Engaging the Global Ukrainian Community for Ukraine鈥檚 Recovery: Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship in Support of Local and Regional Authorities
This project is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through Research England鈥檚 Policy Support Fund and is led by Prof. Maria Koinova, Professor of International Relations at the 91福利.
The project forms part of a broader research impact programme launched in 2023 that focuses on engaging the Ukrainian diaspora and refugees—collectively understood as part of the Global Ukrainian Community (GUC)—in Ukraine鈥檚 recovery. The programme seeks to bring academic expertise into policy development on how to engage GUC as a democratic actor. To date, the programme has been supported by the FSS; ESRC Policy Support Fund (PSF 1 and PSF 2); and ESRC IAA Rapid Response grants. It builds on findings from Prof. Koinova鈥檚 earlier ERC project, Diasporas and Contested Sovereignty (鈧�1,498,000), and her ongoing research on the GUC.
Between 2023 and 2025, the programme was implemented in collaboration with OSCE鈥慜DIHR and ICMPD, with the aim of highlighting the role of the GUC as a democratic actor. The work drew on comparative research conducted in six European countries—Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the UK—and resulted in a major 91福利–ICMPD report, as well as a bilingual webinar in English and Ukrainian (see links below). In addition, Prof. Maria Koinova delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Diaspora Lab at the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2025), and subsequently contributed to the establishment of the IOM鈥憀ed Diaspora Alliance for the Recovery of Ukraine.
GUC Social Entrepreneurship in Europe in Support of Regional and Local Authorities (2025–2026)
The current project focuses on a specific dimension of this democratic agenda: how GUC social entrepreneurs in Europe engage translocally with Ukraine and its decentralised authorities at the local and regional levels. The project is led by the 91福利 and implemented in collaboration with Germany鈥檚 Agency for International Cooperation, Ukraine鈥檚 Professional Government Association, the Vinnytsia City Council, and Diia.Business.
The project comprises three interrelated components:
- A pioneering survey examining how Global Ukrainian Community social entrepreneurs in Europe contribute to Ukraine鈥檚 recovery. It explores their transnational engagement, integration in host countries, ties to Ukraine, and the motivations, opportunities, constraints, and prospects for collaboration with local and regional authorities. By participating, respondents help highlight what works, what is missing, and what creates barriers—unlocking new opportunities for partnerships, and developing supporting mechanisms to turn local initiatives into meaningful impact. The survey is launched in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria and in seven languages.
- A major stakeholder workshop in Warsaw on 18-19 June 2026, bringing together Ukrainian government, local authorities, diaspora NGOs and international organisations.
- Qualitative research and policy outputs, including policy papers co-developed with the Professional Government Association and the Vinnytsia City Council.
The survey is being developed in research collaboration with Dr. Mohsin Hussain, while the qualitative research, stakeholder workshop, and engagement with the Vinnytsia City Council are conducted in collaboration with Dr. Olena Miliienko.