Swiftly reacting to the large displacement from Ukraine, the Partnership coordinators from the City of Amsterdam and the European Commission convened an ad-hoc Partnership plenary session dedicated to Ukraine on 4 April 2022. The goal of this session was to explore and discuss the most pressing issues and solutions around the inclusion of those people displaced by the war. Invitations were extended to external stakeholders outside the Partnerships to bring key actors, such as frontline cities and NGOs.

Common challenges shared by participants included:

• Short-term accommodation and registration. Some people fleeing the conflict simply do not wish to be enlisted or registered, and they are thus invisible in the system. This can be particularly challenging in cities receiving a high influx, such as Warsaw, Krakow, and Budapest.

• Coordination. There is a need for a more coordinated approach. This involves coordination across different levels of governance (national, local, regional), as well as and also within each government organization (e.g. across ‘departments or ‘silos’).  

• Data. Another challenge identified was the need for data and figures and the need to have up-to-date information about the number of displaced Ukrainians and their intention to stay or move.

• Funding. Funding for short-term needs and longer-term measures was also highlighted as a key challenge.

• Safeguarding vulnerable individuals. Several participants reflected on the risk of losing sight of those who are more vulnerable, e.g. unaccompanied minors, and on the heightened risk of sexual violence, trafficking and exploitation given the high numbers of women and children fleeing the conflict.

Participants also shared relevant initiatives to support those displaced by the war, including the measures taken by the European Commission, the Info-Support Hub of the Committee of the Regions, or the financial mechanisms launched by financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank.