PeReHID Initiative Outcomes: How Ukraine and International Partners Are Transforming the Social Support System

A meeting of the Working Group of the PeReHID Project on Humanitarian Aid and International Development Reform for Ukraine was held in Kyiv. This was the final meeting within the framework of the initiative. The PeReHID initiative aims to support the state in addressing the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine by implementing long-term, people-centered solutions and building a bridge between humanitarian assistance and the national social protection system.

Thanks to these joint efforts, additional support was provided to the most vulnerable groups, including pensioners living in frontline or high-risk areas, persons with disabilities, and large families with limited financial resources raising children with disabilities.In partnership with UNHCR, the housing subsidy mechanism was strengthened, particularly for the purchase of solid fuel, and cooperation with UNICEF enabled the delivery of assistance to families in the most affected areas of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Government of Ukraine and international partners, including all UN agencies involved in the initiative, as well as representatives of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other partner organizations providing humanitarian assistance and supporting Ukraine in the field of social protection. Among the participants were Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration; Paul von Kietlitz, Head of Social Policy at UNICEF; Lukáš Woborský, Head of the PeReHID Technical Office and Rose Tasker, Social Development Adviser at the British Embassy in Ukraine.

"This initiative has resulted from strong collaborative efforts that brought together the state, humanitarian organizations, and donors. It has shown that effective and lasting support for people in need can be ensured through coordination, knowledge sharing, and alignment of humanitarian programs with national systems. Ukraine has a strong foundation for social protection, and PeReHID has established itself as an effective platform for dialogue and joint program development.

The project has become an essential foundation for further reforms that will enhance the government’s ability to respond to people’s needs swiftly and thoughtfully, in close cooperation with international partners. Going forward, we will focus on implementing the recommendations received and strengthening partnerships to shape a more effective and inclusive social policy. We sincerely thank our partners — in particular UNICEF, ECHO, and FCDO — for their support, expertise, and dedication to our shared goals," said Iryna Postolovska.

The project was launched in May 2023. Over the past year and a half, PeReHID has become an essential platform for collaboration between the Ministry of Social Policy, humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, and international donors. This joint effort enabled a systematic assessment of the effectiveness of assistance programs to support the population's most vulnerable segments.

"PeReHID has been a key initiative to help better protect the most vulnerable people, including children and their families, by building and strengthening humanitarian and social protection linkages in Ukraine. This was possible because of the Ministry of Social Policy’s leadership, with support from the UN in Ukraine and the strong commitment from multiple partners in support of this initiative, in particular the European Union, United Kingdom and United States.

We have forged a coordinated, efficient, and sustainable approach to address people’s and children’s needs during this critical period for Ukraine. UNICEF is also grateful to civil society partners and UN sister agencies for their valuable contributions to this initiative, and we look forward to building on this work together by taking the initiative’s recommendations forward. UNICEF is committed to and will continue to support the Ministry of Social Policy’s reform and systems strengthening efforts for a more shock-responsive, inclusive and sustainable social protection system in Ukraine.", Paul von Kittlitz, Chief of Social Policy Section, UNICEF Ukraine.

The initiative’s working group's final meeting focused on summarizing the results of mapping national programs that were key in supporting millions of Ukrainians affected by the full-scale war.

Among the significant outcomes of the PeReHID initiative are the establishment of coordination between the Ministry of Social Policy and humanitarian organizations, alignment of response systems based on an in-depth analysis of the Ukrainian context and international best practices, active use of government programs and registries by humanitarian actors, integration of needs assessments to complement the social protection system, systematic referral of beneficiaries to state services, and the development of practical guidance and technical solutions to support further reform.

Among the key achievements in coordinating humanitarian assistance with national programs and ensuring its targeted delivery, participants of the meeting highlighted several results made possible through close cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and international partners, including the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Joint efforts have replaced fragmented approaches to assistance with a more coordinated response. Humanitarian actors can now leverage the existing social protection system to ensure that support reaches people more quickly and has a lasting impact.

Background: The PeReHID initiative is a joint technical assistance program involving the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, USAID (United States Agency for International Development), DG ECHO (European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid), FCDO (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), IOM (International Organization for Migration), UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency), WFP (World Food Program), CCD (Collaborative Cash Delivery Network), DRC (Danish Refugee Council), NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council), R2P (Right to Protection), and STAAR/DAI Global UK Ltd (the Social Protection Technical Assistance, Advice, and Resources Facility).

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