Strengthening Protection Mechanisms for War-Affected Population

• collecting and analyzing evidence-based information;
• conducting information and awareness raising activities in hromadas (communities);
• informing the population about safe evacuation;
• ensuring the inclusive capacity of transit centres and collective sites, as well as strategic advocacy.

Instead of an isolated response to certain protection risks, the project is based on the continuum of protection approach, providing assistance to people requiring special support before, during, and after displacement, while at the same time strengthening institutional capacity and promoting the improvement of humanitarian and state policy based on obtained evidence.

The project is aimed at supporting the civilian population affected by armed conflict who live in frontline and high-risk hromadas, as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs) evacuated from areas of active hostilities.

Particular attention will be paid to people facing increased protection risks and having limited access to safe evacuation, essential services, and long-term protection solutions.

The main target group of the project includes people with limited mobility, in particular older people and people with disabilities, people requiring continuous medical care, people with musculoskeletal conditions, as well as residents of residential social protection and care facilities. These population groups continue to face high risks due to the deterioration of the security situation, increased attacks on civilian infrastructure, limited access to inclusive transport, interruptions of continuous medical care, and uncertainty regarding support after evacuation. Many people remain in dangerous areas because they fear losing access to necessary care, cannot find suitable accommodation, or worry about being left without support after displacement.

The project will also support family members and caregivers of evacuated people, internally displaced persons living in collective accommodation sites, as well as war-affected households requiring legal, social, or psychosocial support at different stages of displacement.

Within the protection monitoring component, frontline hromadas, collective accommodation sites, and residential care facilities will be supported. This will help identify current protection risks, assess living conditions, accessibility and inclusiveness of the facilities, as well as form an evidence base for improving humanitarian response and advocacy. Although not all people reached through monitoring will receive direct assistance, monitoring results will ensure timely identification of people requiring individual support, referrals to specialized services, and other protection measures.

Through information activities, the project will reach residents of frontline hromadas who remain under constant threat due to the deteriorating security situation. Engagement with the population will provide people with up-to-date information regarding evolving security threats, safe evacuation routes, available protection services, and the full evacuation cycle carried out by the team of the EAST SOS Charity Foundation. This will enable people to make decisions regarding evacuation before the security situation becomes critical.

Comprehensive individual protection assistance will be provided by multidisciplinary teams consisting of lawyers, social specialists, and psychologists. People identified during protection monitoring, information activities, or directly during evacuation will receive legal consultations, social support, psychological support, as well as referrals to specialized state and humanitarian services based on their individual needs.

Strengthening the capacity of the Centre for Social Adaptation of People with Disabilities, operated by NGO “Ocean of Good” in Dnipro will primarily focus on supporting evacuated people who require safe reception, stabilization, and further referrals after evacuation. This activity will improve the quality, safety, accessibility, and inclusiveness of services for people with complex needs, as well as increase the capacity of the humanitarian system to respond to new waves of forced displaced persons.

Overall, the project combines direct protection assistance for people facing the highest security risks with systemic measures aimed at strengthening humanitarian coordination, institutional preparedness, evidence-based advocacy, and inclusive service provision for the war-affected population.

Norway

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

1 July – 30 November 2026

Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa oblasts.

UAH 18,726,687.98