On April 29, the foresight event on the Looking into the Future of Ukrainian Democracy began in Truskavets, organized by ISAR Ednannia with the support of the Norwegian-Swedish Askold and Dir Fund, operating under the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver Towards Reforms and Democracy Project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia and funded by Norway and Sweden.
The foresight brought together around 80 participants — civil society representatives, government authorities, donor organizations, experts, and activists. Over two days, they will analyze the current state of democracy in Ukraine, explore possible scenarios for its development, and develop practical recommendations for civil society.
The foresight serves as a platform for collaborative work on key issues such as:
- Development of democracy during wartime.
- Security, education, culture, social support, and economic development.
- Creating an action plan to strengthen democracy in the coming years.
During the event's opening, Volodymyr Sheyhus, Executive Director of ISAR Ednannia, delivered welcome remarks and emphasized the importance of jointly planning the future of democratic processes in Ukraine.
"We have gathered here to reflect on what we still lack, what we could strengthen, and invent together to envision a stronger Ukrainian democracy in the future. Today, tomorrow, and in the days ahead, we need a higher level of consolidation and greater mutual understanding — because only this way can we build a strong Ukrainian democracy for the future," said Volodymyr Sheyhus as he opened the foresight session.
A special part of the program was a keynote speech by journalist and publicist Vitaly Portnikov, dedicated to the challenges facing democracy during wartime and the global trends shaping the development of societies.
"In a prolonged war, it is difficult to preserve democracy — a deep erosion of society begins. But precisely for this reason, our task is to maintain common sense every day, uphold trust in the state, and work on ourselves to remain free individuals despite the challenges," said Portnikov.
The foresight work will continue until April 30, and on May 1, participants will join efforts to develop proposals for the new Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership Initiative. This event will be organized by the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in partnership with ISAR Ednannia.
