GROMADA: European universities supporting legal and community capacities for Ukraine’s environmental recovery.

Funding Source

European Commission- Erasmus+ Swedish National Agency

Programme

Erasmus+ KA2, Higher education sector

Duration

December 2023 – November 2025 (24 months)

Keywords

citizen science,

Social participation,

Online course,
Open access resource

Status

Ongoing

Description

The project aims to develop cooperation between European universities to support public and legal capacity for environmental recovery in Ukraine. As the war has brought a huge toll to Ukraine’s natural heritage, the project foresees to foster civic engagement in environmental citizen science and its legal dimension. By analysing barriers and opportunities for community engagement in environmental action and peacebuilding, GROMADA will emphasise the legal aspects of environmental harm monitoring in war, with and by conflict-affected communities.

 

Through a series of actions designed with university students, academic staff and citizens, GROMADA aims to enhance capacity building for environmental advocacy and action taking. In this context, the role of technology will be crucial in mapping the ways through which citizen groups, individuals and universities can create new models of crisis resilience related to public participation in environmental restoration in Ukraine. Thus, GROMADA recognises the importance of involving local communities in post-conflict recovery by adopting a “citizen science-law-environment” triad that empowers Ukrainian citizens in their struggle for environmental justice.

 

Key project outcomes

 

● Online lecture series.
● Α collection of open educational resources.
● 3-day summer camp.
● Training for Ukrainian university staff and students

Partnership

● Lund University (SE), coordinator
● Web2Learn (GR)
● Systasis (IT)
● The Conflict and Environment Observatory (UK)
● University of Hamburg (DE)
● University of Copenhagen (DK)
● Odessa State Environmental University (UA)