ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING

The DEC provided a flexible source of funds that allowed its member charities to adapt their responses quickly when circumstances required, addressing the needs that communities said were most relevant. Thirteen DEC member charities are now working in Ukraine, three more than originally planned. Some of the needs in neighbouring countries have not transpired in the way or at the scale that was first expected, which has freed up funds to spend inside Ukraine. After plans for the first six months of the response were submitted, an additional £8 million was programmed in Ukraine for that period, including more than £1 million that had been initially budgeted for Moldova that was used to implement new cash programming in Ukraine.

As the context began to change, so did DEC member charities’ response. When the flow of refugees into Poland began to ease and many transition centres were phased out, food support that had been earmarked for these centres was then switched to the reception centres that remained open. In Moldova, the population in refugee accommodation centres had become more stable by May, and the need for psychological first aid was less pressing. Instead, DEC funds were used to provide more in-depth mental health and well-being support for children and their caregivers. A parenting programme for young children looked at how to set boundaries with love and respect, while a course for adolescents taught them how to build resilience against sexual abuse and exploitation.

Plans were also adapted as a result of feedback from affected communities. For example, after a new needs analysis and requests from refugees at some reception centres in Poland, cash vouchers and food were provided with DEC funds instead of relief kits as originally planned.