The Eastern Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils was held in Dnipro on April 23–24. The event served as a platform for developing effective solutions on how to strengthen IDP councils in their daily work and influence on hromada development. The event was organized by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” as part of a project to strengthen the capacity of the social protection system, implemented with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
The forum brought together more than 90 participants. These included representatives of IDP councils from the Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Poltavska, Zaporizka, Kirovohradska, Kharkivska, and Sumska oblasts.
“IDP Councils have already become a key institution for advocating on behalf of internally displaced persons. Just as was intended. There is still a lot of work ahead — daily, often routine, but extremely important work. Work that requires not only dedication but also a high level of professionalism. First and foremost, this involves advocacy at the community level. Because that is where the interests of IDPs require the most attention and protection. For my part, I would like to reassure you once again: IDP Councils can count on the support of the Office of the President and on my personal support,” — said Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in her welcoming remarks to the participants and guests of the event via an online broadcast.
“Internally displaced people are not only recipients of support — they are active contributors to their communities. IDP Councils play a vital role in ensuring that the voices, needs and solutions of displaced people are reflected in local decision-making. This forum is an important opportunity to strengthen partnerships, exchange practical experiences, and work together towards more inclusive and resilient communities across eastern Ukraine,” as Pauline Hilmy, Senior Hromada Protection Officer at the UNHCR office in Dnipro, emphasized in her opening remarks.
Particular attention was paid to updating the composition of the IDP Councils and sharing experience, which is essential for their further development.
“Today, IDP Councils need to bring in new people. Those who have been serving on these councils for two years now have valuable experience and a deep understanding of the processes. But civic engagement is not a lifelong endeavor for any one person. That is why it is important to ensure the transfer of knowledge and experience: so that experienced Council members support newcomers, help them get involved in the work, and serve as mentors to them. At the same time, it is extremely important that the IDP Councils’ contributions are visible, amplified, and supported. This is the foundation of their sustainability and their ability to influence decisions and improve the lives of internally displaced people,” — said Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation ‘Stabilization Support Services’.”
For the participants, the forum served as a source of inspiration through the exchange of experiences and the opportunity to make new, valuable connections. It reaffirmed that such meetings help bring about meaningful change, consolidate efforts, and highlight the results of collaborative work.
“The IDP Council under the Executive Committee of the Pryiutivka Village Council has already established effective cooperation with local self-government bodies through constructive dialogue and partnership in addressing pressing issues. In particular, during the development of a support program for IDPs in the hromada. The next step is to scale up this experience: utilizing the best practices of other IDP Councils, sharing them with all Council members, and strengthening our influence on decision-making processes in the hromada,” — shared Viktor Siniatkin, Chair of the IDP Council under the Executive Committee of the Pryiutivka Village Council and a participant in the panel discussion “How Do IDP Councils Influence Government Decisions?”
By combining discussions, workshops, and training sessions, Forum participants were able to identify challenges, develop concrete approaches to addressing them, strengthen partnerships, and outline next steps to enhance the role of IDP Councils in their hromadas.
Results of the Eastern Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils:
- Best practices regarding IDP Councils’ influence on government decisions were presented;
- Issues hindering the implementation of state programs for IDPs at the local level were identified, and solutions were developed through the exchange of experiences among IDP Councils;
- Key challenges were identified: how to strengthen the role of IDP Councils in hromadas, their participation in recovery and development, as well as in evacuation efforts;
- Priorities were set for the IDP Councils’ future activities.
To recognize the work of IDP Councils at the national level, during the Forum, the launch of the nomination process for the national “For the Future” award was announced. Nominations must be submitted via the IDP Councils Portal. The award ceremony will take place during the IV All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils this fall. Candidates for the award will compete in the following categories: “Leadership and Advocacy” — protecting the rights of IDPs and influencing community decisions; “Innovation and Initiatives” — new solutions for IDPs; “The Power of Collaboration” — partnerships to support and integrate IDPs. The IDP Council whose initiative or activity receives the most support from the IDP Council community based on the results of online voting on the Portal will be honored with the “IDP Council Community Choice” award.
About the Forums of IDP Councils
These are annual regional, interregional, and national events launched by the CF SSS in 2022. They bring together representatives of IDP Councils, government bodies, and international and national organizations around the idea of developing tools for local democracy and amplifying the voices of internally displaced people.
Over the years, these interregional forums have become an important platform for networking and shaping a shared vision for the development of IDP Councils. The main goals of these events are to increase influence on local and national policy-making processes, build institutional capacity, exchange experiences, advocate for key issues, strengthen the capacity of the Councils, and provide practical learning opportunities.
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.