Support for residents of the Shostkа and Yampil communities of the Sumy region does not end at the time of providing financial assistance. The next, equally important step — is to understand how this support works in practice: whether it has helped households improve their farming conditions, increase self-sufficiency, or contributed to a sustainable income and a sense of greater confidence in the future. It was for this purpose that the NGO "Association for Democratic Development" team made post-monitoring visits to the Shostkin and Yampil communities, visiting 90 households that received funds as part of the project implemented by ADD in cooperation with the Norwegian Refugee Council. The support received by the residents of these communities was aimed at purchasing means for running their own auxiliary farm. This is what will enable people to resume or expand their agricultural activities.
During communication with the participants of the project, specialists had the opportunity to see exactly how the funds were used:
what equipment did people buy,
what goods have become a priority for them,
did these purchases really make farming easier.
Such an assessment makes it possible to understand to what extent the assistance met the real needs of IDPs and local residents who suffered as a result of the war. Whether it was oriented towards long-term change and not just short-term support.
The separate value of postmonitoring — is live dialogue. Behind the figures and lists of purchases are people and their stories, which are not only about material results, but also about the impact on the general well-being of the family and strengthening the capacity of aid recipients.
Each such conversation — is another confirmation that livelihood support is really necessary for IDPs and war-affected residents of Sumy region. We will definitely share some of these stories with you later.
The project is implemented by the NGO "Association of Democratic Development" together with Норвезька рада у справах біженців в Україні (NRC) with the support of Germany.
