About the Foundation

Address of the FEG’s International Advisory Board members The members of the International Advisory Board of the FEG, meeting in Kiev, are seriously concerned by the rapidly deteriorating global economic situation and its impact on Ukraine. We believe that the pressures on Ukraine’s economy require the country’s urgent and united attention. The Foundation stands ready to support the country with research and advice at any point.

The Foundation for Effective Governance was founded in 2007 to help improve people's lives by assisting policy makers at all levels and stakeholders to design and implement actionable public policy solutions, and by furthering public debate on the most important development challenges facing Ukraine.

The Foundation for Effective Governance is a Ukrainian foundation, aimed at developing long-term national economic programs. The Foundation’s funding source is Ukrainian business. According to the world’s best practice, the Foundation’s funding is separated from developing the content of programs and projects.

Before the Foundation was created, the world’s best practices from various countries were studied. In many leading countries of the world, donations from businesses support independent research centres that assist the Government in developing and implementing reform programs in various spheres of Government activity. Many such organizations actively cooperate with the Government, first of all, with Parliaments. For instance, The Brookings Institution in the USA (the oldest think tank in the world) consults government authorities on economic and democratic development programs. The Heritage Foundation forms public opinion on country development directions, according to the principles of free enterprise, limitation of government intrusion in the economy, protection of individual freedoms. The British Adam Smith Institute consults the Governments all over the world on privatization and transition to market economy. In Australia – the Fraser Institute develops strategic solutions for State Committees. The Peruvian Institute of Liberty and Democracy, jointly with governments of several developing markets, implements programs stimulating economic growth by legalizing real estate property rights.

It is widely known that in Ukraine today there is an acute need to develop and implement long-term economic and social development programs. In our view, the current situation, with its rapid pace of political change, did not allow the Government to pay sufficient attention to Ukraine’s long-term development strategy. We truly hope the Foundation’s work will help formulate a long-term economic development program, as well as create public and political consensus regarding the main elements of such program.

The Foundation for Effective Governance is Mr. Rinat Akhmetov’s private initiative; his personal contribution to the economic development of Ukraine and to facilitate systematic dialogue between experts, Government, business, civil society organizations, and mass media.