Thanks to fruitful cooperation with UN organisations, Ukraine provides comprehensive support to vulnerable groups of the population. This is important to improve the social resilience of citizens in times of war, in particular during the preparation for the winter period.

To discuss further steps of cooperation, the Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych met with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister for European Integration Iryna Postolovska.

"Our priority has been, still remains and will be to create an effective social protection system with people in need as its focus. We are currently finalising a strategy for the development of social services that will improve their quality and accessibility. The introduction of the social services market and unification of standards for their provision will help not only to respond quickly to the needs of citizens, but also to create a clear algorithm for interaction between the state and service providers. Our task is to make this system flexible, inclusive and ready for any challenges, and we are grateful that the UN is ready to join this process," said Oksana Zholnovych.

During the discussion, the participants focused on the results achieved through joint efforts.

For example, with the support of the UN World Food Programme, 420,000 pensioners in the combat zone (with a pension of less than UAH 3,250) received additional financial assistance totalling more than UAH 2 billion.

In addition, support was provided to people with disabilities since childhood and children with disabilities: over 320,000 people received assistance in the amount of over UAH 830 million.

Last year, UNHCR provided payments for solid fuel during the winter period, and will continue to do so during this year's autumn and winter season.

In addition, UNICEF has allocated more than UAH 460 million to support low-income families with many children and families with children with disabilities living in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions. Support was also provided to families living in areas subject to mandatory evacuation and those affected by enemy shelling.

With the support of the UN, partner organisations, including non-governmental social service providers, were engaged in cooperation (to provide supported accommodation for persons with disabilities and the elderly among IDPs).

According to Matthias Schmale, the UN intends to further actively support the Government of Ukraine in improving the effectiveness of social programmes and responding to humanitarian challenges. He emphasised the importance of setting clear strategic priorities in social policy to ensure the sustainability of solutions and long-term support for the population. This will allow for a more efficient allocation of resources and ensure that aid reaches those who need it most.

Background information

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine actively cooperates with several key UN agencies, including: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Cooperation with these agencies is aimed at implementing humanitarian and development programmes focused on supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population.