Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has faced unprecedented levels of internal displacement. Many Ukrainians are moving to safer regions to escape shelling and temporary occupation. However, in the new place they face the problem of finding new housing. That is why we are implementing a joint advocacy project together with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which aims to develop long-term solutions to ensure the housing rights of IDPs.
One of the ways to solve this issue is to train members of initiative groups and IDP Councils to formulate policies related to the housing rights of IDPs. To this end, in December we held two training events to mobilize public efforts in this direction.
On December 18, the Obolon District State Administration hosted a “Local Advocacy Tools” training for members of the IDP Council in Obolon district of Kyiv. This Council was established at the end of 2022 and has a significant feature – it is the first IDP Council in Ukraine that operates at the level of the city district. Previously, IDP Councils operated exclusively at the regional, city or community level.
During the training, participants explored the policy-making process, summarized information on local advocacy tools, and learned to identify strengths and weaknesses in their team and social network. The training provided Council members with concrete tools to implement and advocate for solutions related to the housing rights of IDPs.
On December 23, an online training “How policy is shaped” was held for the participants of IDP initiative groups in Kharkivska oblast. The housing issue there is particularly acute: it was in Kharkivska oblast that the largest number of houses was damaged and destroyed among all the regions of Ukraine. Despite this, Kharkiv region continues to host IDPs.
During the training, the participants formed a common vision of the policy-making process, because the solution of housing issues of IDPs cannot take place without decision-making by the authorities – it is a political and managerial process that needs to be understood for effective interaction between the public sector and the state. Using the acquired knowledge, the participants identified and described a policy issue relevant to their region related to IDP housing, as well as developed skills for its solution and further advocacy.
These trainings taught the members of IDP initiative groups and IDP Councils to present the existing policies to the authorities and advocate for systemic solutions. It is the consolidation of efforts of activists and the state that will help to effectively solve the problem of IDPs’ housing.
This publication has been developed with the assistance of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with the financial support of the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and in no way reflects the official views of the European Union and the Norwegian Refugee Council.