Statement by the Recovery Window Media Network Regarding New Challenges for Media and the Civil Sector

Recovery Window is a network of independent media outlets, civil society organizations, and think tanks, bringing together over 120 partners. Today, we want to support our network members and call on society to help them endure these challenging times, as USAID funding has been suspended.

What Happened to the Programs Supported by USAID?

Recently, it became known that, by order of the administration of the newly elected U.S. president, funding for all projects of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been suspended for 90 days. This decision was made in the United States to ensure the agency can maximize the effectiveness of foreign aid programs worldwide and align with President Trump’s “America First” policy.

USAID has supported a vast number of diverse projects in Ukraine, especially since the start of the full-scale invasion. These included security initiatives, restoration of critical energy infrastructure, rebuilding of schools, provision of medical services, rehabilitation programs and other assistance for military personnel, aid for internally displaced persons, enhancement of local governance efficiency, inclusive social programs, and more.

Many Ukrainian civil society organizations and media outlets also received grant support through competitive selection processes. This funding enabled them to advocate for socially important changes, provide informational, psychological, and other forms of assistance to those affected, expose corruption schemes, and share the stories of Ukrainians from frontline and remote regions.

Currently, funding for all programs and projects has been suspended without exception.

What the Recovery Window Media Network Does for Society

Last week, the Recovery Window Media Network celebrated one year since its official launch. The network’s goals are transparently and effectively cover and support Ukraine’s recovery from the consequences of Russian aggression.

We build our network of partners based on professionalism and independence. Candidates undergo a thorough review of their ownership structure and funding sources to ensure transparency. For media organizations, having an editorial policy is a mandatory requirement for participation. Both media and non-media partners of Recovery Window do not produce content to serve the interests of government officials or private individuals.

The media network published 842 materials through joint efforts with partners in 2024. These reports, stories, analyses, investigations, and explainers reached 24 million people across social media, websites and other platforms. Regional and national media within the network have been sharing stories of people, businesses, territories, and institutions undergoing recovery. They have investigated the flow of funds, uncovered reasons for delays in reconstruction and explained how victims of Russian aggression can access support services.

With the help of experts from analytical centers, the network has highlighted gaps in aid mechanisms and legislative shortcomings. Civil society organizations and think tanks have shared research findings on realistic paths to energy efficiency, green recovery, public sentiment across different regions and citizens’ perspectives on Ukraine’s reconstruction. They have created demand for more effective and high-quality solutions.

What the Freezing of Projects Means for Network Participants

Due to the USAID funding freeze, many participants in the Recovery Window Media Network face challenges that threaten the ability of media outlets, civil society organizations, and think tanks to continue their work.

This creates significant risks. Civil society organizations may no longer be able to send volunteer teams to communities for hands-on reconstruction efforts. They might be unable to measure public sentiment in frontline areas and convey local residents’ needs to authorities and international donors. Regional media could struggle to investigate corruption in reconstruction tenders or travel to the most remote and frontline villages to shed light on the hardships of local residents. Think tanks may not be able to assess the spread of Russian disinformation narratives in Ukraine’s information space, while media outlets could lose the capacity to debunk these narratives through their publications. And the list goes on.

Overall, Ukraine’s information landscape risks becoming weaker, which could affect the public’s ability to gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of events in the country actively resisting Russian aggression.