On September 4–5, the Eastern Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils took place in Dnipro. It brought together representatives from over 45 IDP Councils from six regions of Ukraine: Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zaporizka, Sumska, Kharkivska, and Chernihivska Oblasts. Non-governmental organizations and international partners joined the discussion and search for common solutions.
Over the course of two days, forum participants took part in panel discussions, workshops, and training sessions, where they discussed key issues concerning the work of IDP Councils. The forum became an important platform for exchanging experiences, forming partnerships, and finding long-term solutions for the more effective operation of these consultative and advisory bodies.
“UNHCR is proud to support initiatives like the Forum of IDP Councils, which provide internally displaced people with the opportunity to advocate for their rights, promote their integration into local communities, and form partnerships with authorities and civil society. Such forums are an important step towards a more sustainable and responsive social protection system in Ukraine,” emphasized Pauline Hilmy, Senior Community-Based Protection Advisor at the UNHCR office in Dnipro.
“Dnipropetrovska Oblast was one of the first to join the pilot project for creating IDP Councils. Today, among those present are representatives of IDP Councils established in 2020, as well as those who joined these efforts after the full-scale invasion. Some of you can already share successful stories, while others are just learning and gaining new knowledge. Supporting IDP Councils is not just a response to the challenges of war, but a commitment to develop and find solutions even with limited resources,” stressed Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of CF SSS.
There was a particular focus on successful advocacy campaigns at the forum. This exchange of experience allows newly established IDP Councils to see not only achievements but also opportunities for growth.
Participants of the first panel discussion, representing IDP Councils of various levels and regions, spoke about their experience in defending the rights of displaced persons, discussed ways of overcoming difficulties, attracting partners, and communicating with authorities, and described the results they have achieved.
“Thanks to an advocacy campaign, amendments were made to the Regulation on Providing One-Time Financial Assistance to Citizens in the Territory of the Pivdenne City Council, taking into account the proposals of the IDP Council. This enabled internally displaced people to apply for and receive financial assistance on an equal footing with community residents. An advocacy campaign is a complex and systemic process, but without constant self-improvement and belief in oneself and the people around you, it is impossible to achieve success in any field,” explained Iryna Lisytsyna, a member of the IDP Council under the Pivdenne City Council.
IDP Councils have evolved from resolving individual, mostly household, concerns to addressing systemic and strategic issues. While they initially focused on helping individuals access certificates, payments, or humanitarian support, the range of requests people approach them with has significantly expanded over time. Now, IDP Councils work on community-wide problems, influence the content of local programs, participate in planning budgets, and shape development strategies. This demonstrates the institutional maturity of IDP Councils and their establishment as a permanent partner of government bodies in policymaking.
Partner organizations play a crucial role in the institutional development of IDP Councils. The strategic and operational work plans for IDP Councils, developed with the support of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services,” are actively being implemented, particularly in the area of advocacy.
Forum participants attended a training session where they learned to present their IDP Council in three minutes, and then consolidated their new skills by presenting their own IDP Council. Such presentations help establish new horizontal connections and partnerships.
During the panel discussion “Engaging IDPs and the Local Population in Active Cooperation and Participation in the Work of IDP Councils,” attendees had the opportunity to learn about the real-world experiences of communities.
“The IDP Council is a mechanism of trust and a platform for solutions where local residents and displaced persons work together. It is a space for self-fulfillment and partnership. We see how trust between people is growing: displaced persons and local residents stop seeing each other as strangers and start feeling like one community,” noted Tetiana Kirilova, head of the IDP Council under the Shyroke Village Council in Zaporizka Oblast.
Forum participants spoke openly about the challenges and achievements in the work of IDP Councils. They all strive for greater influence. Community representatives emphasized that they care about the fate of displaced persons and are doing everything to make newcomers an integral part of community life. Much has already been accomplished, but there is still more work ahead that requires joint efforts and support.
The CF SSS team developed an interactive quest to help IDP Council members understand how the decision-making process works in a community, explore different scenarios, see the possible consequences of managerial decisions, and develop skills in cooperation, argumentation, and compromise-seeking. Participants took on the roles of IDP Council members, local activists, council members, etc. They were given tasks, scenarios, and options for action, and their decisions influenced the further development of the game.
People who participated in the forum noted that live communication not only inspires, but also opens up new opportunities.
“Participating in the forum helped me understand that we should not rest on our laurels. On the contrary, we should try new approaches and seek modern solutions. Communicating with participants of such events during coffee breaks, lunches, or simply between sessions has become a source of inspiration for me. I learn about the experiences of other communities, their challenges, and their successes. It is always interesting and useful, as every story is an opportunity to learn something new,” emphasized Ihor Bohdan, head of the IDP Council under the Sartana Settlement Military-Civil Administration.
Additionally, the IDP Councils Portal was presented at the forum. It is an online resource that provides access to educational and methodological materials, legislative updates, subject-related news, and an interactive map with key information about each Council. The platform enhances the visibility of IDP Councils and promotes their development.
This is the first of four inter-regional forums that the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” will hold this year with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The third All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils is scheduled for November. We will continue to help develop the network of IDP Councils and create opportunities for their growth.