Kyiv, 6 November 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in cooperation with the European Union (EU) and the League of Social Workers of Ukraine NGO, hosted an all-Ukrainian information and training conference entitled “Social Adaptation in Communities: Innovative Approaches and Modern Practices.”

The event brought together more than 170 participants online and in person, and became an important space to share experiences and the results of the project supporting social services for social adaptation in communities.

The conference participants discussed the current state of the social adaptation system in Ukraine, prospects for development and how to implement financial mechanisms for social adaptation services. Particular attention was paid to the introduction of innovative social adaptation services to improve the quality, accessibility and coverage of social services for vulnerable population groups.

Uliana Tokarieva, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of innovation and collaboration in advancing social services: “Strengthening connections between civil society, local authorities, government institutions and international partners is key to driving meaningful change in social support. Innovative approaches will enable us to provide accessible and high-quality social services to those who need them most,” she said.

Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting the social sector in Ukraine: “Social initiatives are a priority for the European Union in Ukraine as they are critical to the country’s recovery. We are proud of the partnerships developed under the EU4Recovery programme, expanding access to basic social services for thousands of people in war-affected areas,” he said.

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, underscored the significance of expanding access to social services: “Together with our partners, we are investing in building the capacity of local communities to facilitate positive change and long-term resilience in war-torn areas. Supporting the development of social adaptation services lays the foundation for sustainable and inclusive recovery, ensuring that no one is left behind as communities rebuild and thrive,” he said.

During the event, the participants – including representatives from the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, the National Social Service, local authorities, the expert community and civil society organizations – considered the next steps to develop social services for social adaptation and build an effective social support system.

Background

Social adaptation services are a set of measures intended to enable vulnerable groups to overcome life difficulties and adapt to new social environment conditions. Specialists at social adaptation centres help to analyse living conditions, resolve problems, strengthen family ties and facilitate the employment of people in need of support.

The conference follows up the project entitled “Expert support to local authorities in organizing relevant social services and creating an effective system of social adaptation for vulnerable adult groups, including internally displaced and war-affected persons” being implemented by the League of Social Workers of Ukraine NGO, as part of the flagship “EU4Recovery – Empowering Communities in Ukraine” partnership between UNDP and the EU.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org