McCain Ukraine Leadership Initiative to equip Ukraine’s leaders to build a strong, free, safe, and democratic Ukraine
This article originally appeared in ASU News
The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) has received an $8.16 million grant from The Howard G. Buffett Foundation to fund its McCain Ukraine Leadership Initiative, a program designed to support a cross-section of Ukrainian professionals to build a strong, free, and democratic Ukraine.
The McCain Ukraine Leadership Initiative is a 10-year strategic investment designed to develop, connect, and sustain Ukrainian leaders including civil servants, civil society, NGO leaders, private sector entrepreneurs and business leaders, journalists and media professionals, and international development practitioners who are best suited to lead post-conflict reconstruction and democratic consolidation.
“Ukraine’s democratic future has long been demanded by its citizens, but it will be secured by its leaders,” said Howard G. Buffett, Chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. “Through this partnership with the McCain Institute, we are making a long-term investment in the free, sovereign, and prosperous future that Ukrainians are currently fighting to defend.”
Senator John McCain was an unwavering ally to Ukraine, telling pro-EU protesters in 2013, “The free world is with you. America is with you. I am with you.”
“This grant not only furthers Senator John McCain’s legacy in Ukraine by developing leaders capable of guiding reconstruction under conditions of uncertainty; it also reflects the McCain Institute’s deepening engagement and long-term commitment to the region,” said McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas. “Ukraine’s future relies on its ability to sustain democratic governance.”