During the international seminar “Strengthening the Participation of Internally Displaced Persons: Obstacles and Opportunities,” recently held in Canada, Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”, spoke with Robert Piper, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Solutions to Internal Displacement, seeking advice for IDP Councils in Ukraine. Mr. Piper emphasized that his key piece of advice is to hold government bodies accountable and responsible. While donors and international organizations may come and go, it is ultimately the government that must take responsibility for structural decisions and long-term change.
“For instance, in Nigeria, regional governors exerted strong pressure on the federal government, demanding necessary changes, and this pressure accelerated the adoption of essential legislative norms at the national level. Conversely, in Ethiopia, due to the sensitive relations between regions and the central government, the regions had to act cautiously to avoid overstepping the government. In Bogotá, the local authorities were accustomed to acting autonomously without significant support from the central government. This habit of autonomy often led regions to overlook the possibility of government support entirely. However, after analysis, it became clear that they still needed standards and funding,” explained Robert Piper.
He further noted that the Ukrainian government has demonstrated an excellent example of effectively utilizing national systems to support internally displaced persons.
“However, it is important to remember that when international funding ends, the work must continue, and only the government can ensure sustainable solutions and mobilize substantial resources,” the expert emphasized.