The Western Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils was held on October 9–10 in Lviv, bringing together representatives of Councils from eight oblasts, government officials, international partners, and experts. Over two days, participants explored a rich program featuring panel discussions, workshops, an open platform, and a quest. The Forum highlighted both success stories from various regions and common challenges that Councils across the country are working to address. The event served as a platform for strengthening connections, sharing practical experience, and shaping a common vision for the development of IDP Councils in the coming years.
“Every IDP Council in Ukraine tells a story of people who refused to be defined by displacement. Instead, they chose to define their role in rebuilding their communities and their country. Here in western Ukraine, where the focus has shifted from emergency response to long-term solutions, IDP Councils embody the spirit of participation, solidarity, and shared responsibility. They remind us that durable solutions are not imposed from above — they grow from within communities that listen, include, and build a future together,” says Christine Elizabeth Matthews, UNHCR Deputy Representative in Ukraine.
“The Western Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils is a space where we share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and seek effective solutions. IDP Councils are powerful institutions that allow authorities to hear challenges firsthand and amplify the voices of internally displaced people,” emphasized Lesia Nashora, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Lviv Oblast Military Administration.
“Most IDP Councils have become a unique example of how the persistence, ambition, and daily dedicated work of people can create systemic change. But true success is always shared — it arises only when there is joint work between the IDP Council and the body under which it was created. Where this interaction exists, the Councils demonstrate extraordinary results, and at the same time, it testifies to the strength and effectiveness of the government body itself. Today, during the Forum, I want to call on all representatives of IDP Councils to exchange experiences and contacts. Such meetings are important not only for professional development but also for supporting one another,” said Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services.”
“At the legislative level, we are laying the foundation for the sustainable development of interaction between displaced persons, communities, and authorities. The new version of the law on the rights of IDPs provides for the creation of consultative and advisory bodies on the protection of IDP rights, and their recommendations will be mandatory for consideration by public authorities. We are also considering mechanisms and potential opportunities for creating IDP associations at the national level with representative participation of displaced persons. This will significantly strengthen the role of the Councils and make decision-making more systemic,” said Pavlo Frolov, Head of the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Protection of IDP Rights, during his welcome speech.
There was a particular emphasis at the event on how IDP Councils can genuinely influence decision-making in communities. The first panel discussion was dedicated to successful advocacy campaigns and interaction with local authorities.
One practical example of successful interaction between communities and IDPs was the initiative of the Rivne community — the introduction of a tax refund mechanism. This mechanism allows for the support of internally displaced people and stimulates official employment.
“The tax refund mechanism is a good example of how a community can support IDPs not only socially but also economically. Thanks to this program, officially employed IDPs get a part of the personal income tax paid to the city community budget refunded, which is 64%. IDPs registered in the Rivne city community can take advantage of this opportunity. It is an effective mechanism to support people who have already integrated into the community and are working for its development,” noted Tetiana Horbatiuk, a member of the IDP Council under the executive committee of the Rivne City Council and Deputy Director of the Department–Head of the State Social Programs Directorate.
The second discussion panel focused on housing and social service accessibility for IDPs, the challenges associated with them, and how IDP Councils can cope with them. Council representatives shared how their work helps shape local policies in the areas of settlement.
“Thanks to the activity of the IDP Council and the systemic support of the Charity Foundation ‘Stabilization Support Services,’ we managed to develop a regulation on temporary residence for displaced persons and persuade the local authorities to adopt this decision. We are now working on establishing a process for transferring premises from non-residential to residential stock. We would also like vacant buildings to be handed over for housing for internally displaced people. It is important for our Council and community that they feel at home here,” said Oleh Shvartskop, a member of the IDP Council under the executive committee of the Rozhyshche City Council, Volynska Oblast.
To promote a better understanding of decision-making processes at the local level, forum participants took part in a quest titled “How an IDP Council Can Support Displaced Persons.” Through the game, they worked with various scenarios that simulated real situations in communities, learning to reach compromises and justify their viewpoints.
During the Forum, participants from IDP Councils learned about a new digital platform, the IDP Councils Portal. The portal provides unique opportunities for Councils: each has its own page where it can publish not only contact details but also information about the Council’s composition, announcements, minutes of meetings, successful practices for resolving IDP issues, and more. Information for publication can be sent to the Portal’s email address: [email protected].
On October 22–23, the interregional Southern Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils will be held in Odesa. And in November, the III All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils will take place in Kyiv.
Events for IDP Councils are conducted by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the support of the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. We will continue to help develop the network of IDP Councils and create opportunities for their growth.