April 30, 2022
This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. 
It was prepared by Chemonics International Inc.
USAID DEMOCRATIC 
GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY
FISCAL YEAR 2022 QUARTERLY REPORT – QUARTER 2
January 1 to March 31, 2022

DISCLAIMER
The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United 
States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.
USAID DEMOCRACTIC 
GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY
FISCAL YEAR 2022 QUARTERLY REPORT – QUARTER 2
January 1 to March 31, 2022
Prepared for USAID/Ukraine 
c/o U.S. Embassy
4 Ihor Sikorsky St. 
Kyiv, Ukraine 04112
Prepared by:
Chemonics International Inc.
1275 New Jersey Ave., SE, Suite 200 
Washington, DC 20003
USAID’s Democratic Governance East (DG East) is a five-year activity to improve 
trust and confidence between citizens and government in eastern Ukraine, building 
opportunities for the region to lead Ukraine’s democratic transformation. DG East 
aims to strengthen the connection and trust between citizens and their government 
in eastern Ukraine by promoting good governance and an inclusive civic identity, 
increasing interaction between citizens and civil society, and increasing collaboration 
between government and citizens and citizen participation in community development 
and local decision-making.
DG East is funded under USAID Contract No. 72012118C00006 and is implemented 
by Chemonics International in collaboration with international partners - the Centre 
for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development (SeeD), and the International 
Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG 
International).
Cover photo: The Center for ATO Veterans Poruch members and their families in Kramatorsk, 
Donetsk Oblast, congratulating all Ukrainians at a Ukrainian Unity Day celebration on January 22, 2022.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY, FY 2022 QUARTER 2 REPORT | i
CONTENTS
ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................................II
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................5
A.1. BACKGROUND.........................................................................................................................................................................................5
A.2. CONTEXT UPDATE..................................................................................................................................................................................5
A.3. ABOUT THIS REPORT.............................................................................................................................................................................6
PROGRESS BY OBJECTIVE.......................................................................................................7
B.1. DEVELOPING GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF A SHARED CIVIC CULTURE BASED ON COMMON VALUES AND
UNDERSTANDINGS (OBJECTIVE 1) ..........................................................................................................................7
B.2. INCREASING PARTICIPATION TO IMPROVE UKRAINE’S GOVERNANCE AND REFORM PROCESSES AND
HELP RESOLVE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS (OBJECTIVE 2)........................................................................................ 12
B.2.A NEW PIVOT ACTIVITIES LAUNCHED .........................................................................................................................................16
CROSS-CUTTING INVESTMENTS AND COOPERATION ...............................................19
C.1. PROGRESS ON INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................................................................19
C.2. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER USAID ACTIVITIES AND TO THE HOST GOVERNMENT..................................20
ACTIVITY ADMINISTRATION...............................................................................................22
D.1. ACTIVITY APPROACH AND CRITICAL ISSUES............................................................................................................................22
D.2. SUB-AWARD DETAILS .........................................................................................................................................................................23
D.3. PERFORMANCE MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING .......................................................................................24
D.4. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING...................................................................................................................................................25
ANNEX A...................................................................................................................................29
ANNEX A.1. PERFORMANCE MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING PROGRESS AGAINST TARGETS.......29
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY, FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | ii
ACRONYMS
ACMC Anti-Crisis Media Center
APS Annual Program Statement
ASC Administrative Service Center
ATO Anti-Terrorist Operation
BUR Building Ukraine Together initiative (abbreviation from the Ukrainian 
“Buduyemo Ukrayinu Razom”)
CMA Civil-Military Administration
COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease or 2019 Novel Coronavirus
CSO Civil Society Organization
DDGS Direct Distribution of Goods and Services
DG East USAID Democratic Governance East Activity
DGAP Democracy and Governance Activities Pool
DITA Department of International Technical Assistance, Innovation 
Development, and Foreign Affairs
DSP Department of Social Protection
EMMP Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan
ERA USAID Ukraine Economic Resilience Activity
ERC Environmental Review Checklist
EU European Union
FC2U From a Country to Ukraine festival
FCDO United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
FY Fiscal Year
GCA Government-Controlled Area
GESI Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
IDP Internally Displaced Person
IT Information Technology
LGBTQI+ Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex Persons, Plus 
All Other Sexual Identities
LGE Local Government Entity
MDI Municipal Development Institute
MEL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
MRTOT Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories 
of Ukraine
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
OSBB Association of Multi-Apartment Building Co-owners (from Ukrainian 
“Ob'yednannya spivvlasnykiv bahatokvartyrnoho budynku”)
PFRU Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine
PFU Pension Fund of Ukraine
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PTSU Priazovskyi State Technical University
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY, FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | iii
SCORE Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index
SeeD Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development
SERF Simplified Environmental Review Form
SO Sub-objective
TBD To be determined
UCBI Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative
UNITY USAID Ukraine National Identity Through Youth Activity
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USD United States Dollar
USG United States Government
VNG
International
International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands 
Municipalities
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The USAID Democratic Governance East Activity (DG East) project is pleased to present 
this report summarizing our work and performance for Fiscal Year 2022 Quarter 2 (FY 
2022 Q2). This report describes DG East’s work strengthening trust and confidence 
between citizens and their government in Eastern Ukraine and building opportunities for 
the region to lead Ukraine’s democratic transformation. DG East activities were impacted 
during the quarter due to Russia’s invasion. However, DG East adapted and pivoted 
programming, ranging from assisting local partners in providing humanitarian support for 
Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and supporting public warning systems, to aiding grantees 
with anti-war communication campaigns. DG East will continue adapting to the evolving 
operating environment and adopt technical and operational approaches to maximize 
positive interventions and minimize, where possible, the devastating impact of Russia’s 
war against Ukraine.
DG East strategic objectives are aimed at developing greater acceptance of a shared civic 
culture based on common values and understandings (Objective 1) and increasing 
participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform processes and help resolve 
community problems (Objective 2), which are described in Sections B.1. and B.2. DG East 
is responding to the ongoing war within the framework of its programmatic objectives to 
promote good governance and strengthen inclusive civic identity by adjusting and re￾designing key ongoing activities, launching new activities in response to the war, and pre￾positioning to engage partners and counterparts to rebuild local government services and 
restore the social fabric of communities during the post-war period. In Q2, DG East 
launched six new sub-awards of which three were grants under contract and three were
subcontracts. In all, DG East had a total of 35 active sub-awards during the reporting period
(including six sub-awards noted above). Of the 35 sub-awards, six were subcontracts and
29 were grant awards, of which four were with local government and municipalities and 
25 were with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). DG East also launched 17 
new Direct Distribution of Goods and Services (DDGS) activities to support a variety of 
beneficiaries in target locations, including seven war response activities. DG East had a 
total of 39 DDGS activities, including the 17 launched during the reporting period. With 
the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 44 have been paused or canceled and five 
activities have been redesigned.
By remaining operational in Ukraine during the ongoing war and continuing to support 
national and local government with immediate procurement and other needs to ensure 
continuity of critical service delivery, DG East was able to maintain close coordination 
and cooperation with national, regional and local governments and donor organizations, 
including other USAID programs to ensure complementarity and reinforcement of 
support and provide agile response to the emerging and everchanging needs of local 
partners and beneficiaries. As such, at the time of the reporting period, DG East had more 
than 20 war response activities in various stages of development.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 5
SECTION A
INTRODUCTION
A.1. BACKGROUND
The USAID Democratic Governance East Activity (DG East) works to promote inclusive 
civic identity, common civic values, and a united Ukraine by addressing the divisive impacts 
of Russia’s aggression, cases of far-right Ukrainian nationalism, and the consequences of 
ongoing armed conflict through increased citizen participation, improved service delivery, 
and more responsive governance. DG East aims to strengthen the connection and trust 
between citizens and their government in Eastern Ukraine by:
(1) developing greater acceptance of a shared civic culture based on common 
values and understandings, and
(2) increasing participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform 
processes and help resolve community problems.
Over the next year and a half, while still navigating Russia’s invasion and the humanitarian 
crisis in Ukraine, DG East will continue to support strengthening the connection and trust 
between citizens and their government in Eastern Ukraine and the Azov and Black Sea 
region by building upon USAID’s continued investment through projects such as the 
Ukraine Confidence Building Initiative (UCBI) I, II, and III, the USAID Economic Resilience 
Activity (ERA), and Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) project, funded by 
the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). DG East 
will continue to adapt and adjust its approaches and activities to achieve positive impact 
and help limit distraction caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
A.2. CONTEXT UPDATE
The second quarter of FY 2022 was an intense period for Ukraine with an amass of Russian 
forces that escalated to war. Prior to the invasion, and from the beginning of the second 
quarter, between 150,000 to 190,000 Russian troops amassed at the Eastern border, and 
additional troops, tanks, and other materials were sent to Belarus for what was described 
as military exercises. On February 24, Russia began a coordinated crescendo of missile 
strikes and artillery shelling urban centers throughout Ukraine. Since then, bombings and 
artillery shelling have continued in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson and Mariupol, 
among others, all being under severe attack. For weeks Mariupol was under air strike 
attacks and presently, bombings have fully destroyed all critical infrastructure objects. 
Multiple humanitarian convoys were not able to get to the city, while over 300,000 
residents remained trapped. As this situation continues to evolve, DG East will continue 
to pivot activities where possible, temporarily suspend activities in part or full until the 
operating environment stabilizes and launch new activities that are relevant to the current 
operating environment. The level of damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure, particularly in the 
eastern and southern parts of the country, is severe and in many cases requires complete 
re-building and/or considerable rehabilitation efforts. With significant internal movement 
of the population from eastern and southern Ukraine to the west to escape the war, there 
will be a notable socio-economic void in the affected areas following the end of fighting. 
DG East is responding to the war within the framework of its programmatic objectives by 
adjusting key ongoing activities, launching new war response activities, and strategically
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 6
engaging with national, regional, and local partners and counterparts to conduct analyses 
and develop strategies to rebuild back smarter in the post-war period.
This report summarizes DG East’s advancements, providing an overview of significant 
results, challenges, and adaptations during the second quarter of FY 2022.
A.3. ABOUT THIS REPORT
Chemonics is pleased to present this quarterly performance report for FY 2022 Q2 
(January 1-March 31, 2022). DG East aims to build confidence among citizens and 
government in Eastern Ukraine and the Azov and Black Sea region by promoting inclusive 
civic identity and common civic values, increased citizen participation, and improved 
service delivery through two technical objectives and operations (pre-war) based in four 
regional offices in Kramatorsk, Severodonetsk, Mariupol, and Kherson, with the 
administrative support office in Kyiv.
A five-year project, DG East has completed the second quarter of its fourth year of 
implementation. This report details DG East’s accomplishments during the reporting 
quarter and describes the interventions completed, benchmarks achieved, and future 
activities in accordance with the war response strategy and, where applicable, approved 
Year 4 Activity Annual Implementation Plan. By implementing the activities in this and 
subsequent periods over the life of the project, DG East will achieve the following results:
• Increased interaction of citizens with civil society groups;
• Increased understanding of reform and participatory governance processes;
• Further development of Ukrainian civic identity;
• Increased integration of separated, marginalized, or isolated populations;
• Effective advocacy by local actors on relevant national and regional-level policies; 
and
• Improved local governance processes and capacities.
The report is organized as follows:
• Section B summarizes major activities and accomplishments in each of the 
technical objective areas - greater acceptance of shared civic culture based on 
common values and understandings and increased participation to improve 
Ukraine’s governance and reform processes, as well as DG East’s new response 
activities;
• Section C describes cross-cutting investments in inclusive development and 
cooperation with other activities and the host government;
• Section D provides activity administration details, including critical issues, sub￾awards, performance monitoring, evaluation and learning summary, environmental 
monitoring, and financial information; and
• Annex A provides detailed information on progress against Quarter 2 indicator 
targets and a summary of project deliverables and milestones.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 7
SECTION B
PROGRESS BY OBJECTIVE
This section summarized DG East’s support to civil society and local government in 
eastern Ukraine and Kherson over FY 2022 Q2.
B.1. DEVELOPING GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF A SHARED CIVIC CULTURE 
BASED ON COMMON VALUES AND UNDERSTANDINGS (OBJECTIVE 1)
DG East interventions under Objective 1 are designed around the Theory of Change that:
IF greater numbers of citizens are engaged in civic activity, understand reforms, and 
participate in modern Ukrainian culture and events, THEN acceptance of a common civic 
culture, based on shared values, understandings, and Ukrainian identity, and ties to 
emergent reforms will be strengthened
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 8
BECAUSE:
• Increasing the numbers of civic groups in the East and South will advance 
progressive, common values such as civic engagement, accountability, 
transparency, social responsibility, creativity, innovation, tolerance, and respect in 
Ukrainian society;
• Anxiety about the economic and political future of the country inhibits acceptance 
of a Ukrainian civic identity because residents of these regions feel ignored;
• Skepticism of the reform process is based on the slow progress of national-level 
reforms and lack of awareness of reforms.
DG East’s interventions under Objective I have 
been designed as mutually reinforcing activities to 
increase citizen interaction with civil society 
groups, further understanding of reform and 
participatory governance processes by citizens 
and residents of eastern Ukraine, and to 
contribute to further development of Ukrainian 
civic identity (see Figure 1). During Q2, before 
Russia’s invasion, DG East continued to operate 
and successfully maintain activities to achieve 
targets despite ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
Figure 1. DG East Objective 1
DG East rapidly adapted its activities due to the war so that beneficiaries and grantees 
had the support they needed in real time. For example, Kramatorsk City Mobile 
Application became a stable channel of communication between city authorities and 
residents with a warning system related to shelling and information about receiving 
humanitarian aid, evacuation routes, and more. DG East increased understanding of 
reform and participatory governance through the non-governmental organizations 
(NGOs) Anti-Crisis Media Center (ACMC) and Internews Ukraine. In direct response to 
the war, DG East will launch targeted anti-war communication campaigns, working with 
several professional media outlets to help communicate the human cost of the war to 
Russian troops. These campaigns will be disseminated based on the location and number 
of target audiences, such as AM radio frequencies, telemarketing, postcards/leaflets, video 
series, and human rights organizations. The activity targeted areas with the highest 
number of Russian troops: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts.
SO 1.1. Increased Interaction of Citizens with Civil Society Groups.
To achieve greater interaction between citizens and civil society in eastern Ukraine and 
Kherson, DG East supported partners such as NGOs Severodonetsk Youth Council and 
Change Communications. While the humanitarian crisis caused by the war paused or 
terminated activities, DG East continued to adapt and find new ways to increase activism, 
strengthen relationships between citizens and local civic actors, and promote youth-led 
community development.
Promoting a Culture of Good Neighbors. The Municipal Development Institute (MDI), the 
grantee implementing the Good Neighbors – One Country activity, continued to carry 
out a robust information campaign to promote good neighborliness. As a result of its 
informational and advisory work, new associations of co-owners of multi-apartment
OBJECTIVE 1
Is supported by the following sub￾objectives (SOs):
• SO 1.1 Increased interaction of 
citizens with civil society groups
• SO 1.2 Increased understanding of 
reform and participatory 
governance processes
• SO 1.3 Further development of 
Ukrainian civic identity
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 9
buildings (OSBB) were created. MDI announced a competition for mini projects among 
OSBBs and NGOs in14 target cities to support the creative transformation of urban public 
spaces.1 This competition aimed to improve citizen involvement in the public life of cities 
and build reliable partnerships between local authorities, OSBBs, NGOs, and citizens. The 
grantee held webinars on topics such as OSBB advocacy of common interests at the city, 
regional, and state level; dealing with state supervision and control; and modern online 
interaction and communication tools. Currently, DG East is unable to continue supporting 
this activity and is working with MDI to widen the activity geography to Zaporizhzhia, 
Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson oblasts and include a modified 
communication campaign.
Continued Promotion of Youth Activity and Interaction. As the Academy of Opportunities was 
such a success in the last fiscal year, DG East supported a second round of activities for 
NGO Severodonetsk Youth Council. Prior to Russia’s invasion, the grantee conducted 
offline English-speaking club lessons, arts and crafts classes, meetings, DJ lessons, 
videomaking, photo taking courses, computer literacy courses for adults and the elderly, 
as well as lessons on Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Social Media Marketing courses and 
lessons on Google tools.
2 The classes, courses, and trainings at the Severodonetsk Youth 
Council provided youth with skills that they can use in their communities and strengthen 
the connection between citizens in Severodonetsk. Due to the war, the grantee paused 
this activity and moved to western Ukraine. Presently, the grantee and DG East are 
working together to modify this activity to respond to people’s current needs.
DG East supported the development and integration of youth with NGO Change 
Communications and production of the film “East Stop,” a documentary dedicated to the 
problems of youth in rural areas of eastern Ukraine. By raising awareness about the 
problems that young people face in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, DG East helped highlight 
issues and perspectives at the local level. The film was intended to raise these issues to 
the national level in order to mobilize central and local authorities, help strengthen youth 
development, and stimulate youth engagement. The documentary included interviews 
with 16 teenagers. While this activity was partially put on hold due to the war, NGO 
Change Communications was able to premiere the documentary at movie theaters in 
Pokrovsk and Kramatorsk on February 22-23 to raise public awareness of issues that rural 
youth in the East are facing, gathering 105 viewers in both cities. Severodonetsk and Kyiv 
screenings, scheduled for February 24 and 25 respectively, were canceled because of the 
start of the war. The grantee released the film on its YouTube channel, along with three 
captioned videos and a teaser, however, it has yet to reach a wide audience. A Facebook 
promotional campaign highlighted the captioned videos and teaser, reaching almost 
210,000 people.
The grantee had an agreement with the public broadcasting company UA:PBC to 
broadcast the film nationwide on June 4, the commemoration day of children who suffer 
from conflict, and at proposed Ukrainian movie festivals in the future. The grantee plans
1 www.facebook.com/GoodNeighborsOneCountry/photos/a.111793867737583/254279750155660 (in Ukrainian) 2 www.facebook.com/DevelopmentPlatformSMR/posts/2588969174580930,
www.facebook.com/DevelopmentPlatformSMR/posts/2582524035225444
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 10
to conduct new interviews with the same teenagers who were interviewed for the 
documentary and compare the interviews to illustrate how the war has affected them.
SO 1.2. Increased Understanding of Reform and Participatory Governance 
Processes.
DG East supported ACMC, NGO Our Home Sloviansk, and Azov Sea Region News to 
increase understanding of reform or participatory governance processes in eastern 
Ukraine and Kherson. NGO Our House Sloviansk published over 400 articles on 
reintegration, over 100 articles on reforms, almost 350 articles on topics related to events 
and processes in the occupied territories of the Donbas, and almost 450 articles on topics 
related to events and processes in the government-controlled areas (GCA) of Donetsk 
and Luhansk oblasts. Other activities included NGO Internews Ukraine launching (prior 
to the war) a Young Journalists Employment Program for participants from eastern 
Ukraine and Kherson
Capacity Building Through Media. In Q2, ACMC created 2,777 media products in various 
formats, which received a total of 1,777,559 views on social pages.3 Before the war, the 
most popular media materials were articles on topics related to sustainable development 
community initiatives, establishing new youth centers in Donetsk Oblast, getting a 
vaccination booster, and advising veterans on socio-psychological services. As the war 
progressed, the grantee started creating materials with practical instructions on how to 
behave and survive the humanitarian crisis, including psychological support 
recommendations. In partnership with DG East grantee NGO Union of Anti-Terrorist 
Operation (ATO) Veterans, ACMC conducted a series of online lectures on how to 
behave in crisis and emergency situations. The grantee also launched a fundraising 
campaign for Kramatorsk city defense needs. The ACMC team evacuated from 
Kramatorsk to western Ukraine and continues to operate remotely, remaining one of the 
major information sources for eastern Ukraine.
Supporting Honest and Unbiased News. Azov Sea Region News began as a DG-supported 
media outlet that focused on how lives are changing in southern Ukraine and opportunities 
from state reforms. This project was intended to create honest and unbiased news 
content for Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, which became even more critical
once Russia invaded. The grantee’s radio transmitters were turned off by Russia’s forces 
when they occupied Kherson Oblast. The grantee wanted to maintain the ability to 
provide honest and truthful information to residents in target regions, so the media outlet 
switched to online broadcasting in order to adapt to the situation and have the potential
to reach a wider reach. Now, the grantee’s Crimean Community Radio regularly records 
broadcasts and posts them on its social media pages. The grantee continues to publish 
regular news prepared by regional journalists from Henichesk, Kherson, Mariupol, and 
Berdyansk. Azov Sea Region News is a crucial media outlet for people in occupied 
territories, spreading truthful information about the humanitarian crisis in the occupied 
regions of southern Ukraine. In February-March, the project’s materials were viewed 
more than 4 million times.
3 acmc.ua, www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0cCBy5rU3b0GQJgMFcPGA, www.facebook.com/acmc.ua
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 11
SO 1.3. Further Development of Ukrainian Civic Identity.
DG East collaborated with several partners, including Priazovskyi State Technical 
University (PSTU) and My Stanytsia Luhanska Hub to promote unity and a fostered 
Ukrainian civic identity. However, all cultural events were postponed due to the 
humanitarian crisis caused by the war. Ukraine. DG East pivoted its activities to support 
frontline communities, vulnerable populations, and youth initiatives in Luhansk Oblast.
Promoting Civic Identity Through Support to PSTU. DG East and ERA provided technology and 
a methodology to improve education in tourism and cultural/art studies and curricula to 
engage youth in these fields. The Digital Laboratory on the PSTU campus was created to 
promote the development of eastern Ukrainian culture and tourism using virtual methods 
and tools. In Q2, the grantee received equipment and conducted the “Historical and 
architectural monuments of Mariupol” tour so that university representatives could 
digitize existing archaeological and museum exhibits. Tragically, all of the university’s 
buildings and the Digital Laboratory were destroyed in the war. PSTU will renew its work 
at the Dnipro Polytechnic National Technical University.
Figure 2. Production tour to digitalize archeological and museum exhibits
L-R: “Bank of Memories” mentor, student, PSTU Dean, student, and Deputy Head 
of Post-graduate Studies (names withheld for security reasons)
Promoting Civic Identity Through Community Platforms. The newly established Community 
Platform My Stanytsia Hub raised awareness and created promotional campaigns through 
different types of activities. Prior to the war, the hub hosted over 35 activities for people 
of different ages, including computer, media literacy, blogging, photography, musical 
courses and board game events. At the end of January, hub staff met with the Deputy 
Head of Stanytsia Civil-Military Administration (CMA) to systematize skills obtained 
during a study visit to Lysychansk. To develop a new approach to activities and youth 
engagement, the hub decided to involve the local Department of Education and proposed 
using the hub’s facilities for open lessons and events such as quiz games, concerts, stand￾up shows, and discussion clubs, which could be initiated by any local student. 
Unfortunately, Stanytsia is currently occupied by Russian forces.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 12
B.2. INCREASING PARTICIPATION TO IMPROVE UKRAINE’S GOVERNANCE 
AND REFORM PROCESSES AND HELP RESOLVE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS 
(OBJECTIVE 2)
DG East interventions under Objective 2 are designed around the Theory of Change that:
IF local perspectives inform national and regional policy, local governments improve the 
delivery of key services and are better linked to national institutions, processes, and norms 
and a broader circle of community members participate in governance and community 
improvement events, THEN citizens will be more supportive of their system of 
governance, the reform agenda, and a unified country BECAUSE:
• Community participation in addressing local problems often improves citizens’ 
political participation while prioritizing key service and “quality of life” deficits;
• Experiencing more efficient services and transparent/accountable local 
government is associated with reform;
• Effective advocacy reinforces the development of better policies and more
participatory practices.
DG East’s work under Objective 2 has been through reinforcing interventions that 
increase integration of separated and isolated populations; promoting effective advocacy 
by local actors on relevant national, regional, and local policies; and helping to improve 
local governance processes and capacities (see Figure 3). To achieve Objective 2, and 
prior to Russia’s invasion, DG East implemented activities such as advocating for accessible 
cities, contributing to city strategies, supporting ATO veterans, empowering youth with 
local governance, and supporting the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, intersex,
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 13
plus all other sexual identities (LGBTQI+) 
community. For example, prior to Russia’s 
invasion, Mariupol implemented a fifth small-scale 
project, safe pedestrian crossings, with smart city 
elements, for which the residents themselves 
voted.4 DG East purchased equipment such as LED 
signs, LED console lamps, and a lightbox with a 
backlight. Although the Mariupol City Council had 
intended to continue consultations with residents 
on infrastructure projects with smart city 
elements, this activity was canceled due to attacks 
on the city.
Figure 3. DG East Objective 2
DG East launched two new activities to further increase citizen participation, ensure 
inclusion of underrepresented groups, and improve local governance processes. With 
critical activity pivots to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war, DG East assisted local 
partners to provide humanitarian support and essential services for Donetsk Luhansk, 
Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts. DG East procured essential equipment, including personal 
protective equipment (PPEs), power generators, satellite phones, hand-held radios, and 
quadcopters. With better protective equipment and the necessary tools, local 
municipalities are able to better respond to emergencies and minimize exposure to 
hazardous environments when performing their essential duties. Highlights for the quarter 
and more information on pivoted activities are summarized below.
SO 2.1. Increased Integration of Separated, Marginalized, or Isolated 
Populations.
DG East supported ATO veterans, their families, and LGBTQI+ communities, and 
empowered youth to engage in local governance. Prior to Russia’s invasion, supporting 
grantees such as NGO Yellow Umbrella contributed to creating an inclusive environment 
for the elderly by resuming educational, social, and cultural events after COVID-19. These 
and other interventions contributed to greater awareness about the issues of social 
inclusion and gender equality across the region and advancements towards increased 
accessibility.
Supporting ATO Veterans and their Families. NGO Union of Donbas ATO Veterans 
continued providing comprehensive social and psychological support for ATO veterans, 
their families, NGO representatives, and activists. In December 2021-January 2022, 446 
people attended more than 70 events aimed at providing psycho-social support and 
psychological adaptation for ATO veterans and their families, integrating ATO veterans 
into communities, increasing society’s loyalty to veterans, and increasing veterans’ 
knowledge about their legal rights. When the war began, the grantee organized a 
volunteer center, based at the Poruch Center for ATO veterans and their families, to 
collect funds and items needed for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and internally displaced 
persons (IDPs). DG East supported equipment procurement, staff training, and veterans 
education materials and trainers. As of the end of March, the grantee’s team had relocated
4 mariupolrada.gov.ua/news/u-mariupoli-z’javilisja-pishohidni-perehodi-iz-led-pidsvitkoju￾OBJECTIVE 2
Is supported by the following sub￾objectives:
• SO 2.1 Increased integration of 
separated, marginalized, or 
isolated populations
• SO 2.2 Effective advocacy by local 
actors on relevant national and 
regional policies
• SO 2.3 Improved local governance 
processes and capacities
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 14
to western and central Ukraine. With the support of Kirovohrad Oblast Administration, 
the grantee will open temporary offices in Kropyvnytskyi to continue support activities. 
DG East will continue providing assistance and will transform planned activities to focus 
on war-related needs and requests.
Figure 4. Conflict resolution training for ATO veterans and their families at the
Poruch Center, January 22
Supporting LGBTQI+ Communities. In November 2021-February 2022, NGO KyivPride held 
21 events for more than 100 people to mobilize LGBTQI+ representatives and increase 
LGBTQI+ communities’ capacity in project and financial management. With the war’s 
outbreak, the grantee helped create LGBTQI+ shelters in Lviv and helped LGBTQI+ 
representatives evacuate. In Q2, 20 LGBTQI+ representatives were evacuated to the 
shelter. In April, KyivPride will organize online nationwide information sessions to share 
updates on the situation for LGBTQI+ communities and spread information on how 
LGBTQI+ communities are helping the Ukrainian army and citizens during the war. 
Additionally, online mobilization meetings will provide psychological support to LGBTQI+ 
representatives.
Empowering Youth Through Engagement with Local Governance. Grantee NGO Terre des 
hommes Ukraine – Young Citizens submitted its final report at the end of January, 
highlighting its successes. The grant activity, implemented from October 2020 to January 
2022, resulted in 14 civic and cultural events that attracted 295 visitors. Takeover Day, 
attended by 87 youth from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, gave youth an opportunity to 
engage in and contribute to local decision-making through short-term internships at local 
state institutions. By the end of the grant, the Takeover Day web platform had 193 unique 
registered users, including youth and local government entity (LGE) representatives.5 The 
platform will continue to serve as a communication instrument to connect youth and local
5 takeover.org.ua
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 15
state institutions. Eleven youth mini-initiatives to promote youth activism were 
implemented in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. After the grant, Nikolske gymnasium 
students and Nikolske Village Council will continue to work together to create a youth 
hub.
SO 2.2. Effective Advocacy by Local Actors on Relevant National and Regional 
Policies.
DG East collaborated with public councils and youth councils and empowered Kherson 
residents with online participatory tools. For example, 19 representatives from seven 
Luhansk Oblast youth councils gathered online for a final session to present the results of 
their advocacy campaigns. The activity helped youth council members raise their own 
capacity to advocate for youth policy initiatives, while also effectively fulfilling their role of 
representing citizen initiatives to local authorities.
Strengthening Public Council Capacity Activity. Prior to the war, DG East worked with public 
councils and local government partners in eastern Ukraine to empower public councils to 
serve as an effective intermediary link between LGEs and diverse community groups by 
promoting advocacy and participatory decision-making policies and procedures. Local 
experts conducted training and meetings for public council members to improve their 
professionalism and advance their expertise. In February, prior to Russia’s invasion, DG 
East conducted the online hackathon “It’s Cool To Be Active” for public council members 
and citizens from Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Kreminna, Druzhkivka, Pokrovsk, Rubizhne, and 
Severodonetsk. Public council representatives from the seven target communities 
organized the event to improve citizens’ involvement in and support for advocacy 
campaigns. Participants also learned about the steps and elements of an advocacy 
campaign. Special attention was paid to developing an advocacy campaign action plan, 
including outlining actions and activities, methods and instruments, necessary resources, 
responsible persons, timeline and key dates, and results and indicators. During the 
hackathon, more than 20 participants discussed issues related to establishing 
communication and interaction between public council representatives and authorities.
Empowering Kherson Residents with Online Participatory Tools. As Kherson Oblast and the 
city of Kherson were occupied by Russia, the NGO was unable to implement project 
components due to threats and intimidation of activists, as well as the inability of key 
actors (city council, local NGOs) to contribute to the activity. However, only a few 
components remained for this activity prior to the war: developing an online participatory 
platform for Kherson City Council and conducting a series of online public hearings.
SO 2.3. Improved Local Governance Processes and Capacities.
DG East continued partnerships with Kramatorsk City Council, Kherson City Council, 
and Mariupol City Council up until Russia’s invasion.
Supporting Kramatorsk City Strategy. Prior to the war, a promotional campaign to inform 
residents about Kramatorsk community strategy development reached more than 
800,000 people, which exceeded the expected result. During the campaign, topics of most 
interest for the community residents were identified. Given the complexity of the material 
and the unpopularity of topics, this demonstrated that the promotional campaign was a
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 16
success. Kramatorsk City Council will receive all the campaign results and developments, 
along with recommendations and topics for continuing the information campaign. A final 
working group meeting was scheduled for March 11 but was postponed indefinitely due 
to the war.
Supporting Kherson Strategic Plan Development 2022 – 2030. Kherson City Council, Beketov 
University in Kharkiv, and DG East had an online coordination meeting on February 3. 
DG East presented the Strategy’s draft mission and vision and a map of strategic issues 
for the Kherson community. The participants discussed the documents and provided 
additional recommendations. As a result of the meeting, the Department of Economics 
and Investments will be responsible for strategy development and will publish both 
documents for discussion and adoption by the working group. Due to the war, the parties 
were not able to continue working on the strategy’s operational goals.
Mariupol City Strategy-2030. In relation to the Mariupol-2030 Development Strategy, the 
City Council held a number of meetings and prepared implementation plans. While the 
strategy was recognized as one of the best Urban Development Strategies in Ukraine, 
these efforts were canceled indefinitely due to the war.
B.2.A NEW WAR RESPONSE ACTIVITIES LAUNCHED
Russia’s aggression and ongoing war against Ukraine create an operating environment that 
calls for immediate action in response to the evolving needs of DG East staff, partners, 
and constituencies. By remaining operational in Ukraine during the war and continuing to 
support national and local government with immediate procurement and other needs to 
ensure delivery continuity of critical services, DG East is well positioned for the post-war 
period to help guarantee effective and responsive governance in the most conflict-affected 
areas of eastern and southern Ukraine. DG East launched seven war response activities in 
Q2 that are summarized below and are organized by DG East objectives.
SHORT TERM (MARCH – JUNE 2022) OBJECTIVE 1
Support Anti-War Communication Campaigns by several professional media outlets to 
communicate the human cost of the war to Russian troops. DG East supports developing 
materials focused on general themes and specific messages and disseminating them via 
Ukrainian AM radio channels such as Radio Promin, Radio Donbas, and Ukrainian Radio, 
which can be followed by Russian troops using a mobile phone or a radio set; 
telemarketing, to contact Russian soldiers’ family members and create alternative channels 
to inform them about the real situation and the consequences and the war; postcards and 
leaflets; videos; and human rights organizations. The activity targets oblasts with the 
highest number of Russian troops: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv.
SHORT TERM (MARCH – JUNE 2022) OBJECTIVE 2
Assistance to Local Partners in Providing Humanitarian Support for Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts 
and Kherson City Council to deliver essential services in hazardous and hostile operating 
environments by procuring essential equipment, including PPE, power generators, satellite 
phones, walkie-talkies, and quadcopters. This equipment ensures the safety of local 
government personnel while performing their duties, including inspecting damage and 
destruction, searching for survivors after shelling, and remotely inspecting utilities
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 17
infrastructure. With better protective equipment and the necessary tools, local 
municipalities will be better able to respond to emergencies and minimize exposure to 
hazardous environments when performing their essential duties.
Support to the Luhansk Oblast Pension Fund Head Office, which is providing pension services, 
including to people with disabilities, in a hostile environment. The Luhansk Oblast Head 
Office of the Pension Fund of Ukraine (PFU) provides services to more than 340,000 
people, including 36,247 people with disabilities. PFU staff in the Severodonetsk office 
processed March pension accruals and payments for Luhansk at the beginning of March. 
Due to the war, the Severodonetsk PFU office relocated essential staff to Mykolayiv in 
Lviv Oblast, but could not relocate the IT equipment required for their regular services. 
DG East will support the re-located PFU office by procuring IT equipment to ensure 
continuous operation and service provision.
Figure 5. DG East Regional Director monitors equipment delivery to the Luhansk 
Oblast Pension Fund Head Office in Mykolayiv
Support the Department of International Technical Assistance, Innovation Development and 
Foreign Affairs of Luhansk Oblast State Administration to organize remote work and efficiently 
contribute to coordinating international humanitarian assistance in Luhansk Oblast. The 
department’s essential staff, formerly based in Severodonetsk, have relocated to safer 
areas in Ukraine. However, they could not relocate the IT equipment essential for 
coordination, sending requests to donors, organizing logistics, and reporting. The 
department’s key personnel is essential in coordinating international humanitarian aid to 
support the population of Luhansk Oblast, which is extremely important due to active 
fighting in the oblast, a partial blockade from supplies of goods and medicines, and 
interruptions in banking system operations.
Assistance to LEGs in eastern and southern Ukraine by providing emergency support to city 
councils in Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Bakhmut, Kherson, and Mykolaiv and the
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 18
Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblast state administrations. DG 
East will help to increase their capacity to effectively respond to emerging humanitarian 
needs caused by the war, including hosting IDPs, equipping temporary accommodations 
with beds and washing machines, and creating humanitarian coordination hubs.
Technical Support to the Luhansk Oblast Department of Social Protection (DSP) to increase its 
capacity to provide social services to citizens, including people with disabilities, in a hostile 
environment. Luhansk Oblast DSP provides services to more than 286,929 IDPs, 128,000 
recipients of housing subsidies, and 28,300 recipients of other state social services. The 
department’s essential staff were relocated to other oblasts of Ukraine; the department 
head relocated to Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. It was urgent to evacuate the staff, 
and the IT equipment was left behind in the Severodonetsk office, which is under heavy 
air and artillery strikes now. In order to ensure continuous delivery of social services to 
Luhansk Oblast’s vulnerable population, DG East is supporting the DSP with IT equipment 
for the relocated staff.
Assistance to the Zaporizhzhia City Council to improve delivery of social services to citizens 
by procuring critical IT equipment and software. Since the start of the war Zaporizhzhia 
has become a hub for IDPs fleeing the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The 
increasing number of IDPs adds additional strain to the Zaporizhzhia City Council DSP, 
which was already functioning at capacity level. Zaporizhzhia City Council notified DG 
East of the need for IT equipment to meet IDPs’ growing demand for social services and 
increase the DSP’s capacity.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 19
SECTION C
CROSS-CUTTING INVESTMENTS 
AND COOPERATION
This section summarizes DG East’s progress on inclusive programming and cooperation 
with other activities and the host government over the last quarter.
C.1. PROGRESS ON INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
DG East continued its efforts to include Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) 
considerations in program activities at all stages, from design to implementation and 
impact evaluation. DG East continued activities supporting 1) LGBTQI+ communities, 
including through the Academy of Opportunities (part 2), which focuses on youth; 2) GESI 
training for professionals and opinion leaders; 3) NGO women representatives by 
strengthening their capacity to advance gender equality, women’s empowerment, and 
social inclusion; 4) training participants to understand topics such as gender, gender roles, 
gender identities, social inclusion, and diversity; 5) GESI needs assessment; and 5) strategic 
networks and communication with under-represented groups and their representative 
NGOs and civic groups (see Figure 6).
Figure 6. Advancing Inclusive Development Through Targeted Interventions
Through support to NGO KyivPride, DG East helped mobilize LGBTQI+ representatives 
and increase LGBTQI+ communities’ capacity in project and financial management. Since 
the start of the war, DG East supported KyivPride initiatives to establish LGBTQI+ 
shelters in Lviv and support LGBTQI+ representatives with evacuation transportation. 
DG East will continue to support KyivPride in meeting the needs of the LGBTQI+ 
community both during and post war, including psycho-social and an information campaign 
through a series of podcasts.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 20
DG East continued to collect data disaggregated by disability among training participants 
and events that took place under grants or project activities. DG East began this practice 
in April 2021, and as of March 31, 2022, 230 people who identify as persons with disabilities 
took part in DG East project activities.
DG East will continue activities to promote gender equality and social inclusion, further 
cooperation with civil society organizations (CSOs) that represent the interests of 
underrepresented groups, and include policies to improve physical accessibility for people 
with disabilities on the agenda of local government bodies in Donetsk, Luhansk, and 
Kherson oblasts. Specifically, through the upcoming annual program statement (APS) to 
respond to the needs of civil society in new frontline communities, DG East will support 
underrepresented groups comprised of youth, women, LGBTQI+ community members, 
and IDPs.
C.2. PROGRESS ON LINKS TO OTHER USAID ACTIVITIES AND TO THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT
DG East actively communicated and coordinated activities with key ministries and USAID 
partner projects. As Russia’s aggressive behavior was escalating at the beginning of the 
quarter, DG East began discussions with Donetsk and Luhansk oblast administrations and 
Kherson City Council about both crisis response and humanitarian support activities. DG 
East is supporting Luhansk Oblast State/Military Administration and Donetsk Oblast 
State/Military Administration by purchasing items necessary for providing critical services 
to the population. DG East will purchase communication items (satellite phones, hand￾held radios), PPE, power generators, and drones for Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts in Q3. 
This support will build the capacity of local governments to operate in a hostile 
environment and safely restore damaged critical infrastructure. The items will be 
distributed among the local government representatives and service providers responsible 
for rescuing people from damaged buildings; restoring electric, water, and gas supplies; 
and emergency services.
In March, DG East conducted a range of negotiations with the heads of Luhansk Oblast 
PFU, DSP, and the Department of International Technical Assistance, Innovation 
Development, and Foreign Affairs (DITA) to assess needs and support their operations in 
a hostile environment so they can continue providing critical pension, social, and 
humanitarian services to the population. Negotiations resulted in a decision to support all 
of them by equipping remote workplaces for essential staff relocated to western and 
central Ukraine with IT equipment (13 workplaces in total). DG East equipment five 
Luhansk Oblast PFU workplaces and three DSP workplaces in April, and five DITA 
workplaces will be equipped in May.
Since the beginning of the war, DG East has been in constant communication with the 
national government, including discussions and coordination with the Ministry of 
Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories (MRTOT) to 1) strengthen the 
Ministry’s digital capacity to safely store information, including Ukrainian citizens’ personal 
data that is needed for timely and continuous provision of essential services and 
humanitarian support, by purchasing server equipment and cloud-storage software; 2) 
strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to ensure safe and efficient communication with local
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 21
governments and provide essential services in a hostile environment by purchasing 
communication equipment and software; and 3) equipping essential staff with the 
necessary IT equipment for remote operations. DG East will make the purchases in the 
beginning of Q3.
DG East continued coordinating with ERA, (UCBI III, and USAID Ukraine National 
Identity Through Youth Activity (UNITY) on IDP support, including youth; and 
coordinating with the FCDO-funded PFRU on support and cooperation with MRTOT 
and local media partners.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 22
SECTION D
ACTIVITY ADMINISTRATION
D.1. ACTIVITY APPROACH AND CRITICAL ISSUES
DG East continued operations through Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine, while 
supporting safety and security of DG East staff. By having established, adaptable, and 
flexible management and operational structures and a well-planned and operational 
security action plan, and by capitalizing on excellent working relationships among staff, DG 
East was able to effectively manage through the most difficult period of the quarter 
through daily contact and evacuation/settlement support to staff and their families, 
including support to access mobile communications and transportation needs. At the time 
of this report, 95 percent of DG East staff have relocated and 100 percent of staff have 
reached relative safety.
DG East continued to pursue an adaptive implementation model by 1) adjusting technical 
and operational approaches due to Russia’s invasion by replicating and maximizing positive 
interventions; and 2) strategically using the demand-driven funding pool for grants, 
subcontracts, and direct distribution of goods and services (DDGS) to enable rapid￾delivery procurement for a steady implementation pace in the current operating 
environment. DG East was able to adjust and respond quickly to pivot activities by 
proactively engaging partners in contingency planning and supporting them with tools and 
equipment to adapt to the new operating environment, which resulted in approximately 
30 percent increase in March 2022 programmatic spending compared to March 2021. In 
addition to responding quickly to the evolving requirements, DG East has been intentional 
about pre-positioning for post-war activities through partner engagements, needs analyses, 
and strategic planning for short-term, medium-term, and post-war needs.
There were a number of significant personnel changes during the quarter. Both the 
Kramatorsk and Kherson Regional Director were vacated and filled by internal 
recruitment. The Activities Pool Director position was vacated and filled by a Chemonics 
home office professional experienced with contracts and compliance, who previously 
served as a short-term DG East Activities Pool Director. This approach resulted in a 
smooth transition of responsibilities with no impact on technical implementation. Overall, 
DG East has seen more than usual staff change during the quarter, but was able to 
efficiently fill vacancies through internal and external recruits while maintaining steady 
staffing levels, despite several professional openings at any given time.
All five DG offices were closed at the time of this report. Regretfully, DG East office in 
Mariupol was destroyed by the Russian armed forces during the siege of the city.
DG East will continue to closely monitor the political and security environment and 
include contingencies for activities, operations, and staffing. As this has affected activities 
in FY 2022 Q2, it most certainly will have an impact on Q3.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 23
D.2. SUB-AWARD DETAILS
In FY 2022 Q2, DG East issued six new sub-awards: three grants under contract and three 
subcontracts. Overall, DG East had a total of 35 active sub- awards during in Q2 (including 
the six sub-awards above): six subcontracts and 29 grant awards, of which four were with 
local government and municipalities and 25 were with local NGOs. DG East also initiated 
17 new DDGS activities to support a variety of beneficiaries in target locations, including
seven war response DDGS activities. DG East had a total of 39 DDGS activities, including
the 17 launched during the reporting period. DG East’s programmatic footprint is in Figure 
7 below.
Figure 7. DG East Program Imprint
With the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many activities were no relevant or were 
impossible to implement. Of 35 grants and subcontracts and 35 DDGS ongoing activities 
at the beginning of the war on February 24, 2022, 44 have been paused or canceled and 
five activities have been redesigned and continue to be implemented by DG East 
partners.
As of the end of FY 2022 Q2, more than 20 war response short- and medium-term 
activities were being developed.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 24
D.3. PERFORMANCE MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING
DG East progressed toward achieving Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) outputs 
and outcomes (see Figure 8). The quarterly program indicator summaries are in Sections 
B.1, B.2, and C.1 above, and a detailed annual progress reporting against DG East FY 2022 
indicator targets is in Annex A.1. Overall, all targets for the quarter were achieved or 
overachieved, despite the continued challenging operational environment. Yearly targets 
have already been achieved for indicators 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16. This, in part, is 
due to the fact that many of the activities were held online, allowing a larger number of 
people to participate, including civil society representatives and other civic actors. In Q2, 
24 participants with disabilities were identified, three men and 21 women. Since the 
Washington Group Questionnaire was predominantly used in trainings for identification, 
three percent of participants identified as people with disabilities. While this may seem 
low, it could be explained, in part, by the monitoring surveys revealing that some 
participants with disabilities do not identify themselves as disabled.
Figure 8. DG East Impact in FY 2022 Q2
D.3.A CHALLENGES AND ADAPTATIONS
In February, DG East held the third Deep Dive session for project staff, led by the MEL 
team. The Activity Log Frame and KOBO collection system were demonstrated as 
additional tools for better monitoring. Each DG East office showed practical examples and 
the team discussed progress against DG East indicators. As feedback, participants 
commented on the importance of these sessions and expressed a need for increased
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 25
regularity, duration, and discussion. Unfortunately, due to the war, DG East had to cancel 
the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index (SCORE) East component and data 
collection for indicators 19, 21, and 22. As a result, data will not be available in FY 2022 
for the majority of DG East outcome and impact indicators.
D.4. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
DG East ensured monitoring of environmental compliance and mitigation efforts on behalf 
of beneficiaries. During the reporting quarter, nine environmental reviews were approved: 
six Environmental Review Checklists/Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plans 
(ERCs/EMMPs) and three Simplified Environmental Review Forms (SERFs).
Due to war, many activities requiring environmental monitoring were modified or 
canceled. Detailed information is presented on Table I. Due to changed conditions, DG 
East withdrew two SERFs for equipment and furniture procurement.
Table 1. DG East Monitored Activities
ACTIVITY MONITORING 
RECORDED
ISSUES 
ENCOUNTERED MEASURES TAKEN
KRA-039-G-013-2020
Sloviansk City Council, 
Sloviansk DSP: New 
Style of Social Service
ERC/EMMP for fire safety 
improvement 
(procurement of 
evacuation stairs)
No issues 
encountered.
Activity completed. 
DG East monitored 
environmental 
compliance of
equipment procurement 
and installation.
KRA-065-G-025-2020
Terre des hommes 
Ukraine - YOUNG 
CITIZENS
ERC/EMMP for two mini￾initiatives focused on 
outdoor equipment 
procurement
Part of the mini 
initiatives cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity mainly 
completed
The part of activity 
focused on two mini￾initiatives was modified/
canceled.
SEV-062-D-029-2021
Green Hub Your Territory
ERC/EMMP for air 
conditioner installation and 
items for science lab.
Activity cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity modified. 
Part of activity is on 
hold.
KRA-086-D-035-2021
Druzhkivka City Council, 
Druzhkivka 
Administrative Service 
Center (ASC) - 
Digitalization for
Accessibility
ERC/EMMP for materials 
and archive equipment
Activity cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity modified. 
Part of activity is on 
hold.
KRA-083-G-035-2021
NGO Union of ATO 
Veterans - Reintegration 
of ATO Veterans into the
Community
ERC/EMMP for materials 
and professional trainings
Activity cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity modified. 
Ongoing activity. 
Part of activity is on 
hold.
KRA￾Druzhkivka Hromada 
Council - Street Rider 
Festival
ERC/EMMP for outdoor 
equipment procurement 
and installation
Activity cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity modified/ 
Canceled.
KHE-009-G-004-2022
NGO Totem “Artivism 
Manufactory: Enhancing 
Advocacy through Art”
SERF for media and office 
equipment procurement
Grantee relocated 
due to the war.
Activity modified. 
Ongoing activity. 
Grantee is working on a 
new location according
to schedule.
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 26
ACTIVITY MONITORING 
RECORDED
ISSUES 
ENCOUNTERED MEASURES TAKEN
KHE-008-G-003-2021
NGO Crimean 
Community Radio
SERF for media and office
equipment procurement
Grantee relocated
due to the war.
Activity modified.
Ongoing activity. 
Grantee is working on a 
new location according 
to schedule.
MAR-042-D-020 -2021
Support for Transparent 
Decision-Making 
Processes of the Eastern 
Local Councils Activity
SERF for IT and office 
equipment procurement
Activity cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity modified/ 
Canceled.
KRA-083-D-034-2021
Displaced Horlivka 
Institute of Foreign 
Languages in Bakhmut
SERF for equipment 
procurement 
ERC/EMMP for outdoor
equipment and playground
Activity cannot be 
completed due to 
the war.
Activity modified.
KHE-010-G-005-2022
NGO Information 
Technology Promotion 
Center (Kavun City site)
SERF for media and office 
equipment procurement
SERF withdrawn 
due to changed 
conditions caused 
by the war.
Activity modified/ 
Canceled.
SEV-069-D-033-2022
Building Capacity of 9 
Youth Councils of 
Luhansk Oblast
SERF for equipment 
procurement
SERF withdrawn 
due to changed 
conditions caused 
by the war.
Activity modified.
During Q3, DG East will mainly focus on war response activities that fall under the March– 
November 2022 USAID exemption from environmental review procedures in 22 CFR 
216 in accordance to 22 CFR § 216.2(b)(1)(i) for DG East Activities focused on support 
of local, regional, and central government entities to deliver essential services in a 
hazardous environment.
ANNEX A.
ANNEX A.1. PERFORMANCE MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND LEARNING PROGRESS AGAINST TARGETS
# Indicator Description Collection 
Methods
Base 
line
FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 Activities related to the indicator in FY 
Target Actual Target Actual Target Q I Q II Actual 2022 Q II
Program Goal: Strengthen the connection and trust between citizens and their government in Eastern Ukraine
1 
Trust in local institutions 
in DG East target 
communities
Outcome| 
SCORE 4.0 4.5 4.3 5.0 4.1 5.5 n/a n/a n/a
DG East had to cancel SCORE (East 
component) for FY 2022 due to the full-scale 
war.
2 
Support for EU 
membership in DG East 
target communities
Outcome| 
SCORE 3.9 4.5 3.6 5.0 4.1 5.5 n/a n/a n/a
3 
Skepticism about 
reforms in DG East 
target communities
Outcome| 
SCORE 6.9 6.5 5.8 6.0 6.9 5.5 n/a n/a n/a
4 
Pluralistic Ukrainian 
identity in DG East
target communities
Outcome| 
SCORE 6.9 7.4 7.1 7.6 7.3 7.8 n/a n/a n/a
Objective 1: Greater acceptance of a shared civic culture based on common values and understanding
5 
Percentage of 
respondents expressing 
confidence in key
reforms [change in]
Outcome| 
SCORE 0% 10% 19.7% 15% 11.6% 20% n/a n/a n/a DG East had to cancel SCORE (East 
component) for FY 2022 due to the full-scale 
war.
6 
Level of civic optimism
in DG East target 
communities
Outcome| 
SCORE 4.1 4.5 4.5 5.0 3.6 5.5 n/a n/a n/a
7 Number of civic 
coalitions formed
Outcome| 
DG East 0 2 1 1 7 6 11 0 11
Sub-Objective 1.1: Increased interaction of citizens with civil society groups
8 
Number of CSOs and 
other civic actors 
receiving USG assistance
Output| 
DG East 0 35 244 25 340 50 232 96 328
4 activities:
• Artivism Manufactory: Enhancing 
Advocacy with Art
• Boosting Ukrainian Narratives in 
Kherson Region
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 30
• Kherson City Council - Kherson 
Multicenter Development
• Good Neighbors - One Country – 93
9 
Number of non￾governmental 
organization 
(NGO)/CSO
representatives trained
Output| 
DG East 0 115 726 115 1,488 350 769 509 1278
5 activities with 509 NGO/CSO
representatives trained (116 male and 393 
female):
• Peer to peers – reintegration of ATO 
veterans to the local communities – 
18
• Academy of Opportunities-Part 2, 
Severodonetsk Youth Council –13
• GESI Training for Professionals and 
Opinion Leaders – 7 
• Good Neighbors - One Country – 
467
• Kyiv Pride: Going East – 4
10
Number of people 
engaged in
CSO/civil society group 
activities
Output| 
DG East| 
Grantees
0 350 977 350 2,083 700 201 73 274
5 activities with 73 of people engaged (17 male
and 56 female):
• Center for development and support 
of elderly people “Yellow Umbrella” 
in Yevsuh village (Part II) – 6 
• Good Neighbors - One Country – 22
• Kherson City Strategy – 32
• Strong Communities On the Collision 
Line 2 – 10
• Kramatorsk City Strategy 2022-2030 
Activity – 3
Sub-Objective 1.2: Increased understanding of reform and participatory governance processes
11
Number of media 
products/materials 
released for better
understanding of 
reforms
Output| 
DG East 0 100 1,330 100 2,463 400 488 971 1,459
10 activities:
• Svoi Eastern Media Cluster (Agency ABO)
• Production of Documentary Film “East 
Stop”
• NGO Our Home Sloviansk (Eastern 
Variant 2021-2022)
• ZmInY East 12
Number of people 
reached by media 
products/materials
Output| 
DG East 0 100,000 2,682,382 100,000 8,477,100 500,000 1,355,449 2,568,919 3,924,368
• New Generation. Kherson community 
influence online: Empowering Kherson 
residents with online participatory tools
• Strong Communities On the Collision Line
– 2 
• Highlighting Changes in the Communities of 
Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts
• NGO Internews Ukraine “Strong Media – 
Strong Society”
• Azov Sea Region News Kramatorsk City 
Strategy 2022
-2030 Activity
13
Number of LGE 
representatives 
trained
Output| 
DG East 0 115 1,780 250 1,660 350 296 113 409
5 activities with 113 LGE representatives (23 
male and 90 female): • Peer to peers - reintegration of ATO 
veterans to the local communities – 1 
• Academy of Opportunities
-Part 2, 
Severodonetsk Youth Council – 2 
• Good Neighbors - One Country – 66 • HICD Training Support to 150 LGE 
representatives – 25
• LGE Capacity to Increase Community 
Income Activity 
– 19
Sub
-Objective 1.3: Further development of Ukrainian civic identity
14
Number of civic/cultural 
events
supported by USG
assistance
Output| 
DG East 0 100 106 80 574 80 185 86 271
14 activities with 86 civic/cultural events and 
1,511 direct beneficiaries (490 male and 1,021 
female) (events/beneficiaries): • Academy of Opportunities
-Part 2, 
Severodonetsk Youth Council – 4/50
• BUR Laboratory Mini Initiatives 
Activity 
–1/24
• Center for development and support 
of elderly people “Yellow Umbrella” 
in Yevsuh village (Part II) – 1/16
• DostupnoUA_Accessibility Rating of 
Ukrainian cities 
– 9/59
15
Number of direct 
beneficiaries from 
civic/cultural activities
Output| 
Grantees 0 25,000 28,581 25,000 119,405 25,000 5,699 1,511 7,210
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 32
• Good Neighbors - One Country – 
10/268
• Kherson City Council - Kherson 
Multicenter Development – 1/18
• Kyiv Pride: Going East – 18/115
• Mariupol is a city of equal 
opportunities for all –1/390
• My Stanytsia Hub –1/4
• Peer to peers – reintegration of ATO 
veterans to the local communities – 
7/81
• Production of Documentary Film 
“East Stop” – 2/105
• Strengthening Public Council Capacity 
Activity – 1/25
• Strong Communities On the Collision 
Line 2 – 11/173
• Tourism and Culture Capacity 
Development in Eastern Ukraine: 
Increasing Digital Capacity of 
Priazovskyi State Technical University
for Culture and Tourism 
Improvement – 1/8
16
GNDR-8. Number of 
persons
trained with USG 
assistance to 
advance outcomes
consistent with gender 
equality or female 
empowerment through 
their roles in public or 
private sector
institutions or 
organizations
Output| 
DG East 0 150 515 150 530 150 326 18 344
2 activities with 18 people trained (3 male and
15 female):
• Academy of Opportunities-Part 2, 
Severodonetsk Youth Council – 10
• GESI Training for Professionals and 
Opinion Leaders – 8 
Objective 2: Increase participation to improve Ukraine’s governance and reform processes and help resolve community problems
17
Openness to dialogue
with outgroups in DG 
East target communities
Outcome| 
SCORE 2.3 4.0 6.1 4.5 6.6 5.0 n/a n/a n/a DG East had to cancel SCORE (East 
component) for FY 2022 due to the war.
18
Number of “tangible 
outcomes” (e.g., new 
policy adopted, service 
delivery
implemented, 
infrastructure project 
completed, etc.) attained 
in activity communities
Outcome| 
DG East 0 40 63 45 61 45 28 6 34
5 activities with 6 tangible outcomes:
• BUR Laboratory Mini Initiatives 
Activity (youth center RePost)
• New Generation: Empowering 
Kherson residents with online 
participatory tools (media room with 
sound/video and insulation 
equipment)
• Young Citizens -Community 
engagement in East Ukraine (web 
platform takeover.org.ua and 3 
documentaries tools - youth of the 
community)
• Kherson City Council - Kherson 
Multicenter Development (“Modern 
Concept of the City Multicenter” 
Manual)
• Strong Communities On the Collision 
Line 2 (Verkhovna Rada adoption of 
amendments to the Law on CMA)
Sub-Objective 2.1: Increased integration of separated, marginalized, or isolated populations
19
Percentage of 
respondents reporting 
improved service 
delivery among 
underrepresented and 
marginalized populations
in DG East target 
communities
Outcome| 
Customer 
Satisfaction 
Survey (DG 
East)
0 5% 4,6% 8% n/a 10% n/a n/a n/a DG East had to cancel FY 2022 data collection 
for indicators 19, 21, and 22 due to the war.
Sub-Objective 2.2: Effective advocacy by local actors on relevant national and regional-level policies
20 DR.4.2-2 Number of 
CSOs receiving USG
Output| 
DG East 0 10 1 15 26 10 5 0 5 
USAID DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE EAST ACTIVITY | FY 2022 Q2 REPORT | 34
assistance engaged in
advocacy interventions
Sub-Objective 2.3: Improved local governance processes and capacities
21
Percentage of LGEs and 
local institutions 
demonstrating
performance 
improvement
Outcome| 
DG East 0 15% 30,8% 15% n/a 15% n/a n/a n/a
DG East had to cancel FY 2022 data collection 
for indicators 19, 21, and 22 due to the war.
22
Percentage of DG East 
civic activity 
beneficiaries reporting 
improved governance in 
geographic activity areas
in DG East target 
communities
Outcome| 
DG East 0 8% 4.7% 10% n/a 12% n/a n/a n/a
23
Number of participants 
in community-driven 
exercises
Output| 
DG East 0 400 280 800 1,048 1,200 201 60 261
3 activities with 60 of people engaged (13 male
and 47 female):
• Center for development and support 
of elderly people “Yellow Umbrella” 
in Yevsuh village (Part II) – 6 
• Good Neighbors - One Country – 22
• Kherson City Strategy – 32
24
Number of local council 
and commission 
members trained on 
decision-making to 
advocate for community
reforms
Output| 
DG East 0 50 145 50 207 50 0 0 0 Activities are planned for the next quarters.
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Fax: (202) 216-3524
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