The Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR) held an expert meeting as part of the preparation for the 2025 Civil Society Organization Sustainability Index (CSOSI). This international analytical tool provides a comprehensive assessment of the state and development dynamics of the civil society sector.
As noted by Valeriia Skvortsova, Executive Director of UCIPR, the study is structured around seven key dimensions that reflect CSOs' viability: legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, sector infrastructure, and public image.
Experts evaluate the changes that occurred in 2025 based on these specific areas, drawing on previous results and the current context. The assessment involves experts from various regions of Ukraine who possess deep practical and analytical expertise in their respective fields and are well-versed in each of the Index's indicators.
According to Oleksii Orlovskyi, Director of the "Democracy and Good Governance" Program at the International Renaissance Foundation, the Foundation has supported the Index research for three consecutive years. He emphasized that measuring and comparing the dynamics of civil society sustainability is a vital prerequisite for effective sector support and the development of democracy.
He also remarked that 2025 was a "fluctuating" year for the civil society sector. On one hand, there was the cessation of funding for USAID projects in Ukraine; on the other, significant systemic changes took place, including the enactment of the Law "On People's Power at the Local Self-Government Level," progress on the draft law regarding bodies of self-organization of the population, and other key processes.
Therefore, Orlovskyi stressed, the expert assessment must be as balanced and comprehensive as possible, taking into account all relevant factors. The results of the Index will serve as a foundation for more informed decision-making regarding civil society support and will provide a better understanding of how the sector is evolving amidst war and transformation.
All data will also be available on an interactive dashboard that visualizes the dynamics of civil society development in Ukraine from 2014 to 2024.
The project is implemented by UCIPR with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.