The International Renaissance Foundation is dedicated to building and maintaining the infrastructure and institutions necessary for an open society in Ukraine. Foundation programs foster the development of and cooperation among nongovernmental organizations in an effort to create a strong civil society sector. The foundation also prioritizes initiatives that protect civil liberties, prevent corruption, support the rights of vulnerable populations, advance education, increase access to information, and improve public health.

With Ukraine facing rising rates of HIV/AIDS, the foundation has been a powerful voice in promoting a sound rights-based public health policy. Its harm reduction efforts have resulted in the development of substitution treatment and needle exchange centers throughout the country and have supported the work of people living with HIV/AIDS to advocate for their rights. The foundation has also been a key advocate for the rights of people living with mental disabilities, and has launched a major campaign to bring Ukraine up to international standards for mental health care.

In the area of access to information, the foundation’s work has led the government to declassify over 1,500 documents illegally withheld from public distribution. It has also been a leader in promoting transparency in natural resource revenues, engaging in budget monitoring activities, media trainings, and international advocacy to ensure fair and effective management of Ukraine’s oil and gas resources. The foundation is similarly committed to reducing corruption in higher education, and its policy reform advocacy has helped to institute new anticorruption mechanisms in university admissions testing.