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Increasing the activity of IDPs through financing micro initiatives

Implemented by: regional office of the ACF «Right to Protection» in Ivano-Frankivsk

Overview:

Within the framework of the project «Advocacy, Protection and Legal Assistance to the Internally Displaced Population of Ukraine» (in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council and UNHCR), there have been 11 initiatives supported in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. They all were aimed at integrating IDPs to the host com-

munity and reducing the negative effects related to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and forced displacement. Project proposals could have been submitted by representatives of initiative groups or NGOs, with at least 3 IDPs as members. Preference was given to initiatives that attracted participation of both IDPs and the local residents. In total, all the related events were attended by about 1,000 people.

Operating procedures:

  1. Dissemination of information about the project during the monitoring visits.
  2. Assistance to applicants in the writing stages of their project proposals.
  3. An independent selection procedure of initiatives by the employees of the head office of the Danish Refugee Council in Dnepropetrovsk.
  4. Ensuring equal access and opportunities to all during the final selection of the final participants.
  5. Implementation of the approved projects.
  6. Monitoring and assessment of all events linked to the selected projects.
  7. Focus group meeting (8-10 events’ participants) indentifying efficiency of the initiatives and the achieved results.

Impact:

Through this, opportunities have been created for dialogue and networking between the IDPs and the host community. The participants easily struck up new friendships. Some initiatives were continued even after the funding. For instance, due to skills learned in creative workshops, a group of internally displaced women decided to continue making toys for their families. Social eco-posters, that have been created by children, were presented to the local authorities with a suggestion to place them in public space. 3 initiatives from the young “agents of change”, who have been trained, were additionally supported by international donors.

Moreover, a forum-theater school of gave a performance in the local anti-cafe and launched this way a number of similar initiatives in Ivano-Frankivsk.