We continue our support for the social protection system. For this purpose, we are constantly taking measures to help employees of the relevant institutions improve the quality of social services provided and make them more accessible to IDPs across the country.
Below is a brief report on our key achievements in September.
Equipment Handover for Workspace Setup
Such meetings were a primary focus of our work last month. We handed over equipment and office supplies to social protection institutions for the setup of 187 workstations. Target communities in 19 oblasts received laptops, multifunctional printing and scanning devices, cartridges, Wi-Fi routers, uninterruptible power supplies, surge protector strips, and external hard drives.
“Today, Nataliya Salimova handed over office equipment and supplies from the UN Refugee Agency to our department. Specifically, we received laptops that are compact, enabling our staff to be mobile since they can be taken to remote workplaces. Most importantly, they can be operated without being connected to the power grid. Modern equipment facilitates the rapid exchange of information. Such assistance will expedite the process of processing documents for the appointment of various types of state social assistance and the issuance of IDP certificates,” shares Nataliya Biletska, head of the social protection department of Popelnaste Village Council (Kirovohradska Oblast).
Training for Social Protection Institutions
In September, we organized 4 training sessions for social protection system workers, focusing on the prevention of professional burnout. The events took place in Vinnytska, Zakarpatska, Ivano-Frankivska, and Chernivetska oblasts. We also conducted 7 seminars on topics related to the registration and protection of IDPs.
We presented the anti-discrimination game Being a Woman to representatives of the civil society, social protection sphere, and IDPs. The purpose of the game is to draw attention to the need to combat gender stereotypes and discrimination against women.
Seminars for Displaced and Affected Individuals
For those displaced and affected by the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, we held 4 educational meetings, discussing registration opportunities, available social services, and IDP rights protection.
Support in Establishing and Operating IDP Councils
On September 6-7, we hosted the second Eastern Ukrainian IDP Council Forum in Dnipro. Representatives of IDP Councils, authorities of Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Donetska, and Khersonska oblasts, and charitable and human rights organizations attended the event. The main topic of discussion was the challenges of internal displacement in the regions and the search for long-term solutions for the integration of IDPs into host communities.
At the local level, we provided mentorship support to initiative groups for the establishment of IDP Councils as well as the newly formed Councils, holding 5 coordination meetings. For new Councils, we organized 9 strategic sessions where their members learned about the principles and methods of strategic planning, from SWOT analysis to risk management.
One of the strategic sessions took place in the Zolochiv community in Lvivska Oblast. Participants identified priority areas of activity in the fields of IDP employment in the community, culture, ecology, integration, housing and communal services, and began developing a strategic work plan for 2024–2025.
Maryna Baibara, a member of the Council and an IDP, shares: “Employment is crucial for many displaced people at the moment. The city’s job market does offer vacancies, but the pay is low and insufficient to meet family needs. Another issue is that employers are hesitant to hire IDPs. Hence, it is essential to empower people to realize their potential, which can be achieved through social projects. I suggest that we focus more on this area.”
Yuriy Sydorovych, another IDP Council member, adds, “I believe the cultural aspect is an important focus. We have a wealth to share and, in turn, enrich each other. Sports should be accessible to everyone, from children to the elderly, especially since we have suitable basic facilities available.”
We also conducted 8 events aimed at inspiring active youth among IDPs to join the Council’s work and 7 meetings to support the gender approach in the activities of these advisory bodies.
Legal Consultations
In September, the project’s lawyers provided 2,191 legal consultations: 1,807 for displaced and affected individuals and 384 for social workers. The most common topics addressed were housing issues, living allowance, and children’s rights.
We will continue our efforts to improve the operation of the social protection system in targeted communities across all regions. These initiatives are being carried out within the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project, funded by the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
