



Promoting Reform Objectives through Technical Expertise and Capacity Transfer Program.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program.
Implemented by alinea.
Promoting Reform Objectives through Technical Expertise and Capacity Transfer Project.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program.
Implemented by alinea.
About us: Strengthening Ukrainian national security and territorial integrity
Canada was the first country to recognize Ukraine’s independence more than 30 years ago and this commitment to security, stability and sovereignty continues today. PROTECT supports institutions and agencies within the Ukrainian security and defence sector. Through deployment of Ukrainian and international experts as part of a robust planning and implementation framework, this project strengthens analytical approaches, builds results-based management techniques, and supports women, peace and security.
The PROTECT program works in a ‘Team Canada’ approach, contributing to and benefiting from the broader Canadian effort supporting the government of Ukraine, specifically aligning work with:
Global Affairs Canada funds the PROTECT Program through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program. The PROTECT program started in October 2020 and runs until October 2022.
Operation Unifier (before 24 February 2022) as the institutional component that underpins the overall peace mandate.
Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Are the Program beneficiaries and recipients in the areas of Defence Governance, the Defence Planning & Resource Management, Capability Development and the sector-specific gender equality reforms.
Government Office for Coordination on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine (GoU Office) are the key partners and recipients in the development and execution of the policy considerations of the Annual National Programs under the auspices of Ukraine-NATO Commission
Governmental Commissioner for Gender Policy is a crucial partner for the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence
Through the support addressed to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, PROTECT is assisting the Parliament of Ukraine in development of relevant legislative pieces and initiatives addressed to support the defence governance and defence planning reforms.
The Kyiv Mohyla Business School in its leadership development program for senior management and executives of the Ukrainian security and defence sector.
The Parliamentary Center of Canada/Agency for Legislative Initiatives in assuring that technical input from the security and defence sector supports the work of the Rada committees focused on defence, security and Euro-Atlantic integration principles and standards;
The Support for Reforms in Governance program is the Support to Ukraine’s Reforms for Governance Program and implemented by Alinea.

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KEY REFORM AREAS
Defence Governance
Women, Peace & Security
Planning, Programming and Resource Management
Capability Development

COMPLETED REFORM PROJECTS
Annual National Programme Transformation & Resilience

Defence Governance Initiative
The full-scale Russian invasion became the main determinative and driving factor for fundamental defence sector transformations in Ukraine. Having a solid base of supporting Ukrainian defence reforms since 2019, the Defence Governance Initiative was reviewed in coordination with the Ukrainian partners to ensure that its portfolio responds to priority needs in time of war. In particular, PROTECT provides supports in identifying shortcomings in existing defence architectures based on legislation, regulation, and practices. The Defence Governance Initiative is aimed at facilitating effective decision-making in a manner that enables leaders to carry out their duties in a transparent, participatory manner. This contributes to public confidence in a resilient, trusted, and effective defence organization.
Cooperation with the Ministry of Defence on the implementation of the recommendations of the Defence Management Systems review, as well as advising the Parliamentary Committee on the National Defence, Security and Intelligence on the best Euro-Atlantic norms and practices for the Ukrainian legislation are only some of PROTECT’s immediate contributions. Defence governance portfolio work is conducted with consideration of the best and acknowledged methodologies and methods, such as result-based management, capability-based planning, and gender-based analysis.

Women, Peace and Security Initiative
As the war in Ukraine persists, the world continues to bear witness to atrocities and war crimes. Women and girls, men and boys across Ukraine are encountering the threat of sexual violence as a weapon of war. These events have sharpened the focus on the importance of international law and protocols, such as the Geneva Conventions, UNSCR 1325 and related Women, Peace, and Security resolutions, and the Murad Code. Preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a key theme under the WPS agenda, and addressed under Ukraine’s 1325 National Action Plan (NAP 1325). It has also been the subject of the Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nation signed in May 2022.
The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Initiative focuses on two urgent issues: strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for the identification and documentation of CRSV and improving the response of the security and defence sector to CRSV using survivor-centred approaches. Providing consistent advisory support and assistance, the WPS Initiative aims to advance the WPS agenda, enhance coordination and capacity of the security and defence sector institutions to identify, document, and investigate CRSV, as well as to raise awareness among the defence and security sector about CRSV and its links to international humanitarian law.

Planning, Programming and Resource Management
The collaboration between the PROTECT Program and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) , General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and National Defence University of Ukraine has resulted in an enduring relationship of partnership on defence planning and resource management issues. With the onset of the Russian invasion, PROTECT received indication of intent from the MOD to realize recommendations provided in DMSR delivered to MOD in September 2021. Ukraine needs a good defence planning system closer to international standards of transparency, accountability, and flexibility. The Planning, Programming and Resource Management Initiative is shaped to support the enhancement of strategic planning procedures, as well as to assist Ukraine in introduction of clear international acquisition procedures and processes. In May 2022, PROTECT delivered the methodology for a Capability Review to the Ministry of Defence, taking into account the experiences of the current conflict and the projects of potential capability requirements for future operations. PROTECT experts further engage with Ministry of Defence to support the Capability Review process. Other working streamlines under this Initiative are aimed at ensuring more effective and efficient use of the international materiel technical support provided by the Ukrainian partners to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Capability Development Initiative
PROTECT is positioned to play an important role in strengthening defence capabilities under different scenarios of evolution of the war. Scoping meetings with various charitable foundations, volunteer groups and the Ministry of Defence itself have revealed that there is a need for better synchronization and a push for additional resources. This workstream is focused on supporting the development of the Recovery Plan for Defence Industry as part of the National Recovery plan. Also PROTECT is positioned to respond to the Ukrainian request for facilitating international expertise for the work of the National Council for Reconstruction, Committee on Defence Industry Development which will lead to engagement with the Ukrainian defence industry, with emphasis on Defence Industry in relation to MoD and AFU processes. Within this Initiative, part of the project’s budget will be allocated to procurement of the equipment requested by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Tangible support is currently highly valued by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, specifically when it comes together with professional advice and expertise.

Annual National Programme Transformation and Resilience
Following the full-scale Russian aggression, PROTECT team responded to the needs of the Government of Ukraine by reaching out to wider audiences for more effective communications and information sharing. At the same time, PROTECT continued the work launched in 2021, on developing and reviewing the Implementation plan for the National resilience system, as well as its adaption to Ukraine’s current security realities caused by full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine. Given the changing security environment, PROTECT also provides analytical and expert support for Ukraine in seeking the ways for mastering such planning instrument as an Annual National Program in the most efficient manner.
Defence Governance
Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations include fundamental defence sector transformations in Ukraine. Defence Governance Reform Initiative provides a holistic approach to harmonizing Ukrainian defence governance with those of NATO member states to facilitate effective decision-making in a manner that enables leaders to carry out their duties in a transparent, participatory manner that meets the expectations of the government and creates public confidence in a resilient, trusted, and effective defence organization. Defence Management Systems Review, legislation and democratic civilian control initiatives are only some of PROTECT’s immediate contributions to the good defence governance in Ukraine. Our aim is responsible defence governance – inclusive, responsive, transparent, and accountable with efficient procedures and strong civilian oversight. Defence governance portfolio work is conducted with consideration of the best and acknowledged methodologies and methods (RBM, GBA+, CBP).


ANP-NATO Reform Project
As Ukraine seeks to join NATO, the Annual National Program (ANP) – NATO Reform Initiative supports the Government of Ukraine to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate the policies and reforms required to meet the criteria for Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Through this Reform Initiative, PROTECT optimizes the strategic planning and implementation processes for the Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, ensuring citizens and Euro-Atlantic allies are informed of the progress and successes of reforms. PROTECT supported and institutionalized the integrated results-based management approach in the 2020-21 ANP editions, leading to a transition of the planning framework from an annual event to a five-year policy cycle.


Planning, Programming and Resource Management Reform Initiative
The collaboration between the PROTECT Program and the Ministry of Defence, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and National Defence University of Ukraine has resulted in an enduring relationship of partnership on defence planning and resource management issues. Now that the strategic planning cycle is almost complete and the results of the Defence Management Systems Review are available, the defence planners in the Ministry of Defence and General Staff are ready to embark upon a formal Reform Initiative.
The PPRM portfolio is shaped to support the enhancement of strategic planning procedures, including forecasting and wargaming in support of the definition of capability requirement and force structure modelling. The establishment of a programming mechanism to connect planning and budgeting processes provides a holistic approach to capability resource requirements and prioritization, and the introduction of a program-based budgeting system.


CONTACT: Marisa Consolata Kemper,
Project Principal and Governance Advisor
UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS :

