In 2023, together with our partners, we worked on a number of initiatives to promote the creation and development of IDP Councils across Ukraine. Here are our key achievements so far.
What are IDP Councils?
IDP councils are consultative and advisory bodies established in different regions or communities for representatives of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The main purpose of these Councils is to ensure the participation and representation of IDPs in host communities and facilitate their adaptation and integration into their new places of residence.
Depending on specific needs and context, IDP Councils can be established at different levels, including city, raion, or oblast levels. These bodies can interact with local authorities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to develop and implement programs and initiatives to improve conditions for and support internally displaced persons.
Main functions of IDP Councils
- Development of support programs. Together with government officials and civil society organizations, IDP Councils initiate and participate in the development of support programs for those who have lost their homes due to the war.
- Support for local communities. IDP Councils help local authorities and communities better understand the needs of IDPs by providing information and advice on how to overcome the most pressing problems, such as lack of housing and employment.
- Support for IDPs. IDP Councils help IDPs fulfill their potential in host communities and integrate and interact with local institutions.
What kinds of support do IDP Councils need?
Each community that hosts IDPs can establish an IDP Council. This improves the interaction between new residents and the community, as the Council is an effective body for both parties.
First of all, the IDP Council should outline its capacities, set basic priorities, and define performance criteria.
For this purpose, IDP Councils are provided with strategic tools. Based on a dedicated methodology, members of each Council are asked to set aside a specific day to discuss key priorities and opportunities according to the conditions and context of the community, raion, or oblast. IDPs receive unique drafts of strategic and operational plans from the Council’s specialists. They can be used as a template and finalized to meet their specific needs.
Support to IDP Councils within the framework of the United Voices in Action program
The international organization IREX, together with the Ukrainian charitable foundation Stabilization Support Services and with the support of the U.S. Department of State, is implementing the United Voices in Action program, which aims to support and develop IDP Councils across Ukraine.
Number of IDP Councils
With the support of the United Voices in Action program, 25 such advisory bodies have already been established in various regions of Ukraine at the city and raion levels. Oblast Councils also receive support. Another 2 communities (in Lutsk and Lviv) already have initiative groups and are moving towards the establishment of IDP Councils.
The experts of the United Voices in Action program are also actively involved in the establishment of IDP Councils under oblast military administrations, offering methodological and institutional support.
Strategic planning sessions
Strategic planning sessions are also organized for the newly established advisory bodies using a methodology developed by the program specifically for IDP Councils with the help of professional facilitators. Such events help the Councils plan their future activities and identify priority areas of work. With the support of the United Voices in Action program, 29 such sessions have already been held for 515 members of IDP Councils, including 8 at the oblast level.
Constituent documents
More than 10 types of constituent documents for IDP Councils have been developed, including sample regulations on IDP Councils and draft resolutions of local councils and administrations on the establishment of IDP Councils.
Information campaigns
- In cooperation with the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, we developed and regularly updated methodological materials on ensuring the rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons and civilians affected by the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine (12 sections). The information campaign, which was held across the country, reached more than 3,693,594 unique users.
- 193 local legal regulations aimed at providing assistance and social services in 25 communities were analyzed. 14 regional presentations of the study of local policies were held for 149 participants, including 42 IDPs.
- We developed 31 infographics on socially important and relevant topics, including internal displacement, payments, and the activities of IDP Сouncils.
- A cartoon explainer, “What Are IDP Councils?” was created and reached 261,143 YouTube users. This is a tool for introducing the concept and capacities of IDP Councils, which motivates people to learn more about the prospects for supporting the integration of internally displaced persons into communities.
- A special project, “Local Democracy Tool. What are IDP Councils and How Do They Help IDPs Integrate into Host Communities?” was published. Key statistics of the publication: banner reach amoutned to 74.1 million users and 7,404 unique views on the website. The post on NV’s telegram channel received 10.7 thousand views.
- The Forum Theater method was used to discuss topical issues of integration of IDP children into the host community. 2 workshops and 15 regional Forum Theater performances were held to discuss ways to help IDP families with children.
1,224 people, including 426 IDPs, attended IDP Council forums in 15 oblasts of Ukraine, where they:
- discussed the benefits and role of IDP Councils as a powerful tool for IDP integration;
- created coordination platforms between IDPs at the regional level;
- worked on a common vision of deep integration and creating comfortable conditions for IDP adaptation through cooperation with the authorities, local self-government bodies, businesses, and local and displaced civil society institutions.
Support for IDP Councils in cooperation with NRC
With the assistance of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the financial support of the European Union in 2023:
- 9 workshops were held for 136 participants,
- 16 information materials on socially important topics were developed for IDP Councils,
- 15 recommendations for regional policies and programs were developed.
Strengthening the activities of IDP Councils within the framework of the “Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons” project
This project has been implemented since 2022 by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with funding from the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. Cooperation with UNHCR has allowed us to actively support the initiatives of IDP Councils at the local and regional levels. In particular, we have funded and organized educational seminars, workshops, and events to improve the skills of Council members.
Number of IDP Councils established in 2023
Over the course of the year, 105 IDP Councils were established within the project in 21 oblasts of Ukraine. Among them:
- 6 IDP Councils at the oblast level;
- 3 IDP Councils at the raion level;
- 96 IDP Councils in the communities (city and village levels).
Educational activities for IDP Councils in 2023
Throughout the year, the project’s regional experts – coordinators and lawyers – conducted educational events to strengthen the capacity of IDP Councils across the country. We provided them with mentoring support and helped them implement new methodologies to improve the work of the Councils and initiative groups. In particular, this year, we held the following events:
- Coordination activities for IDP Councils: 24 events were held in 24 oblasts with 721 participants.
- Coordination and mentoring support for initiative groups and newly established IDP Councils: 109 events with 1,341 participants.
- Supporting the involvement of IDP youth in the activities of IDP Councils: 79 events were held with 1,354 participants.
- Supporting gender mainstreaming in IDP Councils: 79 events were held with 1,101 participants.
- Strategic sessions for IDP Councils: 84 Strategic Sessions were held (reaching 1,435 people), which resulted in the preparation of 84 Strategic Plans for IDP Councils for 2024-2025. Particularly, Strategic Sessions were held for 9 oblast IDP Councils (Vinnytska Oblast Military Administration, Dnipropetrovska OMA, Zaporizka OMA, Ivano-Frankivska OMA, Poltavska OMA, Sumska OMA, Cherkaska OMA, Chernivetska OMA, Chernihivska OMA).
Forums of IDP Councils for members of the Councils and the expert community
Within the framework of the project, we held 3 interregional and 1 All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils, which was joined by representatives of IDP Councils and local authorities, Ukrainian and international experts, human rights activists, representatives of the civil society and charitable organizations.
- Forum of IDP Councils of Eastern Oblasts of Ukraine “Changing Ukraine” (Poltavska, Sumska, Kharkivska and Luhanska oblasts), August 17-18, 2023, 131 participants.
- Forum of IDP Councils of Eastern Oblasts of Ukraine “Changing Ukraine” (Dnipropetrovska, Donetska, Zaporizka and Khersonska oblasts), September 6-7, 2023, 104 participants – video from the Forum.
- Interregional Forum of IDP Councils “Changing Ukraine” (Volynska, Ivano-Frankivska, Lvivska, Rivnenska, Ternopilska and Chernivetska oblasts), October 20-21, 2023, 121 participants.
- All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils, November 1-3, 2023, 428 participants – video from the Forum.
The All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils was the first event of its kind for the Councils. The Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” organized the three-day event in partnership with the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories and with the support of the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine and the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX).
The Forum was opened by Iryna Vereshchuk, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine. She thanked the regional authorities, international partners, the civil society sector, and those who work in the field and understand what IDPs need.
First results of the Forum
One of the results we have already achieved is the involvement of the heads of IDP Councils from all oblasts and the city of Kyiv in the specialized Coordination Headquarters under the Office of Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. They are already involved in discussing issues related to overcoming the consequences of hostilities on a weekly basis. A map of IDP Councils was also presented at the Forum, which will allow other people to find their local IDP Councils and contact them quickly.
As a result of the Forum, a vision of the changes that need to be made to Resolution No. 812 (Model Regulation on the Council on IDPs) and other existing regulations was developed. These proposals are currently being finalized and will be discussed later.
Information campaigns about IDP Councils
As part of the project, we produced 3 videos about the achievements and challenges of the Councils from three Ukrainian cities:
- Zaporizhzhia: the history of the Advisory Council of IDPs under the Zaporizhzhia City Mayor and the IDP Council under the Zaporizka Oblast Military Administration.
- Khmelnytskyi: the story of the Coordination Council for Internally Displaced Persons under the mayor of Khmelnytsky.
- Myrhorod (Poltavska oblast): History of the Council for Internally Displaced Persons under the Executive Committee of the Myrhorod City Council.
We also developed Ukrainian and English-language booklets on the activities of IDP Councils, which describe in detail the purpose of IDP Councils, show the dynamics of the Councils’ network in 2023, and outline future plans to support the Councils next year.
Plans to support IDP Councils in 2024*.
Next year, we plan to focus on conducting strategic sessions and workshops for members of IDP Councils. In addition to educational events, the plans include:
- Establishment of the National Coordination Platform of IDP Councils: holding regional, interregional, and national forums, networking, and exchange of experience;
- Mapping of IDP Councils, dissemination of information materials about and for members of IDP Councils, creation of a web portal for IDP Councils;
- Developing training programs and mentoring support for members of IDP Councils;
- Regular support for the activities of IDP Councils (coordination meetings, expert discussions, strategic sessions, assessment of capacity and development opportunities);
- The legal framework and its further development.
* We will support the activities of those Councils that will be included in the support projects in 2024.
The main strategic goal of our Foundation is to create opportunities for the development and strengthening of IDP Councils in 2024 across the country.
We are also open to cooperation with other organizations and partners to ensure that we fully support IDP Councils and their initiatives. If you would like to learn more or participate in our programs, please reach out to us using the contact information below:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://sss.devprove.com/
- IDP Councils page: Facebook
- The Foundation’s pages on social networks: