What challenges do IDPs and host communities face? How can we prepare for the return of people who have fled their homes due to the war? These and other pressing issues were discussed at the interregional forum, “The Social Sphere in Wartime: Regional Experience, Challenges, and Prospects for Social Sector Representatives from the Central Region of Ukraine,” held on August 21 in Vinnytsia.
The event brought together representatives from government, state and local authorities, and civil society involved in providing social services and supporting IDPs from six oblasts: Vinnytska, Zhytomyrska, Kyivska, Sumska, Cherkaska, and Chernihivska.
What was discussed? During the forum, special attention was given to successful practices in organizing social services in wartime within the communities of the central regions. The discussions focused on these key topics:
- The adaptation and resilience of social services amid war and internal displacement;
- Psychosocial support and rehabilitation during wartime;
- Prospects for the development of the social sphere.
Work in the social sphere is, first and foremost, about supporting people who need it now. Representatives from various sectors repeatedly emphasized that these groups, particularly those affected by the war, require special attention today. The basic needs of these individuals must be met wherever the war has forced them to go, whether to a regional center or a remote community.
Liudmyla Shemelynets, First Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, noted, “Behind every report, every program, and every number, there are human destinies. Today, these are primarily our defenders, our veterans, internally displaced persons, the elderly, people with disabilities, parents raising children with disabilities, and children. These are the groups that, above all, need our attention and support.”
Nataliia Baranenko, a Protection Specialist at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Ukraine, emphasized, “Every day, Ukraine’s communities face new challenges related to the war and internal displacement. The burden on the social services system has grown manifold, which is why supporting the social sphere is our shared priority. Through our partnerships with state and local institutions, we strive not only to provide people with necessary assistance but also to create conditions for their dignified integration and the chance to rebuild a full life in their communities.”
Vasyl Lutsyk, Head of the National Social Service of Ukraine, remarked, “We understand this is not just a matter of material aid, but of ensuring full integration into new communities. Our goal is to create conditions where everyone forced to leave their home can receive the necessary support and feel protected. We are actively working to expand the list of social services and improve their delivery mechanisms to meet the daily challenges the war presents.”
Volodymyr Cholan, Representative of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in Vinnytska Oblast, stated, “Protecting human rights, especially in such difficult times, is our highest priority. According to the Commissioner’s 2024 Annual Report, a key challenge in social protection remains ensuring that internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and other recipients have access to basic social services, particularly in remote and rural communities. This highlights the relevance of today’s panel discussions.”
The event allowed the professional community to come together to exchange experience and knowledge and, most importantly, to improve intersectoral communication across the central regions. This will help communities develop new initiatives for the social sphere and prepare for the future challenges of internal displacement.
This is the fourth forum for social sector representatives we have held this year. We are strengthening the social protection system through the Support to the Capacity of Government Institutions and Local Communities to Strengthen Social Protection Systems in Ukraine project, implemented with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.