Kyiv — To mark International Migrants Day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized an event to honour the contributions of the global Ukrainian community to Ukraine’s recovery and development and strengthen partnerships between diaspora organizations, the Government of Ukraine, and international stakeholders. 

“Ukrainian diaspora associations have played a tremendous role in supporting Ukraine over the past decades, from the remittances they send home to family members, to the humanitarian support they continue to provide to communities in need,” said Alessia Schiavon, Chief of IOM Mission in Ukraine. “In 2023, Ukrainians abroad sent over USD 15.7 billion to their families and loved ones, representing almost 8.5% of the country’s GDP. These funds are pivotal in building resilience.”  

"Unprecedented challenges caused by Russia's full-scale invasion caused the State to rethink its approaches to interaction with global Ukrainians,” shared Mariana Betsa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. “Today, there are millions of Ukrainians abroad who have found shelter in different countries, and it is crucial to support them. And this is not only a matter of consular protection.” 

During the panel discussion, the diaspora organizations the Ukrainian World Congress,  United Help Ukraine, Razom for Ukraine, and Nova Ukraine were joined by the government representatives. Participants reflected on the contributions, challenges and opportunities for collaboration with the global Ukrainian community. 

“To build a system of interaction with Ukrainians abroad, we need powerful and systematic communication channels. Together with our international partners, we are working to create a digital platform to present opportunities in Ukraine to Ukrainians abroad. On the other hand, we need to create such opportunities,” shared Daryna Marchak, First Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine. 

To conclude the event, IOM signed memorandums of understanding with the diaspora organizations to lay the foundation for future cooperation.  

The gathering was made possible through the IOM Hromada Reconstruction and Empowerment Facility (HREF) project, funded by the Government of Germany through the KfW Development Bank.