Our Foundation’s efforts are actively gaining momentum: we are launching new projects, getting to know new communities, and taking on new challenges. Today, we are sharing the main results of the work of the project team to support the social protection system in February.
26 coordination meetings with the management of social protection institutions
Throughout the month, we visited our community partners to familiarize them with the results of the 2023 project, present goals for this year, and discuss opportunities for cooperation. One of these events took place in Odeska Oblast. Maria Verbytska, regional coordinator of the project in Odeska Oblast, met with Tetiana Dementyeva, director of the Department of Social and Family Policy in Odesa.
“We agreed to cooperate on training social sector professionals because there is a demand. In particular, we are planning an event to raise awareness of the importance of social passports, as not all communities understand their utility. We also identified potential communities whose social protection institutions most need help in updating their workplaces. In addition, we discussed the issue of social housing for IDPs. Ms. Tetiana shared that the Tayirovska community wants to implement such programs. Our team will study the situation to understand what the community has now and how we can be useful to them,” said Mariya.
20 events for coordination and mentoring support of initiative groups and newly established IDP Councils
IDP Councils are the voices of IDPs in communities, so we actively support their development and tell them about the role of this body and its competencies. In particular, how the Councils can strengthen the capacity of communities. During the meetings, we emphasized the importance of analyzing and monitoring policies to protect the rights of IDPs in the places where they currently reside.
We also conducted 29 consultations for members of IDP Councils. Most often, our teams provided recommendations on developing a strategic plan, organizing the work of IDP Councils, and operational planning.
14 training sessions for IDPs, affected people, and employees of social protection institutions
We keep you informed about changes in the legislation on internal displacement, compensation for damaged or lost housing, and other pressing social issues. Among the most relevant topics of the seminars is the update of the procedure for providing assistance to IDPs. One of these training sessions was held for internally displaced persons living in a CC (collective center) in dormitory No. 7 in Kharkiv.
“The seminar was held in a warm atmosphere, we saw the interest of the participants in being informed about changes in the regulations for receiving housing allowance for IDPs. Attendees actively asked about the allocation of assistance to families with children, students, and pensioners. Despite the active communication of the social protection authorities of the Ministry of Social Policy and the Social Protection Department of the Kharkivska Oblast Military Administration, the participants were grateful for the live communication and expert explanation of new challenges in assigning benefits. There is a great need to continue to hold such meetings,” says Svitlana Ludan, regional project coordinator in Kharkivska Oblast.
2,064 legal consultations
In February, we provided legal advice to 1,666 internally displaced persons and affected people, as well as 398 employees of social protection institutions. Most often, they needed legal support on living allowance and housing issues.
We will continue to help improve the functioning of the social protection system in the target communities. We are implementing these initiatives within the framework of the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project funded by the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
