Given the success and effectiveness of the first wave of the Experience Sharing Network “Development of Programmes for the Integration of IDPs into the Municipalities”, U-LEAD continues to work with municipalities in this direction. The capacity of the second wave of the Network was presented during a promotional event at the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in the Chernivtsi oblast. The event was attended by more than 200 municipal officials from all over Ukraine.
The Experience Sharing Network (Support Programme) “Development of Programmes for the Integration of IDPs into the Municipalities” offers, with expert support, to learn the main approaches and methodology of developing the IDP Integration Programmes, analyse the components of Programmes to successfully integrate IDPs, develop the skills of building relations and coordinating efforts of all stakeholders, and, most importantly, develop an IDP Integration Programme that would take into account the needs of the municipality.
What kind of document is the IDP Integration Programme and why is it really important to move from “dousing fires” in the context of work with IDPs — covering their basic needs — to a more strategic approach, with the prospects of their integration into the local environment?
"The first reason is that there is now an extensive presence of donor and international organisations in Ukraine that focus on the issues of recovery, creation and development of infrastructure for IDPs. What does the municipality need to have in order to work with such projects? This is the basic project documentation and a strategic document that informs work with IDPs,” Tetiana Tatarchuk, Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in the Chernivtsi oblast, said during the event.
According to her, the first wave of the Network — 23 municipalities that cooperated with U-LEAD on developing integration programs — has already shown results, as they reach out to donors and attract international aid to their territories.
The second reason for developing this document is that IDPs potentially are a very powerful factor in municipal development. According to Tetiana Tatarchuk, people came and set up businesses, giving a boost to the local economic environment — such practices exist in Ukraine, and we should implement them in our work.
“That’s why the U-LEAD Programme is launching the second wave of the Network. It will allow the participants to exchange experience in issues of IDP integration as well as to develop an IDP Integration Programme together with experts. Ultimately, we will have not only a programme, but also a plan for its implementation prepared.”
What will local self-government officials get as part of the Support Programme?
- Analysis of systemic problems that arose in connection with large-scale internal displacement;
- Assessment of the needs of IDPs that will be the basis for the budget allocations and the design of specific support projects;
- Development of an operational action plan to give the local self-government body a vision of practical steps to achieve the intended goals.
This will allow the local self-government bodies to prepare the Programme for the Integration of IDPs into the Municipality, which will increase the effectiveness of the efforts in relation to internally displaced persons.
How long will the Network run?
From June to October 2023. The Network is 20-week long.
Who can join the Network?
We invite the municipalities of Ukraine that accepted and accept internally displaced persons. Motivated municipal teams will be selected through an open competition and consist of two people (local self-government official who is a deputy head of the municipality/head of the relevant executive body/professional responsible for organising work with IDPs).
How to join?
To participate in the selection, fill out the attached application and send it to regops.u-lead@giz.de by 06:00 p.m. on 12 June 2023, specifying the “municipality name and region” in the subject of the email.