Background

For more than 25 years, the Nordic Council of Ministers has supported joint activities with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Northwest Russia, Belarus and the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, as well as self-governing regions of Faroe Islands, Greenland, the Åland Islands. The co-operation had the aim to contribute to building trust, mutual understanding and prosperous development shared on common values between the countries in the region.

These structures of cooperation drastically changed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The NCM cooperation with Russia cannot continue as before and will rely only on activities outside the Russian territory and with partners with relation to Russia who are not affiliated with Russian authorities, including public universities.

A better future needs to be built by creating a common narrative of peace and respect. As the official channels are closed for now, the bridges of understanding and connection must be kept on people-to-people level. There is a need to communicate to the people of the Nordics and Baltics about the situation for and the points of view of the people from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus now living in these countries.

The Nordic Council of Ministers expects to support the production of a series of videos and audios to provide a platform for Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian people to tell their stories.

Overall aim

To create new ways of understanding Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and the Baltics in relation to the Nordics by providing a platform for people to tell their stories - where they come from, why they came to the Nordics, what brings them together, what unites us all, etc.

Apart from improved understanding the NCM information initiative should also contribute to the future of the Nordic region that is a green, competitive, and socially sustainable macro-region as well as a safe and stable grounds for the understanding and peace for the rest of the world.

Deadline for submission of application: 7 August 2022 at 23.59 Danish time

Project start: September 2022.

Project end: November 2023

For more information visit the call website.