November began with a flurry of activity for our Foundation, highlighted by the three-day All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils in Kyiv. However, October was no less busy. Let’s delve into the key results of our work in supporting the capacity of the social protection system.
Equipment Deliveries to Social Protection Institutions
In October, we visited 30 social protection offices and departments, providing them with 76 sets of modern office equipment to improve their workspaces. Targeted communities received laptops, multifunctional print and scan devices, cartridges, Wi-Fi routers, uninterruptible power supplies, surge protector strips, external hard drives, and stationery sets. This new equipment will enhance the working conditions for employees and the quality of social services provided.
Nataliya Skrytska, Head of the Social Protection Department of Andrushivka City Council, where equipment for 3 workplaces, expressed her gratitude: “I want to thank you on behalf of our entire team for the support. This will greatly assist our work, as we receive people daily, make reports, and work in multiple information systems. Although our department’s staff had computers, most were outdated, causing regular disruptions. Additionally, there was a lack of printers and scanners and limited funding for stationery. Having a modern laptop, an uninterruptible power supply, and a hard drive means necessary information is always at hand. We can work even without electricity and don’t worry about data being unsaved or lost. Participating in the project has solved many issues and significantly eased our work.”
Inna Yatsukhnenko, Director of the Social Services Center of Oster City Council, also shared her experience: “We have 1,500 registered IDPs, but the actual number is lower. Unfortunately, not everyone reports leaving the community. Around 300-400 IDPs regularly seek our help, receiving humanitarian aid and social services. The provided equipment will substantially ease our work, allowing us to offer services more quickly and efficiently.” On October 26, our regional team in Chernihivska Oblast transferred two sets of equipment to this institution.
Training and Educational Meetings
We conducted 8 training sessions for social protection institutions on IDP registration and combating professional burnout. For displaced persons and conflict-affected populations, we organized 2 seminars discussing registration opportunities, available social services, and IDP rights protection.
Support in Establishing and Operating IDP Councils
In October, we actively collaborated with IDP Councils in targeted communities nationwide, providing coordination and mentorship support. We held 36 strategic sessions to launch newly established bodies, organized 7 events to engage IDP youth in Council activities, and facilitated 6 meetings to support gender balance in the IDP Councils.
In the Novoyavorivska community, we met with an active community of IDPs interested in establishing an IDP Council. Marharyta Bozhko, a member of the Women Are Changing the World NGO and an IDP, noted: “The city authorities are truly open to IDPs and have done a lot to address pressing issues. But we want to work with a future perspective, as many of us will be here for a long time. We want the ability to make decisions and programs beneficial for all residents and the community. After all, there are families among us whose husbands are servicemen and still serve in the Armed Forces. Our taxes contribute to the community, and they should be used for what we and our children, as well as the community’s children, need. Such a Council is very necessary.”
Legal Consultations
Our lawyers continued to receive numerous requests for legal assistance and were happy to help resolve legal issues. Last month, they provided 1,731 legal consultations: 1,457 to IDPs and affected people and 274 to social workers. The majority of inquiries were related to housing and social payments.
Other key project activities included coordination meetings with heads of social protection departments and other institutions involved in IDP registration, workshops on creating social passports, coordination meetings with partners, and monitoring local housing programs for IDPs.
We will continue to help improve the functioning of the social protection system in target communities across all regions. These initiatives are implemented within the project “Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons,” funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ukraine.
