Cash and resilience for the people of Ukraine

finished

As the full-scale war in Ukraine enters its third year, the escalation in 2023 resulted in a deterioration of the humanitarian situation, including continued mass displacement, widespread destruction of key infrastructure, disruptions to livelihoods and essential services. In response, Caritas Ukraine (CUA) has significantly strengthened and expanded its humanitarian response capacities, with technical support from Caritas Switzerland (CACH) and the international Caritas network.

CACH and CUA plan to build upon the successful implementation of the ongoing SwS-funded CARE4U Phase 2 project (CARE4U2) through the joint development of the CARE4U Phase 3 project (CARE4U3). CARE4U3 has been designed as a 12-month multi-sectoral project planned to meet the intersectoral needs of conflict-affected and socioeconomically vulnerable beneficiaries in three of Ukraine’s eastern frontline oblasts (Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro).

Whilst Phase 3 will continue to respond to emergency needs, the CARE4U3 project will transition to stabilisation-focussed activities by prioritising and supporting long-term and sustainable solutions by expanding its shelter and protection interventions.

The objective of CARE4U3 is to enhance the resilience, safety, and well-being of vulnerable populations affected by conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Building on Phase 2, Phase 3 will continue to respond to emergency needs, and transition to stabilisation-focussed activities by prioritising and supporting long-term and sustainable solutions and expanding its shelter and protection interventions.

CARE4U3 applies a complementary and holistic approach combining shelter, protection, MHPSS, and cash assistance to empower beneficiaries to address their needs. CARE4U3’s intervention will focus on the following three outcomes:

• Shelter: Homes in the targeted oblasts often suffer conflict-related damage. The lack of housing stock and high demand lead to an increase of rent, resulting in people remaining in collective sites for longer. Yet, collective sites are poorly suited and fail to meet standards, especially regarding access to hygiene and thermal comfort during harsh Ukrainian winters. To address the housing needs of affected population, cash for light and medium shelter repairs will be provided to households whose homes were damaged, and existing collective sites will be refurbished. As collective sites are neither adequate nor durable solutions, CARE4U3 will explore the development of the social housing for potential integration in future projects.
• Protection: In addition to security issues, government services and humanitarian access are strained in the targeted oblasts. Gender-based violence, housing, land and property rights issues and child protection concerns additionally represent protection issues. To address protection needs, CARE4U3 will provide case management to support minority groups and people facing discrimination to obtain rights and access services, complemented by legal assistance and provision of Cash for Protection, to empower beneficiaries to overcome protection risks. In response to shock or displacement, Emergency Cash assistance (ECA) will be provided to socioeconomically vulnerable individuals, enabling them to cover their basic needs.
• Mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS): The wide-ranging stressors experienced by Ukrainians have pushed the mental wellbeing of much of the population to breaking point, and there is a high demand for increased availability of MHPSS. CARE4U3 plans to address well-being and mental health needs through a holistic approach combining community-based psychosocial support, peer-to-peer support groups based on shared experiences, individual counselling for people with emotional distress
• Further components: Support technical partner to sustain activities after the project’s end, as well as Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), Accountability to affected populations (AAP) and mainstreaming of protection, inclusion, gender and conflict sensitivity.