Psychosocial support for IDP women and girls and people with disabilities

In Ukraine, which is in a state of military aggression, IDP women and girls and people with disabilities are constantly facing significant psychological trauma and challenges of social adaptation. Feelings of loss of control over their lives, lack of support, limited access to necessary resources, and risks of gender-based violence (GBV) make it difficult for them to return to normal life. The project “Psychosocial Support for IDP Women and Girls and People with Disabilities” aims to address these issues through a comprehensive approach.

Description of the problem:

Internally displaced women and girls, as well as people with disabilities, face multilevel challenges such as psychological distress, social isolation and economic instability, which increases the risk of getting into situations of domestic or gender-based violence. The loss of ties with family and community, limited access to quality psychological support, and lack of opportunities to restore social identity make it much more difficult for them to adapt to new conditions and increase their vulnerability in the context of the ongoing crisis. At the same time, women’s civil society organizations, which are the main providers of such services, need to be professionally strengthened to ensure effective psychosocial assistance to the affected persons. At the same time, the members of these organizations themselves also need psycho-emotional recovery to remain effective in their work and maintain resilience in difficult circumstances.

Who benefits from project activities:

IDP women and girls and people with disabilities are the main beneficiaries of the project, who receive psychosocial support, improved well-being, and opportunities for social reintegration in new living conditions.
Families and community. The psychological climate in the families of the project participants is improving, reducing tension and supporting their loved ones in the process of adaptation to a new place of residence.
Local organizations and authorities. Partnerships with local authorities and civil society organizations to support the integration of IDP women and people with disabilities into the local community and the political process in Ukraine.

The following activities are being implemented to achieve the project goal:

Individual counseling. Access to the services of qualified psychologists for individual counseling and therapy is provided to IDP women and girls and people with disabilities.
Group support sessions and trainings. Regular meetings are organized for project participants to share experiences and support each other. Trainings to strengthen skills and learn new ones to manage emotional state and social adaptation.
Development of leadership skills, including for representatives of civil society organizations. Leadership skills training aimed at active participation in public and political life, which will contribute to their self-determination and positive interaction with the public.
Monitoring and evaluation of results. Continuous monitoring of the program’s effectiveness by collecting data on the mental state of participants, their social activity, and satisfaction with the process of participation in the project.

Expected changes (results):

Reduced psychological distress among IDP women and girls and people with disabilities through psychosocial support and participation in activities to reduce stress, anxiety, GBV risks and improve social adaptation.
Strengthening the organizational capacity of women’s civil society organizations through training and support for activities to provide psychosocial support to beneficiaries, prevent and combat GBV, and prevent professional burnout.

The project is implemented on the basis of the NOVA safe space in Kyiv and in an online format. All activities planned within the project will contribute to positive changes in the psychosocial state of project participants and their social integration and resilience in the new environment, active participation in the processes of restoring the socio-economic sphere of the state, creating favorable conditions for the introduction and implementation of measures aimed at protecting women and girls, including ending GBV, and respecting their human rights.

Partnership:
The project actively cooperates with women’s and civil society organizations, as well as with government agencies to disseminate information and support initiatives.

The project “Psychosocial support for IDP women and girls and people with disabilities” is implemented by the ICF “Nova Kakhovka is Ukraine” in partnership with the NGO “Association of Women Ambassadors of Ukraine” with the technical support of UN Women in Ukraine and with funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF).

The WPHF is a flexible and rapid funding instrument that supports quality interventions aimed at increasing the capacity of local women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is the only global mechanism created exclusively to support women’s participation in peace and security processes and humanitarian assistance. Governed by a range of civil society, government and UN actors, WPHF is a multi-partner trust fund that mobilizes urgently needed funding for local women-led organizations and works with women on the frontlines to build lasting peace. Since 2016, WPHF has provided funding and capacity building to more than 1,000 local women’s civil society organizations working on the Women, Peace and Security agenda and implementing humanitarian activities in 41 crisis-affected countries.

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