IDPs Integration Criteria and Indicators Results of the Consultation Meetings with IDPs, their Host Vulnerable Communities, and Key Stakeholders in Ukraine 2021 IDPs Integration Criteria and Indicators Results of the Consultation Meetings with IDPs, their Host Vulnerable Communities, and Key Stakeholders in Ukraine IDPs Integration Criteria and Indicators. Results of the Consultation Meetings with IDPs, their Vulnerable Host Communities, and Key Stakeholders in Ukraine – Kyiv, Ukraine; Danish Refugee Council Ukraine, 2021. – 48 p. This report is produced for the project 'IDPs Integration Support Initiative in Ukraine' thanks to the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within USAID Democratic Governance East Activity. The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Photo Credits: Pages 9, 11, 13, 15, 27, 33 – © DRC, Oleksandr Ratushniak Page 35 – © Afina Haya For more information, please, contact Danish Refugee Council: 47 Volodymyrska Street, Kyiv, Ukraine, 01001 E-mail: [email protected] Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations . .7 Acknowledgments . 9 Introduction . .11 Executive Summary . .13 Methodology . .15 Findings from the Key Informant Interviews with State and Non-State Actors . 17 Common definition of ‘integration’. Perceptions and expectations for integration initiatives . 17 ‘Unpacking criteria’: operationalisation of the MRTOT’s criteria . 18 Stakeholders’ needs in IDP-related data . 24 Attitude to possible methodological approaches to data collection . 25 Findings from Focus Group Discussions with IDPs and Their Vulnerable Host Communities in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts . 27 Definition of IDPs Integration . 27 Problems and barriers of IDPs by criteria . 28 Main discussion points on possible methodological approach to data collection for measurement of IDPs integration . 31 Conclusions . .33 Recommendations on the Draft ‘Criteria for Assessment of the Integration of IDPs into the Host Territorial Communities’ . 35 Appendix 1: IDPs in Ukraine: Situation Overview . 41 Appendix 2: List of Key Informant Interviews . .43 Appendix 3: List of Focus Group Discussions . .45 7 Acronyms and Abbreviations CATI computer-assisted telephone interviews CSO civil society organisation DG East Democratic Governance East Activity DRC Danish Refugee Council ECHO European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations FGD focus group discussion GCA Government controlled areas IDP internally displaced person IOM International Organization for Migration KI key informant KII key informant interview MoSP Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine MRTOT Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine NGCA non-Government controlled areas NRC Norwegian Refugee Council OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights UAH Ukrainian Hryvnia UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund USAID United States Agency for International Development 9 Acknowledgments Danish Refugee Council would like to express its special appreciation and gratitude to all the representatives of the state national, regional and local authorities, as well as oth- er organisations, including UN agencies, international organisations and national civil society organisations focused on IDPs issues, for their valuable contribution provided for this report during the consultation meetings. Special thanks are due to internally displaced persons and representatives of host communities from Volnovakha, Sloviansk, Sievierodonetsk and Starobilsk, who took part in focus group discussions and have being involved in testing the criteria and indicators. Finally, the development of this report was not be possible without the thorough consultations and guidance provided by Joint IDP Profiling Service (JIPS). 11 Introduction In 2017, the Government of Ukraine declared its in- drafted the ‘Criteria for assessment of IDPs integra- tention to monitor the situation with internally dis- tion into the host territorial communities’. The doc- placed persons (IDPs) on a regular basis. The IDPs ument outlined ten criteria for assessing IDPs inte- Integration Strategy 2017–20201 and the Action Plan gration into the host territorial communities and 2018–20202 had the strategic objective to implement defined approaches to collecting, processing and the annual monitoring of IDPs integration into host analysing the data. Despite the overall clarity of the territorial communities and their needs (IDPs Inte- document, many questions and ambiguous points gration Monitoring). However, the intentions to im- remain to be clarified regarding the measurability plement the monitoring system have not been ma- of the defined criteria, specific indicators and data terialised through the implementation of the IDPs sources that would inform criteria, as well as the Integration Strategy 2020. The plans to launch the materialisation of the monitoring itself. Moreover, IDPs Integration Monitoring have been reiterated in considering that the document was developed solely the draft of the IDPs Integration Strategy 20233. by the MRTOT, the criteria and indicators ought to have been consulted with all stakeholders, includ- So far, IDPs’ needs and their integration into host ing state and non-state institutions, as well as IDPs communities have been monitored by the interna- themselves and the representatives of their vulner- tional organisations: the National Monitoring Sys- able host communities. tem of the Situation with IDPs4 implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), The objective of this study was to capture and con- and the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment5 imple- textualise the common definition of IDPs integra- mented by REACH Initiative. However, the state au- tion and identify perceptions and expectations of thorities do not collect any information about IDPs’ key stakeholders and ultimate beneficiaries for the needs or integration on a regular basis. integration initiatives. The draft ‘Criteria for assess- ment of IDPs integration into the host territorial In 2020, following the responsibilities defined in the communities’ was used as a basis for the consulta- Action Plan 2018–2020, the Ministry for Reintegra- tion meetings. In particular, the study helped op- tion of Temporarily Occupied Territories (MRTOT) erationalize the criteria, define specific indicators 1 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 909-р-2017 ‘National Strategy of Integration of Internally Displaced Persons and Implementation of Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement until 2020’ – URL: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/909- 2017-%D1%80#Text (in Ukrainian) 2 Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine №944-р-2018 ‘Action Plan for Implementation of the Strategy of Integration of Internally Displaced Persons and Implementation of Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement until 2020’ – URL: https:// zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/944-2018-%D1%80#Text (in Ukrainian) 3 The draft of the National IDPs Integration Strategy 2021–2023 as of the end of October 2020 – URL: https://mtot.gov.ua/30102020- minreintegraciii-povidomljae-pro-provedennja-elektronnih-konsultaci (in Ukrainian) 4 The National Monitoring System Reports on the Situation of IDPs in Ukraine: Round 1 – 17 / IOM (2016–2020) – URL: https://www. iom.org.ua/en/periodicals (in English and Ukrainian) 5 REACH Resource Centre, Ukraine – URL: https://www.reachresourcecentre.info/country/ukraine/theme/multi-sector- assessments/ 1 2 3 4 5 12 Introduction and discuss challenges and alternative approaches focused on IDPs issues, and twelve FGDs with IDPs to data collection. Based on the result of the study, and representatives of their vulnerable host com- recommendations were put forward in compliance munities in four locations of Donetsk (Sloviansk with the IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for and Volnovakha) and Luhansk (Sievierodonetsk and IDPs and other respective international documents6. Starobilsk) oblasts, were conducted in the period from December 2020 through January 2021. This report is a background paper outlining the key findings from the thematic consultation meetings The report includes an executive summary, meth- with the key stakeholders and the ultimate benefi- odology description, outline of the findings from ciaries on IDPs integration criteria and indicators. the KIIs and FGDs, conclusions and recommenda- Along with the desk research results on the best in- tions. Furthermore, the report provides recommen- ternational practices of measuring IDPs integration7, dations on the methodological approach to data the objective of this report is to inform the Concept collection and validation to assess the level of IDPs Paper on IDPs integration criteria and indicators integration, including proposed indicators. which will be produced to guide the implementation of the state monitoring of IDPs integration into the The study was commissioned by Info Sapiens LLC host territorial communities in Ukraine. for the project ʻIDPs Integration Support Initiative in Ukraineʼ implemented by Danish Refugee The consultation meetings were conducted in the Council (DRC) thanks to the generous support of format of key informant interviews (KIIs) and fo- the American people