient systems for a secure, prosperous future. 

DTA met major digitalization milestones in its first year. In May, we joined our partners in the Government of Ukraine to mark the one-year anniversary of the eRecovery program that launched with support from TAPAS. Through eRecovery, nearly 82,000 families have reported damaged or destroyed homes and received compensation for repairs or replacement. In October, TIME Magazine named Diia—Ukraine’s e-services app and portal—one of the year’s best inventions, citing a DTA-supported e-service that allows Ukrainians separated by the war to marry online. And in December, DTA announced that the eQueue service had streamlined over 1.5 million border crossings, facilitating efficient trade and travel between Ukraine and its neighbors in the EU and Moldova. 

I remain humbled by the brilliance and bravery of our Ukrainian colleagues. While they fight tirelessly for their country’s future and build a stronger democracy in the process, our entire team stands alongside them. 

Our Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) project also wrapped its final full year of operation. SICA’s impact spanned remote towns and large cities across Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Over five years, changemakers gained the tools to truly transform their communities, guided by support from Eurasia Foundation. They revamped local recycling systems, recovered misplaced public funds, and sparked civic engagement through art. More than 400 young people learned their strengths by leading projects and connecting with change-minded peers. 

Eurasia Foundation provided training and support, but we also gained a lot in return, inspired by the participants’ stories of change. Their stories inspired Eurasia Foundation’s Communications Specialist Jamile Satibaldiyeva to write a play about changemakers in Central Asia. Äuejai, or “airport” in Kazakh, debuted in September at Almaty’s ARTiSHOCK theatre, a fitting final tribute to the resolve and resourcefulness of SICA participants. These stories of change also live on in a StoryMap to inspire future generations of changemakers across the region. 

However, our work in Central Asia is far from over. SICA will continue to support Tajikistan’s burgeoning community of social entrepreneurs in 2025 after heavily supporting the creation of the country’s flagship social entrepreneurship law this year. We are also thrilled to announce a new project, Qadam, to bolster civil society in Kazakhstan. Qadam will continue SICA’s work of amplifying local changemakers, paying special attention to the country’s rural and Kazakh-speaking regions. 

Eurasia Foundation has grown tremendously since the start of this year. Just like the rapidly changing world we inhabit, our organization continues to change in both planned and surprising ways. But our mission—our heart—remains. We listen. We learn. And we do our utmost to give each person the tools to shape their life on their own terms.  

I am proud of our legacy, but prouder still of the future we’re building. Thank you for your continued trust and support. Happy New Year to all! 

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Eurasia Foundation’s Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) project supported the Government of Ukraine to create and launch eRecovery and continues to support the service’s development. Since its launch in May 2023, eRecovery has provided over 57,000 Ukrainians with funds to repair their homes or purchase new ones. 

Eurasia Foundation celebrated this milestone at an anniversary event organized by Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development (MCTID) with support from the Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT). Representatives from each ministry spoke about eRecovery’s results and shared what’s next for the service. 

“The eRecovery program is continuously evolving and improving, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Ministry for Restoration and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, local municipalities, and our partners’ support,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, former Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. “After all, it is important to create conditions within the country that facilitate the return of as many Ukrainians as possible to normal life.” 

To mark the occasion, the MCTID revealed a mini-documentary titled Home Again. The film follows the stories of two Ukrainians, Serhii and Galyna, who lost their homes in the early days of Russia’s invasion. Through eRecovery, Serhii received funds to repair his home in Gostomel, while Galyna obtained a housing voucher that allowed her to purchase a new apartment in Kyiv. 

Watch the documentary below to learn about eRecovery’s innovative history and what developments lie ahead. 

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As we enter 2024, Eurasia Foundation is poised at the edge of a new horizon. The last year ushered in exciting changes as our digital governance and disability rights portfolios expanded rapidly, and we amplified the achievements of emerging changemakers on a bigger stage than ever before. These changes do not mark a departure from our work as usual. Instead, they are the culmination of diligence, care, and years-long partnerships with participants, peers, and donors.

Spotlight on Ukraine 

An early highlight of 2023 was Diia in DC. Over 1,000 attendees came to learn about Diia, Ukraine’s e-services platform that connects 19 million Ukrainians with more than 120 government services. Eurasia Foundation’s Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) project supported the Government of Ukraine to launch many of these e-services and other e-governance solutions aimed at eliminating corruption and fostering public trust. These reforms have proven vital to sustaining Ukrainians during the war. At Diia in DC, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced that USAID will allocate $650,000 to support countries around the world—including Ecuador, Colombia, and Zambia—to launch Diia-like systems of their own. 

The expansion of TAPAS’s work did not end there. In late December, US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink announced the Ukraine Digital Transformation Activity—a five-year, $150 million award by USAID and UK Dev. Through this activity, Eurasia Foundation will continue to enhance Ukraine’s digital capabilities, including Diia, and, together with its partners, build resilient systems for a secure, prosperous future. The Digital Transformation Activity expands on TAPAS’s work to promote three core objectives: economic revitalization, transparency in reconstruction, and democratic governance during the ongoing war and beyond. We are deeply proud to carry our partnership with the Government of Ukraine forward.

Centering Disability Rights 

Alongside our digital governance work, our programs promoting disability rights blossomed in 2023. In October, we launched the Judy Initiative in Armenia and Moldova. The program honors the legacy of disability rights trailblazer Judith “Judy” Heumann, a trailblazer and mentor to many young people with disabilities. Through the Judy Initiative, Eurasia Foundation will work with local organizations of people with disabilities, international disability rights experts, and youth experts to amplify the voices of youth with disabilities between ages 18 and 30. 

Our Social Innovation in Central Asia project also adopted a new focus area: supporting natural disaster response led by people with disabilities. This new initiative centers people with disabilities in disaster response planning. The initiative will support people with disabilities and organizations of people with disabilities as they advance practical solutions to disasters impacting Central Asia.

Celebrating Future Leaders 

Another chapter of the Social Innovation in Central Asia project drew to a close. The Central Asia Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) welcomed its third and final cohort of young leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, bringing the total number of CAYLA participants to 480 in just three years. As ever, CAYLA offered these young leaders a space to collaborate with like-minded peers and to pilot new project ideas with ongoing mentorship from EF. Before activities concluded, CAYLA graduates elected two “ambassadors” from each participating country. These leaders will strengthen and sustain the CAYLA alumni community far beyond the program’s end. 

We also had the privilege of celebrating emerging leaders at Eurasia Foundation’s Future Changemakers Forum at Ukraine House. The event honored Ukraine’s Ambassador Oksana Markarova for her unwavering commitment to advancing transparent governance in Ukraine. We also welcomed three members of the inaugural cohort of the Fellowship for Women Changemakers from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

I am grateful to everyone who helped us navigate new changes and challenges in 2023. We are thrilled to carry this positive momentum into 2024 with you at our side. 

May the new year bring peace and prosperity to you all. Happy New Year! 

The post 2024: Reflections for the Year Ahead appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

Today’s announcement builds off Eurasia Foundation’s long-standing partnership with USAID, UK Dev, and the Government of Ukraine to advance the nation’s digital transformation.

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink announced the investment on December 19 at the Diia Summit in Kyiv.

“The next generation of U.S.-Ukraine partnership in digital transformation […] will build on all the great work done so far to create even more services for citizens and businesses that are transparent and efficient,” said Ambassador Brink. “The program we are launching today is so important. It demonstrates that harnessing the power of digital tools and [Ukrainians’] innovation is helping Ukraine win the war and win the future.”

Ukraine, a nation at the epicenter of a transformative geopolitical shift, has emerged as a global leader in leveraging digital technologies for sustainable growth and development. Indeed, since 2014’s Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine has employed far-reaching digital reforms to improve people-centered governance.

“Many of these gov-tech innovations were introduced to increase transparency and efficiency and to combat corruption,” says Robert O’Donovan, Jr., Eurasia Foundation Vice President of Programs and Digital Governance Lead. “But when Russia invaded in February of last year, they also proved vital to the country’s war effort.”

Since Russia launched its brutal war against Ukraine, the challenges facing the country have continued to grow. The human cost has been enormous, and the impact of the war on Ukraine’s economy has been no less dramatic. The country has suffered a significant loss of production potential: millions of jobs have evaporated, logistical routes for businesses are snarled, and labor resources continue to dwindle as working-age individuals emigrate or leave for the frontlines. Ukraine faces a formidable reconstruction effort with over $150 billion in direct infrastructure damage caused by the conflict.

“In the face of these daunting complexities, Eurasia Foundation is proud to partner with USAID and UK Dev to launch the Digital Transformation Activity in Ukraine,” says Lisa Coll, Eurasia Foundation President. “This is a comprehensive, multi-faceted program dedicated to championing a free and prosperous Ukraine.”

“We will be working closely with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, and the Ministry of Economy to make this vision a reality,” says Danylo Molchanov, DTA Chief of Party. “The program will engage with businesses, tech companies, local governments, civil society organizations, educational institutions, and most of all the people of Ukraine.”

To drive economic revitalization, DTA champions investments in digital economic infrastructure. The program will help to simplify and digitize export-related processes, support small- and medium-sized enterprise development, and foster a favorable business environment in Ukraine.

To ensure transparent reconstruction of wartime and post-war Ukraine, DTA promotes the digital management of recovery and reconstruction projects. The program will strengthen the e-procurement ecosystem to enhance oversight of funds and ensure fairness and accountability.

To foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and democratic governance, DTA enhances the availability and usability of open data in anti-corruption efforts. DTA will support the Diia ecosystem to speed the roll-out of new e-services for both people and businesses. The program will also improve digital literacy, ensure equitable access, and foster civic engagement in the digital transformation process.

Together, these reforms aim to create an inclusive, transparent, and efficient digital ecosystem, stimulate economic growth, enhance administrative efficiency, and nurture the citizen-government relationship in Ukraine.

Learn more about the Ukraine Digital Transformation Activity here.

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Eurasia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to the idea that societies function best when people take responsibility for their own civic and economic prosperity. We envision a future where all people have the opportunity to realize their potential and transform their societies. Since 1992, Eurasia Foundation has equipped forward-thinking people across Europe, Eurasia, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to address issues of concern in their communities. Our success showcases the power of a vibrant civil society to drive real and lasting change. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Сьогоднішнє оголошення ґрунтується на багаторічному партнерстві Фонду Євразія з USAID, UK Dev та Урядом України з метою просування цифрової трансформації країни. Про інвестиції повідомила амбасадорка США в Україні Бріджит Брінк 19 грудня під час Diia Summit у Києві.

«Наступне покоління американсько-українського партнерства в цифровій трансформації […] базуватиметься на всій важливій роботі, яка була здійснена раніше, щоб створити ще більше прозорих та ефективних послуг для громадян і бізнесу, – сказала пані Брінк. – Програма, яку ми сьогодні запускаємо, надзвичайно важлива. Це демонструє, що використання потужності цифрових інструментів та [українських] інновацій допомагає Україні виграти війну та виграти майбутнє».

Україна, нація в епіцентрі трансформаційних геополітичних змін, стала світовим лідером у використанні цифрових технологій для сталого зростання та розвитку. Так, після Революції гідності 2014 року Україна провела далекосяжні цифрові реформи, щоб покращити врядування, орієнтоване на людей.

«Багато з цих державно-технічних інновацій були запроваджені для підвищення прозорості й ефективності, а також для боротьби з корупцією, – говорить Роберт О’Донован, віцепрезидент із програмного розвитку та керівник цифрового управління Фонду Євразія. – Але коли Росія вторглася у лютому минулого року, ці інновації виявилися життєво важливими також для військових зусиль країни».

Відколи росія розпочала свою жорстоку війну проти України, виклики, які стоять перед країною, продовжують зростати. Людські втрати – величезні, а вплив війни на економіку України є не менш драматичним. Країна зазнала значних втрат виробничого потенціалу: мільйони робочих місць зникли, логістичні шляхи для бізнесу перевантажені, а трудові ресурси продовжують скорочуватися, оскільки люди працездатного віку емігрують або йдуть на передову. Україна стикається з величезними зусиллями для відновлення, прямий збиток інфраструктури внаслідок війни становить понад 150 мільярдів доларів.

«Перед обличчям цих складнощів Фонд Євразія пишається тим, що співпрацює з USAID і UK Dev, щоб розпочати діяльність проєкту «Підтримка цифрової трансформації в Україні, – каже Ліза Колл, президентка Фонду Євразія. – Це комплексна, багатогранна програма, присвячена відстоюванню вільної та успішної України».

«Ми щільно співпрацюватимемо з Міністерством цифрової трансформації, Міністерством розвитку громад, територій та інфраструктури та Міністерством економіки, щоб втілити це бачення в реальність, – говорить Данило Молчанов, керівник проєкту DTA. – Програма також залучатиме до співпраці бізнес, технологічні компанії, органи місцевого самоврядування, організації громадянського суспільства, навчальні заклади та, перш за все, жителів України».

Щоб стимулювати економічне відновлення, DTA підтримує інвестиції в цифрову економічну інфраструктуру. Програма допоможе спростити та зацифрувати процеси, пов’язані з експортною діяльністю, підтримати розвиток малого та середнього бізнесу та створити сприятливе бізнес-середовище в Україні.

Щоб забезпечити прозору відбудову воєнної та повоєнної України, DTA надаватиме підтримку в реалізації ініціатив для цифрового управління відновленням та відбудовою. Проєкт також зміцнюватиме екосистему електронних закупівель, щоб посилити нагляд за використанням коштів та сприяти доброчесності та підзвітності.

Щоб сприяти розвитку культури прозорості, підзвітності та демократичного управління, DTA покращуватиме доступність і зручність використання відкритих даних у боротьбі з корупцією. DTA підтримуватиме розвиток екосистеми Дія, щоб пришвидшити впровадження нових електронних послуг для громадян і бізнесу. А також має на меті покращити цифрову грамотність, забезпечити рівний доступ та сприяти залученості громадянського суспільства у процеси цифрової трансформації.

Разом ці реформи спрямовані на створення інклюзивної, прозорої та ефективної цифрової екосистеми, стимулювання економічного зростання, удосконалення адміністративної ефективності та розвиток відносин між громадянами та Урядом в Україні.

Дізнайтеся більше про діяльність проєкту «Підтримка цифрової трансформації» тут. 

—

Фонд Євразія – неприбуткова міжнародна організація з розвитку, яка віддана ідеї, що суспільства функціонують найкраще, коли люди беруть на себе відповідальність за власне громадянське та економічне процвітання. Ми бачимо майбутнє, де всі люди мають можливість реалізувати свій потенціал і змінити своє суспільство. Починаючи від 1992 року Фонд Євразія забезпечує перспективних людей в Європі, Євразії, Азії, на Близькому Сході та у Північній Африці інструментами, знаннями та ресурсами, необхідними для вирішення проблем, що викликають занепокоєння в їхніх громадах. Наш успіх демонструє силу динамічного громадянського суспільства, яке сприяє справжнім і тривалим змінам. Слідкуйте за Фондом Євразія на X, Facebook, Instagram, та LinkedIn.

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EF’s Chair Pamela L. Spratlen and Chair Emeritus Jan Kalicki presented Ambassador Oksana Markarova with the 2023 Sarah Carey Award. The Sarah Carey Award, named for EF’s long-serving board chair, recognizes leaders who strengthen civil society globally. Eurasia Foundation’s board selected Ambassador Markarova for her unwavering commitment to advancing transparent governance in Ukraine.

Ambassador Markarova has served as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States since 2021. She previously served as Ukraine’s First Deputy Minister and Government Commissioner on Investment from 2015 to 2018 and as a Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2020. During her time at the Ministry of Finance, Markarova co-authored Ukraine’s macroeconomic revival program. She also created an ecosystem of government public finance portals based on open data that improved Ukraine’s rank in all major international transparency ratings.

“The reforms [Markarova] introduced—including development of public finance portals that allow civilians to track government spending, as well as the work she has done to attract investment to Ukraine—are squarely in line with the type of initiatives Sarah Carey worked so tirelessly to advance,” said Kalicki.

Ambassador Markarova addressed the audience to share her hopes for Ukraine’s future and to call for continued support. “The battle on the frontlines has not stopped us from a battle inside the country for transparency, for a better Ukraine. I am so proud that Eurasia Foundation and your daughter organization East Europe Foundation have seen from the very beginning that this is something you have to support,” she remarked. “A very important reason why we are fighting and winning is civil society. Please continue doing your excellent work and even do more.”

Next, two alumni of EF’s Sarah Carey Young Professionals Network (YPN) shared their experience in this program. “Just like the Sarah Carey Award, YPN was created to honor Eurasia Foundation’s late board chair Sarah Carey, who was an indispensable advisor to young people interested in the Eurasia region,” said Mark Temnycky, journalist and YPN ’22 alum.

“In the YPN program, I found a varied group of young professionals as passionate as I was about Eurasia and about the critical importance of constantly learning,” shared Catherine Putz, editor of The Diplomat and YPN ’18 alum. “The world does not stand still and neither should our understanding of it.”

Finally, three Women Changemaker Fellows took the stage for a panel discussion moderated by Susan Reichle, EF trustee and president of IYF. These fellows are recipients of the Fellowship for Women Changemakers. With this fellowship, EF supports visionary women leaders advancing projects to cultivate vibrant, responsive, citizen-oriented civil societies globally. Fellows travel to Washington, DC to meet and collaborate with peers and partner organizations, discussing challenges and opportunities for growth.

Saida Alimova, Khalida Azhigulova, and Olha Nos are the first Women Changemaker Fellows to embark on their study tour. Alimova is a case manager at the International Organization for Migration in Uzbekistan who previously worked as a human trafficking hotline operator with a Eurasia Foundation project. Azhigulova is a legal scholar leading the fight against domestic violence in Kazakhstan. She participated in EF’s Policy Research School, an initiative of the Social Innovation in Central Asia project. Nos recently concluded her tenure at Prozorro, Ukraine’s transparent public procurement platform. She was previously a member of DOZORRO, a citizen watchdog network in Ukraine, where she helped monitor and root out corruption. EF supported the Government of Ukraine to strengthen both Prozorro and DOZORRO.

The panelists spoke about the importance of a strong civil society in their respective fields. “Of course, positive changes will come. They are inevitable,” shared Azhigulova. “In my research in 2020, I realized that Ukrainian law is one of the best examples of current legislation against domestic violence globally. I always praise the people of Ukraine for their bravery, because it gives me the bravery to continue my work. I believe that one day we will win this battle.”

The evening closed with a celebratory reception featuring live jazz music performed by Latin Grammy Award winner Bienvenido Dinzey and catered by Ruta, DC’s first Ukrainian restaurant. All proceeds from the event will support Eurasia Foundation’s leadership and exchange programs like YPN and the Fellowship for Women Changemakers.

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Launched in February 2020, Diia has revolutionized the way Ukrainian civilians engage with their government. Every day, Diia connects 19 million Ukrainians with more than 120 government services. Many of these e-services were developed under Eurasia Foundation’s Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) Activity, funded by USAID and UK Aid.

“I want to thank those on our USAID teams, at UK Aid, at Eurasia Foundation, and in the Ukrainian government, who had the foresight to invest in Ukraine’s digital transformation beginning eight years ago,” remarked Administrator Power.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Diia has become a lifeline for the Ukrainian people, supporting displaced Ukrainians and providing essential services to those affected by war.

“Through Diia, the government of Ukraine wasted no time in delivering relief to Ukrainians,” said Eurasia Foundation’s Pamela Spratlen. “The government knows that a fair and efficient reconstruction does not begin when the war ends. It starts today. Indeed, long before builders pick up hammers and nails, digital tools developed under TAPAS will facilitate Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery.”

At the event, Administrator Power announced that countries around the world will soon follow Diia’s lead. USAID is exploring ways to support partner countries, including Colombia, Kosovo, and Zambia, in adopting e-governance tools. Estonia, the world leader in e-governance, will soon launch their own app based on Diia’s model.

This announcement follows Administrator Power’s announcement in January 2023 that the United States would provide at least $650,000 to help jump-start the adoption of systems like Ukraine’s Diia platform elsewhere. It launches the first phase of USAID’s effort to support partner countries in completing technical assessments and other steps necessary to develop a one-stop-shop app for government services.

The expansion of Diia-like systems is part of USAID’s commitment to advance access to digital public goods that provide safe, trustworthy, and inclusive public and private services, reduce corruption, and foster constituent engagement in political processes. USAID will also continue to work closely with Ukraine to both model Diia and to facilitate partnerships with nations who want to adopt elements of Diia.

“Together, we are sending the world a clear message. When democracies are challenged—when we are tested—we work together, share great ideas, and invest in each other’s futures,” said Administrator Power. “We unleash the incredible innovation and insight of our citizens to solve tough problems and make people’s lives better. And in so doing, we emerge stronger than ever.”

“Eurasia Foundation is here to work as a proud partner with USAID, UK Aid, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation to move that process forward. We are championing the transparent, accountable, and equitable recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. Ukraine’s post-war transformation will require ingenuity, flexibility, and the concerted efforts of millions. Thank you for joining us on this journey,” said Pamela Spratlen.

Watch the event in full below. Then, catch Administrator Samantha Power and Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov live on MSNBC here.

The post USAID, Ukraine Ministry of Digital Transformation, and Eurasia Foundation Introduce Groundbreaking e-Governance App Diia to U.S. Audiences at Diia in DC appeared first on Eurasia Foundation.

ADMINISTRATOR POWER: Good morning, everybody! I am absolutely thrilled to be here. I want to thank you Kara Swisher, President Zelenskyy, and all of you for joining us.

As you all know, government events are famous for being cool. That’s just what they’re known for, they’re known for their laser lights, and their selfie walls, and their cool merch. Right? So, this falls within a long tradition of cool government events, even government meetings. But today is really the coolest of the cool because we get to be here with Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov, who has made such remarkable innovations as Diia happen. Sharing the stage with him is a personal privilege for me and I’m really looking forward to the discussion that Kara will lead us in a little bit later.

We are celebrating today something remarkable that is happening in Ukraine as we speak. Something truly, truly remarkable. And I’m not referring to the inspiring stories that we’ve heard over the past year about Ukraine’s defense efforts. I’m not talking about the doctors leaving their day jobs to train troops in combat medicine; or the engineers who are creating portable stoves to help the army stay warm; the everyday citizens who are rising up on behalf of democracies everywhere to protect freedom and the rule of law.

Instead, what I’m talking about is something else—something that hasn’t gotten anywhere near the attention it deserves. Because while the Ukrainian people have been fighting to defend democracy’s future, they have also been working—steadily, behind the scenes, for years—to bring democracy into the future. And you are about to see the astounding results of that work.

But first, I want to give a few words of context about how Diia became the transformational platform that it is today, and where it can go from here.

Imagine, and for the Americans in this room, this will unfortunately sound like a fantasy: imagine that nearly everything that you need from your government, you can get with simple taps on your phone or browser. Want to access your passport to cross the border? You want to apply for a construction permit? You want to register a new baby, or a new business? You can do all of that on Diia.

Imagine eliminating the infinite lines under fluorescent lights in government offices, the stacks of paperwork that ask you the same questions that you have answered hundreds of times before. The endless waiting for documents to move through the bureaucratic machinery. The more we reduce these headaches, the more we build that foundational trust: that democratic governments are capable of meeting the needs of their people.

Platforms like Diia also reduce opportunities for corruption because having standardized processes and a visible, transparent record of fines that you pay as a citizen, fees that you have to pay, payments you get—all of that takes away opportunities for officials to skim off the top.

And digital governance platforms also help governments respond quickly to emerging crises as the people of Ukraine have seen firsthand during the war. Over this past year, Diia has been a lifeline for the Ukrainian people, providing everything from cash payments for internally displaced people to an easy way for people to report damage from Putin’s missile strikes. So, Diia has actually shown us what’s possible in e-governance—shown all of us, all around the world. But it’s also shown what it takes to get to this place. Because the fact is, when you’re dealing with technology that is so fundamental to peoples’ lives, the old Silicon Valley credo to, “move fast and break things,” just doesn’t work. You can’t accept security breaches when the data at risk is your passport; you can’t accept bugs in the system when you’re trying to register your newborn child.

So, a platform like Diia relies on robust and secure digital public infrastructure—which we have been working with the Ukrainian government, UK Aid, and Eurasia Foundation to build since the year 2016.

We started this work on digitizing government back then, as part of an anti-corruption push. We worked with Ukraine’s government ministries to build databases that could easily communicate with one another, digital identification systems, and cybersecurity protections to keep data safe, even in a worst case scenario like an invasion—all of the underlying infrastructure that makes a platform like Diia possible in the first place.

Then, in 2019, President Zelenskyy and then Minister Fedorov laid out a vision to do something far more ambitious—to create the State in a Smartphone that you are about to see.

I know I speak for myself and for so many of us at USAID when I say that it has been a true life privilege to have a role in supporting Ukraine in this effort. And to see the stunning impact of the platform, especially now when it matters most.

I want to thank those on our USAID teams, at UK Aid, at Eurasia Foundation, and in the Ukrainian government, who had the foresight to invest in Ukraine’s digital transformation beginning eight years ago.

I want to thank the companies that made it possible for Diia to keep expanding its services—companies like Google and Visa, the fantastic cosponsors of this event.

And I want to thank the teams in Ukraine who have kept Diia running and made it an invaluable service during the war. Their bravery, their resilience, their determination, has been something to behold. When Putin’s attacks cut the power, the e-governance expert at USAID’s Ukraine Mission huddled on his laptop using a gas station’s generator in the freezing cold, drawing up contracts to get the Ministry the resources they need to keep developing the app.

When air strikes kept forcing the Eurasia Foundation team in Kyiv into the bomb shelter, the human resources manager simply ordered a set of folding chairs so that they could sit on those chairs with their laptops, working from the basement as the air raid sirens blared above.

When the Russian army cut off the internet in occupied territories, the Ministry of Digital Transformation organized telecom teams and traveled with them through wreckage in bulletproof vests and helmets to repair damaged base stations and fiber optic cables and to restore internet access.

These teams are building something incredible during unimaginable circumstances. And now, we want to share what they’ve built with the world, and help bring other democracies into the future, too.

Ukraine, as many of you know, has long been famous as the breadbasket of the world, exporting its wheat and corn, near and far. Well now, Ukraine is becoming famous for something else, a new product. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is working to make Diia an open source digital public good that it will give to other countries so that they can build digital public infrastructure that serves their citizens.

And other nations, including leaders in e-governance like Estonia, are already learning from Ukraine’s experience and adopting their own versions of Diia. In January of this year, I announced that USAID would support partner countries that are inspired by Diia and want to accelerate their own digital transformation by developing and expanding their own e-government capabilities.

What this looks like is naturally going to differ from country to country. But we are committed to helping our partners find ways to make progress on digital public infrastructure. I am thrilled that USAID will be working with Colombia, with Kosovo, and with Zambia, for starters, to explore collaborations on everything from improving their current systems, to developing new digital citizen services, to building innovative and easy-to-use platforms with features like the ones you are about to see.

And we will continue our close partnership with Ukraine—both by continuing to support Diia’s development, and by facilitating partnerships with other nations, so that Ukraine’s leadership can inspire more digital transformations globally.

Together, we are sending the world a clear message. When democracies are challenged—when we are tested—we work together, we share great ideas, we invest in each other’s futures. We unleash the incredible innovation and insight of our citizens to solve tough problems and make people’s lives better. And in so doing, we emerge stronger than ever.

And now, I am thrilled to introduce a brilliant, relentless, and staggeringly effective advocate for the people of Ukraine, my friend, Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States.

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On May 10, 2023, the Government of Ukraine presented a new stage of its transparent reconstruction plan: the eRecovery program. Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development and the Ministry of Digital Transformation developed this service with support from EF’s Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services (TAPAS) project.

This digital service allows residents whose property has been damaged by wartime hostilities since February 24, 2022, to apply for compensation on the Diia app, Ukraine’s digital portal for state services. For individuals whose homes are completely destroyed and cannot be repaired, the government is developing an alternative compensation program.

Since March 2022, users have submitted over 373,000 notifications of damaged and destroyed property through the Diia app. More than 315,000 of these notifications relate to damaged housing. Going forward, Ukrainians with damaged housing will be able to use the Diia app to apply for financial assistance to repair their apartments, houses, or rooms in dormitories. The government will give priority to families of defenders and vulnerable members of the population.

After users submit an application, local authorities will send a commission to inspect the damaged property and determine the amount of compensation. The commission will record the assessed destruction in the Register for Damaged and Destroyed Property, along with other pertinent information about the case, like information on damaged property and compensation applications. The funds will help Ukrainians purchase construction materials or repair services from contractors.

This digital approach ensures that the recovery and compensation process is both transparent and efficient. More information about eRecovery service can be found at https://erecovery.diia.gov.ua/.

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Diia is the groundbreaking and award-winning mobile application that connects 19 million Ukrainians with more than 120 government services, dozens of digital documents, and has distinguished Ukraine as a world leader in e-government innovation.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Diia has been used as a critical platform supporting displaced Ukrainians and providing services to those impacted by the war. Built in partnership with the U.S., Diia is now poised to be shared with countries around the world—and Diia in DC will offer an exclusive opportunity to see firsthand how this important tool is helping transform the way people connect with their governments.

Tickets are free and this event is open to the public. Reserve your spot here.

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