Background

In 2014, nearly 300,000 Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes following Russia’s invasion of Crimea and parts of the Donetska and Luhanska oblasts. After the start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the number of internally displaced persons increased dramatically. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, as of early 2025, more than 4.6 million IDPs have been registered in Ukraine.

In their new communities, IDPs may face a range of challenges. Among their primary needs are access to housing and medical services, employment opportunities, and social integration. IDP Councils are designed to help stabilize the lives of IDPs in their new locations and create suitable conditions for them to realize their potential within the community.

How IDP Councils Work

An IDP Council is a consultative and advisory body under local authorities that amplifies the voices of displaced persons within the community: it assesses their needs and advocates for decisions that address them.

The concept of IDP Councils was developed by the team of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in 2019. As of early 2025, more than 800 IDP Councils operate across Ukraine.

The activities of IDP Councils are regulated by the Model Regulation approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine’s Resolution No. 812 of August 2, 2023. Each Council can have up to 30 members, half of whom must be IDPs, and one-third must be the representatives of the authority that established the Council. These are individuals actively engaged in community work, with concrete proposals for the Council’s activities and a willingness to serve on a voluntary basis.

The main tasks of an IDP Council:

• Participate in the implementation of regional policies aimed at ensuring and protecting the rights and interests of internally displaced persons.
• Support the work of local communities and develop effective mechanisms for the adaptation and integration of IDPs.

In 2024, on the initiative of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”, the Congress of IDP Councils NGO was established. Its key goal is to unite IDP Councils at all levels to advocate for the rights and interests of displaced persons at the national level, develop a common action plan, and strengthen their influence.

Examples of success stories of IDP Councils can be found in this booklet.

The impact of IDP Councils has also been recognized internationally. Experts from the Humanitarian Policy Group recommend using their experience in other countries facing large-scale and prolonged internal displacement crises.