Resilient & Connected: Joint Initiatives Against Disinformation
Disinformation and information manipulation pose some of the most serious challenges to democracy and social cohesion across the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region. Coordinated disinformation campaigns and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) undermine public trust, distort democratic processes, and affect vulnerable groups.
The Resilient and Connected project, implemented by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, People in Need, and the Prague Civil Society Centre, works towards the long-term resilience of citizens in Eastern Partnership countries through joint civil society initiatives to detect and counter FIMI and disinformation.
The project will provide financial support, capacity building, and networking opportunities to a diverse group of over 1,100 Civil Society Actors (CSAs) across the EaP region, including:
- Established CSOs– national and regional organisations with strong organisational structures and advocacy experience, and with the ability to engage in national-level policy dialogue.
- Grassroots CSOs – rural- and community-based organisations that bring strong local legitimacy, deep community trust, and perspectives.
- Independent media and fact-checking organisations– to provide trusted, evidence-based information in hostile environments.
- Think Tanks & Research Organisations– to produce analysis on civic space, disinformation, and democracy
- Content Creators, Influencers & Digital Communicators – with creative and flexible, reach wide youth audiences, especially where disinformation dominates.
- Community actors (teachers, youth leaders, librarians, social workers, municipal staff) – trusted intermediaries working directly with vulnerable groups.
Our Aims
The action supports civil society actors in:
- Strengthening media and digital literacy among vulnerable groups. This will enable citizens to critically assess information, understand manipulation techniques, and make informed choices.
- Enhancing CSAs resilience to disinformation-related pressure by building networks linking Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), journalists, educators, and policymakers, and by sharing tools, monitoring trends, and coordinating responses.
- Supporting independent media and fact-checkers that contributes to public debate and transparency.
- Fostering regional cooperation among CSOs, journalists, educators, and policymakers by sharing tools, monitoring trends, and coordinating responses based on research, dialogue, and counter-speech.
Expected Outcomes
- Eastern Partnership CSAs will be more resilient and effective in detecting and countering FIMI through enhanced citizens’ media literacy and provision of quality, fact‐based content to diverse audiences.
- The CSAs will cooperate and engage in policy dialogue at national and regional levels to build cross-border networks to collectively combat FIMI and disinformation.
- Young people will gain from tailored media literacy campaigns, peer-led initiatives, and engaging content produced by influencers and CSOs.
- Minority and marginalised groups, including ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and displaced persons, will be reached through context sensitive literacy campaigns, safe dialogue spaces, and outreach conducted by trusted community actors
- Rural populations will benefit from grassroots-led outreach and innovative educational activities adapted to their local realities.
- The wider public will benefit from increased access to independent journalism, fact-checked information, and rights-based counter-speech, including in relation to election-related disinformation
Project Outputs:
Project at a Glance
Funder: European Union
Countries: Eastern Partnership (EaP)
Partners: Netherlands Helsinki Committee, People in Need, Prague Civil Society Centre
Project period: 40 months (December 2025 – April 2029)
Budget: 5,263,160 EUR (EU contribution: EUR 5,000,000)
Funded by the European Union. The contents of this article and the views expressed within are the responsibility of the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
For more information about Resilient and Connected, see the project flyer: Resilient and Connected Project Flyer
