Human Rights & Good Governance

Through the SDC-funded Ukraine’s Cohesion & Regional Development (UCORD) project, NIRAS is supporting a systemic, region-led approach to recovery by strengthening Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) as key coordinators of planning, investment, and service delivery across Ukraine. Operating across multiple pilot regions and expanding nationally, the project builds the capacity of RDAs to act as trusted intermediaries—linking national priorities with local implementation, and helping oblasts and hromadas translate strategies into investment-ready projects.

UCORD delivers this through an integrated approach that combines governance reform, infrastructure development, and social cohesion. It strengthens RDAs through core funding, training, and technical assistance, enabling them to coordinate multi-stakeholder partnerships, develop regional strategies, and facilitate access to EU and national financing. At the same time, the project supports improvements in essential public services—particularly water supply, sanitation, and waste management—by preparing and coordinating investment-ready projects and advancing regional planning frameworks. Complementing this, UCORD promotes culture and creative industries as drivers of economic development and social cohesion, supporting local initiatives, entrepreneurship, and dialogue between citizens and public authorities.

By strengthening institutions, aligning governance across levels, and fostering inclusive participation, UCORD is helping to build a more resilient, coordinated, and forward-looking recovery model for Ukraine—one where regions play a central role in deliveringsustainable growth, improved public services, and stronger social cohesion.

Through the SDC-funded Proactive Citizens (PRAGG) project, NIRAS is supporting a more inclusive and participatory democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina by strengthening the role of citizens and civil society in shaping public policy. Implemented in partnership with HELVETAS and local organisations, the project focuses on amplifying the voices of those often left behind—particularly women, youth, and socially excluded groups. From 2021 to 2027, PRAGG works across the country to foster meaningful citizen participation and improve the environment in which civil society organisations (CSOs) operate.

At its core, the project addresses a critical gap: limited trust in public institutions and weak links between citizens, CSOs, and government bodies. PRAGG strengthens CSOs not as service providers, but as advocates—equipping them to represent citizens’ concerns, build alliances, and influence reforms through formal democratic processes. By supporting collaboration between civil society, media, and public authorities, the project helps create mechanisms for dialogue, accountability, and joint action.

Working closely with municipalities across the country, PRAGG takes a bottom-up approach—identifying real community needs and enabling citizens to actively participate in decision-making. Through capacity building, advocacy support, and local initiatives, the project is helping to reshape civic space, strengthen democratic practices, and promote social inclusion. In doing so, it contributes to a more responsive, participatory, and resilient society—where citizens are not only heard, but actively drive change.