London, UK, June 21, 2023 —  As policymakers, financial institutions and multilateral organisations gather in London this week pledging to Ukraine’s recovery, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) calls on all leaders to ensure a people-centred approach to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, prioritising participation of displaced people and civil society.

“[My hopes are] to return home. To reconstruct our college that has been damaged. Reconstruct it so that lessons and meetings with the students can take place not online, but in person. That’s my dream,” says Oleksandra, a 53-year-old teacher from Sloviansk and IRC client. Her voice reflects the hopes of 14 million of Ukraine’s refugees and internally displaced people who represent nearly 35% of the country’s pre-war population - and who need to meaningfully contribute to the nation's recovery and reconstruction efforts. 

According to UNHCR, 80% of refugees from Ukraine in Europe express their willingness to go back home to date. But without their active contribution to debates shaping Ukraine’s future, the opportunity for them to play a vital role in rebuilding their home country will be lost.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is urging that robust recovery and safe and voluntary returns to Ukraine will only be made possible if conflict-affected people are involved in the country’s recovery and reconstruction. Durable solutions for displaced populations must be placed at the very centre of the process. 

Ganna Dudinska, IRC’s Senior Policy Officer, said:

“Discussions on the reconstruction of Ukraine have been largely centred around rebuilding the critical infrastructure. The IRC is calling on international donors and the Government of Ukraine to shift the focus, and ensure that people affected by this war are truly at the heart of the process. This should go hand in hand with investment in extensive demining, reestablishment of social infrastructure, and job creation.

“A people-centred approach means that refugees, internally displaced people and local communities have a seat at the table whenever recovery and reconstruction plans are being formulated, and that civil society is a key partner in this effort. This also means continuous involvement of constituencies with different needs and priorities, including women, youth, elders, and people with disabilities, enabling an inclusive and gender-just recovery and reconstruction. 

“Failure to incorporate refugees in the conversation could have serious consequences for the country’s future. We have seen the will to return and rebuild the country slowly extinguish among Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey, with their displacement situations becoming increasingly protracted. We call on the international community to ensure this scenario is not repeated in the case of Ukraine.”

IRC’s Response  
Since February 2022, the IRC has worked  from emergency through recovery and integration, addressing the needs of people fleeing Ukraine – but also those around the world who are suffering from the ripple-effects of the conflict. Ever since, we have been working closely with partners to review the changing situation and identify gaps to reach vulnerable people with essential assistance. IRC is continuing its efforts in Ukraine, Europe and the US to match the growing scale of needs. Our emergency programmes are active on the ground in Poland and Moldova. We are also running activities targeting Ukrainian refugees in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia and Bulgaria, as well as in Germany, Italy, Greece and the UK.