East Europe Foundation and the EU announce 10 winners of the Act to Support competition for the implementation of civic tech solutions

Early in October 2023, the acceleration programme of the Act to Support competition, implemented by East Europe Foundation as part of the “Phoenix: Resilient Ukraine in the Time of War” project with the support of the European Union, was completed. The winning civil society organisations were awarded up to 20,000 euros for the implementation of each civic tech tool. They have finalised projects of chatbots, websites, and platforms that will help communities, IDPs, and other people suffering from the war.

During a few months of the acceleration programme, the teams from 20 civil society organisations worked with mentors and core experts, attended lectures, analysed the market, studied successful solutions, refined their own concepts, and prepared for the presentation of their projects. Center42 Innovation Agency and the Happy Monday career platform became mentors and partners of the acceleration programme.

“After 24 February 2022, civic tech tools became an integral part in the lives of not only Ukrainian civil society organisations, but also in every Ukrainian’s life. For example, thanks to a chat on a smartphone, one can learn about an air raid alarm. In another city, a chatbot can quickly report a problem to the authorities or get advice. This year’s Act to Support competition offered an opportunity for civil society organisations who develop civic tech solutions to gain expertise and financial support for the implementation of useful tools in a wartime,” says Julia Jacoby, Sector Manager for Civil Society with the EU Delegation in Ukraine.

During the final event of the competition’s acceleration programme, the qualified jury awarded the teams that develop the following projects:

● Charitable Organisation “Balbek