The III All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils took place on November 14–15 in Kyiv, serving as a key platform for presenting the Declaration of Intent “Sustainable and Quality Reconstruction: Participation of Councils of Internally Displaced Persons in Recovery Processes.” This is the first document to publicly commit to involving displaced persons and affected hromadas in decision-making on post-war recovery. The event served as a platform for learning, networking, and experience exchange. Participants worked in groups, developed budget requests, learned effective communications, and discussed sustainability models and funding opportunities for local initiatives.
During the forum, the national “For the Future” award was presented for the first time—an honor for the most active members of IDP Councils in three categories: “Leadership and Advocacy,” “Innovation and Initiatives,” and “The Power of Cooperation.”
The Forum in Numbers
- 252 participants, including 151 representatives from 116 IDP Councils of all levels from all oblasts. 58 participants joined via online livestream;
- 3 panel discussions, 4 interactive sessions, 1 interactive lecture, 2 workshops;
- 42 guests from various international organizations and institutions;
- 57 representatives from 49 non-governmental organizations.
Goal of the Forum
- To bring together representatives of IDP Councils, authorities, experts, and partners to reflect on the future role of IDP Councils, analyze their impact on recovery policies and processes, find ways for institutional integration into national systems, and ensure the sustainable development of IDP Councils through practical tools, training, and the exchange of best practices.
The focus of the III All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils was the unification and coordination of the network of IDP councils across the country, the establishment of sustainable links between them, and the support for their development.
Participants
The forum brought together 252 participants (57% of whom had not previously participated in IDP Council forums), including representatives of 116 IDP Councils of various levels from all over Ukraine; non-governmental organizations cooperating with IDP Councils, international organizations, embassies, central government bodies, media, representatives of other state bodies, Members of Parliament of Ukraine, representatives of the inter-factional deputy association “IDPs of Ukraine,” representatives of local government bodies and local self-government authorities, and non-governmental organizations that cooperate with IDP Councils and support internally displaced persons.
International organizations and institutions that joined the forum: UNHCR, UN, INTERSOS, CARE, NRC, PAH, International Rescue Committee, Human Front Aid, Save the Children, Malteser International, Philanthropy in Ukraine, Impact Initiatives / REACH, Embassy of Japan in Ukraine, Embassy of the USA in Ukraine, Embassy of Great Britain in Ukraine, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Ukraine, Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Embassy of Poland in Ukraine, Embassy of Indonesia in Ukraine, Embassy of Spain in Ukraine, Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, and others.
Key Speakers:
- Iryna Vereshchuk — Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories in 2021–2024;
- Matthias Schmale — UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine;
- Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth — Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ukraine (UNHCR);
- Yuliia Tkachuk — Director of Projects at the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) in Ukraine;
- Paula Gaviria Betancur — Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, appointed by the Human Rights Council;
- Pavlo Pavlish — Member of Parliament of Ukraine, member of the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the protection of property and non-property rights of internally displaced and other persons affected by the aggression of the Russian Federation;
- Valeriia Vershynina — Executive Director of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”;
- Olha Ivanova — Director of Development and Advocacy Programs at the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services.”
Panel Discussions
Three panel discussions were held over the two days of the forum. Participants discussed the challenges of integrating displaced persons into hromadas, the effectiveness of state policy regarding IDPs, and tools that help councils turn participation into real change:
- “From Temporary to Sustainable: How to Ensure Decent Living Conditions for IDPs and Promote Integration Instead of Isolation”;
- “IDP Councils — The Voice of Change: How Displaced Persons Influence Local Policies and Hromada Recovery”;
- “The Role of IDP Councils in Supporting Relocated Businesses and Developing Economic Integration.”
Interactive Sessions
Four interactive sessions took place during the forum:
- “Financial Health of the Hromada: Impact on Local Budgets and Advocacy for IDP Needs. A Practical Workshop on Developing Budget Requests”;
- “Effective Public Communication: A Workshop for IDP Council Leaders. How an IDP Council Can Appear in Local Communication Channels”;
- “Blind Spots of IDP Councils: Representativeness, Cohesion, Partnership”;
- “The Future of IDP Councils: How to Maintain Relevance and Strengthen Influence.”
Workshops
Two workshops were conducted within the framework of the forum:
- “How to Create a Business Plan for a Grant”;
- “How to Mobilize Resources to Implement an Idea?”
Participants worked in groups, developed budget requests, learned effective communications, and discussed sustainability models and funding opportunities for local initiatives.
Another event was the “Alley of Opportunities: IDP Business Fair,” where relocated entrepreneurs presented their products, shared their recovery stories, and showed how business can become part of the reconstruction of new communities.
Results of the Forum
- The Declaration of Intent: “Sustainable and Quality Reconstruction: Involving Internal Displacement Councils in Recovery Processes,” initiated by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services,” was presented. The document aims to strengthen the capacity of IDP Councils and affected hromadas to actively participate in community recovery and development. CF SSS called on participants to support this initiative.
- The first National “For the Future” award was presented. This is an award for leadership, innovation, and cooperation that improves the lives of displaced persons and helps develop hromadas. The special award was established by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services.” The award is intended to support leadership, innovative solutions, and partnership approaches that help displaced persons integrate into hromadas, advocate for their rights, and influence important decision-making.
Media Coverage of the Forum
Signing of the Declaration on Involving Displaced Persons in Reconstruction Starts in Ukraine: Initiative Presented at the III All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils (Іnterfax-Україна).
“Recovery for All”: Why the Voice of Displaced Persons Must Be Heard in Ukraine’s Recovery Plans (Ukrainska Pravda).
UN Resident Coordinator: Ukraine Needs Systemic Long-Term Solutions to Support IDPs (Ukrinform).
“From IDPs to Drivers of Change: How the Experience of Displaced Persons Can Work for Hromada Development” (Ukrainska Pravda).
“National ‘For the Future’ Award Presented for the First Time in Kyiv to IDP Council Leaders” (Ukrainska Pravda)
The forum was organized by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine, and the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).