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International Renaissance Foundation (IRF)

Kyiv, Ukraine
Joined April 2017
Presence in: Ukraine

The International Renaissance Foundation’s mission is to foster an open, participatory, pluralist society based on democratic values in Ukraine. It is part of the Open Society Foundations network, established by investor and philanthropist George Soros.

The foundation works with leading Ukrainian nongovernmental groups to engage them in developing a shared public policy agenda for the country, catalyze initiatives that address corruption, and prevent backsliding from democratic reforms.  Our efforts to reduce corruption in higher education have resulted in the institutionalization of anticorruption mechanisms in university admissions testing.

We also support projects and groups that advance the rights of vulnerable populations, improve public health, and confront discrimination. To improve citizen’s access to justice, the foundation develops and promotes free legal aid systems across Ukraine.

We promote European integration of Ukraine through the support of civil society initiatives, aimed at strengthening the influence of civil society on EU-Ukraine relations. The Foundation has contributed to the establishment of the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership Ukrainian platform. We also initiated the European Integration Index for Eastern Partnership (EaP) Countries that provide an annual comparative assessment of European integration processes for EaP countries.