On 30 September, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) concluded a three-month-long, nation-wide small grants programme in Ukraine with the aim of supporting civil society organizations and the private sector in creating digital solutions addressing challenges related to the war. The programme, titled Open Data Unbroken , supports the use of open data to encourage civic participation through innovative technology approaches and tools, establish partnerships among various sectors, and enhance information exchange and networking among local authorities, grassroots initiatives, and public activists. The programme, which aims to promote the development of a culture of innovation, transparency, and cooperation, included the provision of financial support, a mentoring programme, and access to a community of experts, thereby enabling IT specialists and developers to transform their innovative ideas into tangible solutions that drive positive change in Ukraine. The three teams selected among 70 applicants each focused on some of the most pressing challenges in the country. The first project, chatbot “Where is the shelter?”, aims to help citizens find the nearest air-raid shelter in Ukraine. Another chatbot, “Nazar”, assists internally displaced persons in integrating into new environments by searching for employment opportunities across different regions of […]