The project was prepared and is being implemented jointly with the Research Institute of Social Policy of the Ministry of Social Policy and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as well as the non-governmental organization Bureau of Social and Political Developments (Ukraine), with the support of the Odessa District Council of the Odessa Region.
The coronovirus pandemic has exacerbated many social problems in Ukrainian society:
– decrease in population income, due to lockdown and quarantine measures;
– business closures and economic recession;
– the increase in social inequality;
– The situation was characterized by an aggravation of social contradictions and an increase in protest sentiments.
All these factors, against the background of the ongoing economic, ideological, political and military confrontation with the Russian Federation, create additional social threats and require an adequate response from the authorities, civil society, business and other stakeholders.
At the same time, the authorities of the Odessa region do not mention the social consequences of the pandemic at all in strategic documents, such as the Plan of socio-economic development of the Odessa region for 2021. There is not a single program at the oblast level that considers steps to deal with the effects of the pandemic. The authorities take no action to ensure a solidarity-based response by civil society, government, and business to acute social challenges. This could lead to provocations, sway social discontent, and require far more resources and effort to suppress possible protest actions.
Project Objectives:
- Social diagnostics (mass survey of the population, a series of expert surveys).
Diagnostic Objectives:
- A study of the preparedness of the population and organizations to support anti-pandemic activities;
- Analysis of the social risks of implementing anti-pandemic measures;
- Assessment of the negative socio-economic consequences of the pandemic among the population and small and medium-sized businesses;
- evaluation of the effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures implemented by local governments;
- An analysis of the resources of civic initiatives in the local community in terms of their inclusion in the pandemic response;
- readiness for interaction between local initiatives and LSG bodies.
2. to report the results of social diagnostics, discuss and work out a draft of solutions to the problems identified.
3. Developing a pandemic coping strategy to bring to the Odessa District Council meeting.
4. Preparation of documents for meetings of specialized commissions on the preparation and implementation of a strategy to counteract the effects of the pandemic.
5. Information support of the project activities (publications in regional and Ukrainian media and press-conferences)