To operate in a systematic, transparent, and effective manner, IDP Councils need support—clear, accessible, and continuous. In 2025, the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” provides mentorship support to IDP Councils: consultations on work planning, holding meetings, reporting, updating council composition, and protecting the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs). From January to May 2025, regional coordinators provided 173 consultations for IDP Council members.

This publication explains how to request support, what topics fall under mentorship, and what opportunities this support opens for strengthening the Council’s work.

What topics do regional coordinators consult IDP Council members on?

Regional coordinators provide consultations on the following:

Organizing the practical work of the IDP Council.
Rights, duties, and powers of the Council as an advisory body.
Formation or update of the Council’s composition.
Activity planning and preparation of reports.
Resource mobilization.
Advocacy activities (cooperation with authorities, defending the rights of IDPs).
Drafting proposals and appeals to government bodies or partners.

Formats of consultation

Regional coordinators provide consultations for IDP Council representatives in convenient formats, including: by phone, by email, via online messengers (e.g., Viber, Telegram, etc.), in person.

If Council representatives request consultations that do not directly concern the Council’s work, powers, or functions but instead concern the personal legal matters of IDPs, regional coordinators have the right to refer such inquiries to regional lawyers or partner organizations providing legal aid.

Important: any IDP Council may receive consultation support by contacting SSF’s regional coordinators. Personal data is stored and processed exclusively by applicable data protection regulations.

Organizing IDP Council Meetings

IDP Council meetings address key issues necessary for effective and transparent operations. One or more of the following topics may be discussed at a meeting:

Approval of the Council’s work plan for a defined period.
Approval of the Council’s activity report (periodic or final).
Approval of recommendations and proposals developed through advocacy activities.
Discussion or planning of information campaigns in which the Council participates or initiates.
Holding of founding meetings for Councils with an updated composition.
Approval of the Council’s internal regulations (rules of procedure).
Distribution of responsibilities among Council members.

What support does the Council receive during meetings?

1. For planning a meeting, the Council receives:

Aid to choose a format (online, offline, hybrid, open) and draft the agenda.
Recommendations on organizational matters (e.g., preparing the room or online setting).
Advice on how to inform the community about the upcoming meeting.
Suggestions for topics to highlight jointly with the regional team, based on Council initiatives.

2. For conducting the meeting:

Guidance on structuring the meeting.
Clarification of procedural aspects.
Participation of regional representatives in the meeting, if initiated by the Council.

3. For reporting:

Consultations on drafting the meeting minutes (content, structure, deadlines, signing, etc.).
Support in sharing the results on the website, especially if essential documents were approved (report, work plan, recommendations).

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.

Want to share your materials?

To submit a resource for publication, please send us an email including the following: your full name, the organization you represent and your position, and the IDP Council you belong to (if applicable). Provide the title and a brief description of the material you are submitting. Attach the file in PDF, DOCX, PPTX, MP4, or another compatible format (maximum file size – up to 100 MB). In your email, confirm your consent for the processing of personal data.