On 4–5 September, Dnipro hosted the Eastern Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils. The event brought together over 45 representatives of IDP Councils from six oblasts of Ukraine: Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zaporizka, Sumska, Kharkivska and Chernihivska. Civil society organizations and international partners also joined the discussions and contributed to finding common solutions.
During the two-day forum, participants took part in panel discussions, workshops and training sessions focused on key aspects of the work of IDP Councils. The forum became an important platform for sharing experiences, building partnerships, and seeking long-term solutions to improve the effectiveness of these consultative and advisory bodies.
“UNHCR is proud to support initiatives such as the IDP Councils Forum, which give displaced people an opportunity to advocate for their rights, support their integration into host communities, and build partnerships with local authorities and civil society. Such forums are an important step towards a more sustainable and needs-sensitive social protection system in Ukraine,” said Pauline Hilmy, Senior Community-Based Protection Officer at UNHCR Dnipro.
This is the first of four interregional forums to be held this year by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the support of UNHCR in Ukraine. CO “SSS” regularly supports IDP Councils, helps the network grow and creates opportunities for their further development.
“Dnipropetrovsk region was one of the first to join the pilot project on establishing IDP Councils. Today we have representatives of IDP Councils created back in 2020 as well as those formed after the full-scale invasion. Some can already share successful experiences, while others are just starting and gaining new knowledge. Supporting IDP Councils is not only about responding to wartime challenges, but also about striving to develop and find solutions even with limited resources,” highlighted Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of CO “SSS”.
Special attention at the forum was given to successful advocacy campaigns. Such exchanges of experience help newly established IDP Councils see not only the achievements of their peers, but also potential opportunities for their own growth.
Participants openly discussed both challenges and achievements in their work. They emphasized their desire to increase their influence on decision-making in host communities. Local community representatives noted that they are working to ensure newcomers feel like full members of their communities.
During the forum, the IDP Councils Portal was presented — an online platform that provides access to educational and methodological materials, legal updates, thematic news and an interactive map with key information about each Council. The platform increases the visibility of IDP Councils and supports their development.
Much has already been done, but there is still more work ahead — work that requires joint efforts and support. The live communication during the forum inspired participants and gave them new ideas and opportunities.
“Taking part in the forum helped me understand that we must not stop at what we have achieved. Instead, we should try new approaches and look for modern solutions. Informal conversations with other participants — during coffee breaks, lunches or just between sessions — became a source of inspiration for me. I learned about the experience of other communities, their challenges and successes. Each story is a chance to learn something new,” said Ihor Bohdan, Head of the IDP Council under the Sartanska Settlement Civil-Military Administration.
The event is organized by the Charitable Organization “Charitable Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.