Caring for Everyone: How the Ministry of Social Policy is Transforming the Sphere of Social Services

According to research, the actual needs of Ukrainians for social services are met by less than 20%. This is an important signal that the sphere of care, which centers on the person and their needs, must change and improve.

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine is systematically transforming the sphere of social services by implementing a model focused on meeting people's needs rather than maintaining institutions and facilities. In particular, a range of social services is being centrally procured using state budget funds to support communities and individuals. These include services such as resilience-building, supported living, and social support for military personnel and their families.

The next stage involves implementing more effective standards for specialists, improving access to services, and refining the system of their procurement and financing.

This was discussed during the event "Reform of Care: Transformation of Ukraine's Social Services," which launched a public discussion on the necessary changes in the sphere of social support. The event brought together over 2,500 participants offline and online – parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of diplomatic missions, regional administrations, media, civil society organizations, and expert communities.

"In difficult times, people's need for support grows, and Ukrainians should feel that they are not alone. The state, responding to these challenges and the people's demand for care, must create dignified living conditions for every person. Especially for those already in crisis or at risk of facing it.

Of course, financial support is important. But recalling the early days of the full-scale war, when elderly people living on the upper floors of apartment buildings, even with money, couldn’t buy food, medicine, or receive proper care, we must draw conclusions and prevent this from happening again. Supporting people when it’s hard – professionally and humanely – is the goal of social services. Today, as we improve the sphere of care, we set an ambitious yet deeply humane goal: to ensure that no person in crisis is left alone and always has somewhere to turn for help," emphasized Oksana Zholnovych, Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy.

During the event, the Minister of Social Policy presented a series of changes currently under consideration for implementation as part of the transformation of the social services system.

Key Components:

• Instead of the principle "funding for maintaining walls," the new approach is "funding for specific social services for real people." This shifts away from the outdated Soviet-era model where social sector institutions are funded regardless of the number of beneficiaries, service quality, or effectiveness. Instead, the new model will focus on outcomes – real help for specific individuals in need. This includes procuring packages of social services on a competitive market.
• New procurement mechanism: Instead of procedures that fail to account for service quality and continuity, a single national procurement entity will be established. It will be able to procure services not only using state budget funds but also funds from local governments, making procurement simpler and more convenient for communities. This is crucial for ensuring equal opportunities for providers that meet state standards.
• Replacing a fragmented and overloaded list of social services with a three-tier access system: Social managers who identify needs and act with care for the individual and their entire family. Resilience Centers – spaces where anyone can receive psychosocial support and other assistance. ew, clear packages of specialized services aimed at comprehensive support for all categories of people in need of additional care (such as caregiving, support for families with children, social adaptation, and others).
• New standards for specialists: Establishing a cohort of social managers – professionals who will care for individuals or families in crisis and help prevent people from falling into difficult life circumstances. These specialists will take a personalized approach and guide individuals or families through the entire process of planning and receiving assistance.

The transformations in the sphere of social services are supported by international partners. In particular, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Policy, is working to strengthen the national social protection system and ensure access to quality social services for the most vulnerable families with children at the community level.

"UNICEF is committed to collaborating with all partners to strengthen social services, which are critically needed for children and families after years of living in wartime conditions," said Shemaiza Abdulla, Acting Representative of UNICEF in Ukraine. "Today, together with the Ukrainian government, we are investing in transforming the social support system to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and quality services for every family and child, regardless of their place of residence or circumstances," Abdulla added.

The event featured an open discussion and debate on the proposed changes in the sphere of social services, with participation from representatives of local governments, social protection institutions, non-governmental service providers, civil society and volunteer organizations, and sector experts.

It is worth noting that technical assistance in developing the social services reform project is provided to the Ministry of Social Policy with the support of the Center for Economic Recovery (CER).

According to CER Director Kyrylo Kryvolap, Ukraine needs socio-economic inclusion to preserve and develop its human capital: "Social policy in Ukraine today is not just about support in difficult times. It’s about the state’s ability to help people return to life, work, and community. This is the main task of the social services system reform."

The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine invites representatives of volunteer organizations, businesses, government bodies, local self-government, civil society, international partners, expert communities, and the social services sector – as well as individuals in need of care and social protection – to join the transformation process. Suggestions, solutions, recommendations, critical remarks, and proposals regarding changes to the social services system are accepted until July 15 via the provided link.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine with the support of UNICEF and the Center for Economic Recovery. The strategy for transforming social services in Ukraine is being developed with financial support from the UK government under the "Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, Innovation, and Transformation" (SPIRIT) initiative and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank.