A community becomes stronger when people share an understanding of common challenges and work together to find solutions. When local residents and internally displaced people join forces to address problems, they achieve more tangible results — including in the work of IDP Councils. This was the main topic discussed during the webinar “Engaging IDPs and Local Communities in the Work of IDP Councils.”
Together with Serhii Yatskovskyi, Executive Director of the Association of Territorial Communities of Khmelnytska Oblast, national expert on local self-government, trainer, and member of the IDP Coordination Council in the Khmelnytskyi City Territorial Community, we explored:
- why IDP Councils are an important tool for strengthening participation and dialogue in communities;
- which methods of engaging displaced people and local residents in the work of IDP Councils are most effective;
- which practices have already delivered results.
“IDP Councils can use a wide range of public participation tools — public hearings, community consultations, residents’ meetings, e-petitions, open discussions, surveys, involvement in local programmes and strategies, as well as participation in civic budgeting processes. Each of these mechanisms strengthens the voice of residents and enables IDPs to take part in shaping decisions that influence community development,” noted Serhii Yatskovskyi.
We thank everyone who joined the discussion and shared their experience.
Watch the webinar recording:
The webinar was organized within the Support to the Capacity of Government Institutions and Local Communities to Strengthen Social Protection Systems in Ukraine project, implemented 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.
