IDP STABILIZATION ASSISTANCE: ROUTES TO OPTIMIZATION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to advise to optimization improvement pathways in IDP stabilization system in Ukraine that currently lacks real-time global-scale coordination, resulting in less efficient peaceful change. It is argued that with funding uncertainty, the system halts at middle level, aiming at sustainability. The article states that to improve, it needs to maintain high motivation and marketability of its professionals through skills and professional certification. Future grassroots projects should focus on mind changes. Methodology. A desk and in-depth study has been carried out of several national IDP stabilization programs dealing with the government that ensure infrastructural support to communities hosting IDPs. It has been studied how the programs “mindchange” their stakeholders (2014-2016 data) via regional NGOs and supports grassroots, using a real-time communication platform with features of cloud, internet banking, social network and dedicated server. Improving change generation tools, it leverages transformation with small, but not too small, resources to catalyze change. Results of the research showed that the bargain between external priorities and grassroots interests should favor program interest with “soft” projects, and listen to grassroots with “hard” projects. However, funding for non-state actors could have a 4–level structure, including: national projects for regional change strategies; regional NGO support funds; simple grassroots grants; and individual innovation prizes. Practical implications. Regional NGOs can improve beneficiary satisfaction and widen participation by supporting informal civic movements. For slowlyfunded programs, a pre-funding risk assessment report could be useful to assess change that is happening before the funding starts. Additionally, internships as a mind changing tool in IDP perception should focus on young professionals and high-ranked MPs, the latter to be engaged in group cooperation, aimed at professionalizing and strengthening their united voice to advance reforms in the region’s governments, the 60+ generation must give way to 50+ reformers and build on 35+ functional change-makers. Value/originality. The article concludes with the statement that we approach the need to establish an international coordination and control system, with IDPSA growing from an anti-poverty and democracy-building system – into the framework of support and stabilization the vital social functions in the regions of the world. While we agree that IDPSA in our region duplicates some functions of the state, therefore, it should be the state, supported by the global coordination system, which performs these functions directly – putting us closer to the developed economies and democracies of the world. According to the author, the structure of IDPSA might replace important sectorial functions in such states, building a humane world with common goals and aspirations of the higher values – where the combination of global security and humanism objectives and growth will be in harmony with the preservation of regional historical identity.