Deadline: 31-Oct-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has initiated a comprehensive research project focused on improving the implementation of social protection reforms at the local level in Ukraine.
Targeting hromadas—Ukraine’s decentralised local government units—the study will explore the barriers these communities face in delivering national social protection policies and propose practical, scalable solutions.
The research will be conducted in Kyiv and selected hromadas across the country, including at least one frontline hromada. The objective is to identify institutional, technical, and financial obstacles that hinder the implementation of reforms and to evaluate the feasibility of potential solutions. These may include improving access to digital systems and registries, fostering inter-hromada cooperation, strengthening infrastructure and staffing, and creating inclusive service environments.
A participatory, mixed-methods approach will guide the study. This includes a thorough desk review of relevant laws and policies, interviews with key stakeholders such as government officials and social workers, and focus groups with service users, including vulnerable populations like internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and families with children. Workshops will also be conducted to validate findings and jointly develop recommendations.
The study will use a structured feasibility scoring matrix to evaluate proposed solutions based on administrative capacity, technical readiness, legal alignment, cost, stakeholder support, and potential impact on service delivery. These insights will support the development of tailored, actionable recommendations for national, regional, and local actors involved in Ukraine’s social protection system.
Deliverables include a series of draft and final reports in both English and Ukrainian, stakeholder presentations, and validation workshops. Data collection and analysis will be followed by a phased reporting process, ensuring opportunities for feedback and refinement. UNICEF will review and approve each deliverable before finalisation.
By identifying practical ways to enhance service delivery and strengthen institutional support, the study aims to support more inclusive, efficient, and resilient social protection systems across Ukraine’s hromadas.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
