On November 14–15, the 3rd All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils took place at Parkovy Congress and Exhibition Center, bringing together over 350 participants — representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Government, the Verkhovna Rada, local authorities, international organizations, and members of IDP Councils from across the country.
The key highlight of the forum was the presentation of the Declaration of Intent “Resilient and Quality Recovery: Engaging IDP Councils in Reconstruction Processes” — the first document to publicly formalize the commitment to involve internally displaced persons in decision-making related to Ukraine’s post-war recovery. The Declaration unites state institutions, organizations, businesses, academics, and IDPs around a shared goal: inclusive and equitable reconstruction.
The forum was opened by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Among the speakers were Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine, and Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.
The two-day program focused on three strategic pillars: impact, sustainable development, and partnership. Participants worked in groups, developed budget proposals, enhanced their communication skills, and discussed sustainability models and funding opportunities for local initiatives.
For the first time, the national award “ZaRady Maibutnoho” (“For the Sake of the Future”) was presented to the most active members of IDP Councils in three categories: “Leadership and Advocacy,” “Innovation and Initiatives,” and “The Power of Cooperation.” The “Alley of Opportunities. IDP Business Fair” also enabled relocated entrepreneurs to showcase their products.
The event took place in the
Big Exhibition Hall — a versatile 2,000 sq. m open-space venue designed for comfortable collaboration. The hall featured a large LED screen and theatre-style seating for guests. To ensure safety, organizers arranged an additional setup in the
shelter on level -1, allowing the program to continue uninterrupted even during air raid alerts.
The forum was organized by the Stabilization Support Services Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, with the support of UNHCR and IREX.
Parkovy is proud to be a venue where the future of Ukraine’s recovery is being shaped.
