Our project to support social protection capacity continues. In September, our regional teams held 76 events for specialists from social protection institutions, IDP Councils, and people affected by the war. We would like to share the key results with you.
Support for communities and social protection institutions:
- 4 seminars on social services and social entrepreneurship in Ukraine, collection, processing, storage, and ensuring the protection, confidentiality, and integrity of personal data in the performance of official duties, and the specifics of communication between social protection system employees and vulnerable groups of the population;
- 6 training sessions on counteracting professional burnout;
- 3 training sessions on writing local target programs;
- Monitoring the status of 6 social protection institutions in Donetska Oblast that were relocated to Dnipropetrovska Oblast in terms of the needs of such institutions.
We continue to provide technical support to social protection institutions. In September, we provided communities with charging stations (for eight institutions) and bicycles (for five institutions).
Support for IDP Councils:
- 11 strategic sessions;
- 19 events to coordinate the work of IDP Councils, mentoring support (including participation in IDP Council meetings);
- 8 training sessions and workshops to develop the capacity of IDP Councils (the role of IDP Councils in the process of attracting resources to the community; the influence of IDP Councils on improving support for displaced persons; effective interaction of IDP Councils with authorities: access to public information and citizens’ appeals; new opportunities for communities opened up by Law No. 3703-IX “On People’s Power at the Local Self-Government Level”).
Our regional team in Zaporizka Oblast held one of the strategy sessions for the IDP Council under the executive committee of the Dolyna Village Council.
“After working hard in teams, thanks to skillful organization and leadership, the members of the IDP Council developed strategic and operational plans for its work for 2026-2027. Various formats were used: individual work, small group work, general discussion, SWOT analysis, and brainstorming. The team discussed and clarified all parts and sections of the plan down to the smallest detail. At this event, I learned how small but well-planned and thought-out measures can be used to solve urgent tasks and achieve strategic goals in the work of the IDP Council. I am grateful to the CF SSS team for organizing this event and for their constant professional mentoring support! Such events not only help to determine the direction of work, but also inspire action,” said Olena Kudiienko, Chair of the IDP Council.
Forums of IDP Councils
In September, we organized two interregional IDP Council forums. Representatives of IDP Councils from Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zaporizka, Sumska, Kharkivska, and Chernihivska oblasts participated in the Eastern Ukrainian IDP Council Forum, which took place in Dnipro on September 4–5.
The Central Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils in Vinnytsia (September 25–26) brought together members of IDP Councils from Vinnytska, Zhytomyrska, Kyivska, Kirovohradska, Poltavska, and Cherkaska oblasts.
All these events provided a space for dialogue, partnerships, and the development of solutions that will help enhance the effectiveness of IDP Councils. Civil society organizations and international partners joined in the discussion and search for common solutions.
Legal consultations
During September, our legal team provided 2,021 consultations. In particular, legal support was provided to IDPs, social service providers, representatives of communities, and IDP Councils. 275 people received legal assistance during outreach consultations in remote communities.
We will continue to support the improvement of the social protection system in target communities. All these initiatives are being implemented thanks to the Support to the Capacity of Government Institutions and Local Communities To Strengthen Social Protection Systems in Ukraine project, which is being implemented with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.