Despite Challenges: How Relocated Communities Can Secure Funding. Discussion Highlights (Part 2)

Publication date: February 24, 2025

Author: Yuliia Bilyk, Communications Manager at the Legal Development Network

During the open discussion “Preserving the Identity of Relocated Communities: How to Feel at Home While Being Away and Why It Matters,” held on January 28, 2025, by the Legal Development Network in cooperation with the NGO STEP, representatives of several professional associations shared insights on initiatives aimed at supporting displaced communities and the available mechanisms for securing external resources. This article will explore these opportunities further.

Opportunities for Relocated Communities

Despite the temporary suspension of funding for material and technical assistance programs by USAID, communities still have access to resources for implementing important development initiatives, particularly from organizations funded by the European Union. This was highlighted by Oleksandr Svystun, Head of the Association of Unconquered Communities.

“The European Union’s recovery support program for Ukraine is already operational. A portion of the funds allocated under this program is being utilized through the civil society sector. This presents significant opportunities for representatives of non-governmental organizations to collaborate with local self-government bodies from temporarily occupied territories,” noted Oleksandr Svystun.

The Association of Unconquered Communities is consolidating efforts to address urgent challenges faced by relocated local self-government bodies. One of the key areas of cooperation with the Association’s members is project management training for representatives of local authorities.

“We are working to help communities develop project ideas, navigate the complex process of project development, and, most importantly, secure funding from external sources to bring these ideas to life. We plan to continue this work throughout the year. We have already reached agreements with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation to conduct training events,” said Oleksandr Svystun.

The Head of the Association emphasized that every community must have a strategic development plan, as this will facilitate coordinated territorial recovery in the future. Moreover, having such plans necessitates actively seeking additional funding opportunities. Therefore, building partnerships—both internationally and nationally, at the municipal and community levels—is of critical importance.

Oleksandr Svystun also underscored the significance of communication. In response, the Association of Unconquered Communities has established a media center that will serve as the voice of communities and a platform for discussion.

“One of the most pressing challenges we need to address today is demographics. We must work to bring people back and maintain connections with Ukrainians who remain in temporarily occupied territories. This aspect is crucial for the functioning of relocated communities,” stressed Oleksandr Svystun.

Currently, the Association has launched a grant competition for media organizations to implement projects related to temporarily occupied and frontline areas. Future plans include grant competitions directly for communities.

“Please participate, win, and attract funding,” urged Oleksandr Svystun, addressing representatives of relocated communities.

The Regional Development Agency is actively cooperating with local self-government bodies that have relocated to Zaporizhzhia. The Director, Askad Ashurbekov, highlighted the wide range of grant programs available for displaced individuals, including those offered by the Agency itself.

“In 2025, we plan to implement projects aimed at supporting communication among displaced individuals based in Zaporizhzhia region, at a minimum, and later—across the southeastern regions,” said Askad Ashurbekov.

The Director of the Regional Development Agency in Zaporizhzhia region highlighted the issue of insufficient understanding of the socio-demographic profile of displaced individuals. He cited research data from Zaporizhzhia as an example.

“We have recorded over 200,000 internally displaced persons. However, representatives of 43 relocated municipalities have access to only a small fraction of them. Some communities are more active and have broader coverage, but a significant number of displaced individuals remain beyond our reach. We know that there is a large segment of individuals with specific needs, yet we lack direct access to them. It may sound pragmatic, but whether relocated municipalities survive as governing bodies will depend on whether they maintain real connections with their displaced residents,” noted Askad Ashurbekov.

He believes that establishing clear communication channels will enable relocated communities to offer meaningful proposals to international partners and collaborate effectively. However, displaced communities must act decisively, as they face a counteracting force — host communities that seek to integrate displaced individuals into their local structures.

“This counteracting force is quite strong. Every host municipality is focused on integrating displaced individuals and separating them from their original communities. In reality, there is competition between communities—including for individuals,” observed Askad Ashurbekov.

According to the Director of the Regional Development Agency, 2025 will be a promising year for relocated communities to develop local civic initiatives, establish organizations, and create communication platforms for discussing ideas and exchanging perspectives among themselves, with host municipalities, and with partners.

The Executive Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Branch of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, Yurii Stefanchuk, emphasized that all territorial communities are currently engaged in work with internally displaced individuals (IDIs). This includes integrating displaced individuals into host communities, as mentioned by the Mayor of Kalush. However, in his view, every individual independently shapes their perception of belonging within the community they reside in.

Using Ivano-Frankivsk region as an example, Yurii Stefanchuk noted that most communities in the region have established IDI councils. These councils develop strategic documents and programs that allocate funding for various initiatives. Today, territorial communities are revising their strategies to incorporate a focus on engaging residents who are willing to contribute to community development.

A key factor in shaping a shared vision of local democracy, according to Yurii Stefanchuk, is the Law on Popular Sovereignty at the Local Self-Government Level. This law, which came into force on January 08, 2025, regulates the initiation, implementation, and application of local democracy mechanisms through municipal charters or specific decisions by local councils.

“Today, the position of local democracy is reflected in public participation in decision-making. Therefore, distinguishing between local residents and internally displaced individuals, in my opinion, does not address their real issues and does not contribute to finding solutions. On the contrary, when individuals feel like full-fledged residents, they can rightfully access all community services,” he emphasized.

According to Yurii Stefanchuk, the extensive range of challenges faced by displaced individuals — housing, employment, social support — cannot be resolved solely by territorial communities.

“National cohesion and unity should reinforce the capacity to address these challenges. A fundamental question arises for both territorial communities and the general public: at what point does a relocated individual cease to be considered internally displaced? Territorial communities act as litmus tests for how well the civic sector perceives and influences decision-making. When the civic sector plays an active role, territorial communities reflect the demands of society,” he stressed.

According to him, the wide range of challenges faced by displaced individuals — such as housing, employment, and social assistance — cannot be addressed solely by territorial communities.

Contrary to the statement of the Director of the Regional Development Agency of Zaporizhzhia Region, Yurii Stefanchuk emphasized that both relocated and host communities are actively working to resolve the issues of displaced communities. Moreover, host communities serve as allies to relocated communities and should in no way be considered competitors.

From Discussion to Action

Summarizing the discussion, Olha Nastina, the Executive Director of the Legal Development Network, stated:

“The information we gather together with our member organization, ‘STEP,’ and our experts during a series of closed and open discussions will be instrumental in implementing practical steps to support relocated communities. I am particularly pleased that today we are discussing communication platforms, as both the messages and narratives promoted through such platforms provide individuals with support and reinforce the belief that their issues will be heard alongside other social, demographic, and humanitarian challenges facing society.”

Olha Nastina urged the discussion participants to stay connected in order to jointly plan and implement initiatives in the near future aimed at the development, support, and preservation of the identity of displaced communities.

Related materials:

• LDN and STEP: Exploring Opportunities for Developing the Potential of Relocated Communities in Zaporizhzhia
• Finding One’s Place in the Sun: Life Challenges of Relocated Communities — Summary of the Closed Discussion
• Occupied, Host, and Liberated Communities: Current Challenges and Experience
• Identity of Relocated Communities: Challenges and Ways of Preservation. Discussion Highlights (Part 1)

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