Forums of IDP Councils are annual local, regional, interregional, and national events initiated by the Charitable Organization “Stabilization Support Services” (CO SSS) in 2022. Their purpose is to bring together representatives of IDP Councils, authorities, and international and national organizations around the development of local democracy tools and the strengthening of IDPs’ voices.

The main goal of the forums is to build the capacity of the Councils, facilitate experience sharing, align approaches to IDP integration into communities, and influence public policy development.

Between 2023 and 2025, three national and ten interregional Forums of the IDP Councils were held in addition to the regional forums. Through panel discussions, strategic sessions, presentations, Forum Theater performances, interactive formats, and workshops, participants worked on practical solutions to the pressing challenges of internal displacement.

History of the Forums of IDP Councils

The first regional Forum of IDP Councils, aimed at uniting IDPs and host communities, took place on December 3, 2022, in Cherkasy. It was followed by 14 more regional forums across different oblasts in the first half of 2023. IREX was the first international organization to support the Forums through its United Voices in Action program. Each forum became an effective platform for consolidating efforts by local authorities, businesses, international and civil society organizations, charitable foundations, and IDPs themselves to address the most urgent challenges faced by displaced persons.

The events covered practical mechanisms for IDP integration and employment, access to legal, psychological, and social support, and the promotion of IDPs’ self-realization. Special focus was placed on building a network of IDP Councils as a key tool for representing IDPs’ interests and developing systemic solutions to improve their well-being.

The regional forums enabled participants to exchange successful cases and experiences, adopt joint resolutions to enhance local coordination, and support IDP integration into host communities. Most importantly, they gave a boost to the creation and activation of IDP Councils across the country. The forums demonstrated that this discussion format is both needed and effective, with tangible outcomes.

The next step was the organization of interregional forums. Between 2023 and 2025, the Foundation organized ten such events with financial support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. These successful local and interregional forums inspired the CO SSS team to launch an all-Ukrainian IDP Council Forum, elevating the activities of IDP Councils to a national scale.

The organization of the All-Ukrainian Forums of IDP Councils was supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine, and IREX, as well as central executive authorities. The 1st and 2nd All-Ukrainian Forums of IDP Councils were held in partnership with the Ministry for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, and the III All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils was held in partnership with the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine.

The I All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils took place in November 2023 and focused on the establishment of IDP Councils, which had by then become a national phenomenon. An interactive map of IDP Councils was presented. At that time, there were 529 Councils across the country. As a result of the forum, heads of IDP Councils from all oblasts and Kyiv joined the Coordination Headquarters under the Office of Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. Participants also worked on amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 812 dated August 4, 2023 (Model Regulation on the IDP Council), as well as other regulatory acts.

The II All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils took place in late summer of 2024. By that time, there were already 814 IDP Councils across the country. It was natural that the event focused on networking among IDP Councils, building sustainable connections, and the need to support their capacity development. Following consultations and discussions, the creation of the Congress of IDP Councils NGO was announced. This organization will coordinate the work of IDP Councils nationwide. Another important outcome was the development of criteria for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of IDP Councils.

The III All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils took place in November 2025 and served as a key platform for reflecting on the role of IDP councils, their impact on recovery processes, and their integration into local self-government systems and national policy. The event featured the presentation of the Declaration of Intent “Sustainable and Quality Reconstruction: Engaging IDP Councils in Recovery.” This is the first document to formalize a public commitment to involve IDPs and affected hromadas in decision-making regarding post-war recovery. Additionally, the national award “For the Future” was presented for the first time during the event, recognizing the most active members of IDP Councils.

Over two years, the Forums of IDP Councils have become a recognized brand. Today, they are events that shape the direction of IDP Councils in communities and influence national displacement policy. These forums are spaces where everyone has the opportunity to share experiences and gain knowledge for more effective advocacy of IDP rights and interests. Even after the forums conclude, participants continue the discussions and work initiated during the events and implement the developed solutions in their communities.

In 2026, the team at the CF SSS plans to hold the IV All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils and four interregional forums of IDP Councils.

More About the Forums of IDP Councils

All-Ukrainian Forums of IDP Councils

The goal of an all-Ukrainian forum is to create a unified platform for dialogue among representatives of IDP Councils, state and local authorities, and international and Ukrainian NGOs. This exchange of views and the development of joint solutions help address displacement issues and strengthen the capacity of IDP Councils at the national level.

Interregional Forums of IDP Councils

The interregional forums aim to bring together representatives of IDP Councils and local authorities from several regions to exchange experiences — both challenges and success stories — establish horizontal communication, and draft working documents. During the panel discussions, the participants discuss the challenges of internal displacement at the local level and together look for solutions to integrate IDPs into new communities.

Forum Participants

Participants of the Forums of IDP Councils include representatives of IDP Councils, government authorities, local self-government bodies, as well as international and Ukrainian non-governmental organizations.

A key requirement for organizing the forums is the active involvement of IDP Council members at all levels and from all oblasts. Councils from even the smallest communities are invited to take part. Organizers emphasize that the voice of an IDP Council from a small village carries the same weight and deserves to be equally heard as that of a Council from a large city — and the forum is precisely where this becomes possible.

The IDP Council forums were attended by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories from 2021 to 2024, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and representatives of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine, including Karolina Lindholm Billing and Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, Matthew Johnson, Stabilization Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, Uliana Bach, Project Director at the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) in Ukraine, representatives of embassies, leadership of oblast military administrations, members of parliament, representatives of ministries, the Office of the Commissioner, and representatives of international organizations, civil society, and charitable organizations.

CO SSS remains committed to continuing the organization of national and interregional forums of IDP Councils, fostering quality communication among IDP Councils across Ukraine, and providing them with mentorship and institutional support.

The Forums of IDP Councils are an effective tool for highlighting displacement issues at the national level, strengthening cooperation between local authorities, IDPs, and the civil society sector, and — most importantly — among IDP Councils from different communities. This shared space allows all stakeholders to discuss displacement challenges, exchange experiences, and unite efforts to address urgent issues related to the rights and freedoms of IDPs, as well as to develop long-term solutions.

You can find out more about each forum on their individual pages.

Stay tuned for the announcement of new events!