The National Platform for Resilience and Social Cohesion press conference in Kiev in June 2023.
Work towards a lasting peace for Ukraine must continue to be prioritised to ensure effective negotiation and reconstruction processes. In 2023, CMI continued to strengthen the resilience and social cohesion of Ukrainian society.
The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza come at a time of significant global change: waning US power, shifting alliances, the erosion of international law and its associated universal principles. Against this backdrop, understanding of Ukraine’s place in this dynamic order, both inside and outside Ukraine, is increasingly important. With nearly 15 years of experience in the region, CMI continues to respond to the changing needs of Ukrainians to address some of the challenges.
The long road to lasting peace outside of negotiations is often overlooked. As the war rages on, CMI and its Ukrainian partners continue to lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace. In 2023, the work helped to strengthen the resilience and social cohesion of Ukrainian society during the ongoing war.
Ukraine faces multiple pressures. Social cohesion is the glue that holds society together in the country. This is the backbone for social resilience, helping to support stability and unity, which are important contributors to a sustainable peace in a post-war Ukraine.
CMI’s focus on social cohesion has been part of our work since we began collaborating with civil society in Ukraine. Through an inclusive process that brings together different parties, CMI aims to advance dialogue between all parts of society at local, regional and national levels. Working closely with civil society is essential, as the longer the war continues the greater the risk is of growing societal tensions.
This is why we continue to work within the framework of the National Platform for Resilience and Social Cohesion, which was established in 2018. Following the full-scale invasion, the central role of the National Platform has been to mobilise, support and advocate for initiatives aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and social cohesion. This has included providing integrated mobile mediation and psychological support services to communities in need across the country to prevent conflict at the grassroots – the first of its kind.
As the war continues, it is important to build on what has already been achieved. Our relationships with key stakeholders reflect CMI’s role as a trusted partner in the region. For us, this trust is earned and used with great care to ensure that sustainable peace remains an attainable outcome in what we hope will be the near future.
This article was published in CMI’s 2023 annual report.