Ukraine: Livelihoods Baseline Evaluation in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson Oblasts

Overview

DRC aims to enhance the self-reliance and resilience of individuals affected by war and displacement, through evidence-based interventions, including: providing sectoral cash assistance to conflict-affected subsistence and small-scale farmers to support their self-consumption needs and generate income; offering vocational training to equip vulnerable populations with new skills or update existing ones, while connecting them to available employment opportunities; supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through grants to activate or sustain their businesses, complemented by legal advice, business plan development, market linkages, and other services, all aimed at assisting conflict-affected individuals.

The overarching goal of the intervention is to enhance access to dignified livelihoods and reduce dependency on external assistance, by empowering local businesses through evidence-based approaches tailored to assessed needs and local market realities. This support adopts a more systemic perspective, extending beyond individual business owners to benefit the broader community while complementing other services to improve overall living conditions.

This baseline report enables the design of a programme that is more aligned with the realities on the ground, ensuring that interventions are based on a thorough analysis of each oblast's context. It addresses the specific needs of conflict-affected populations in the targeted areas, identifies livelihood opportunities aligned with market demands, and fosters a sustainable response. This approach not only enhances the independence and self-reliance of those affected by the conflict but also contributes to the systemic reactivation of the local economy.

This baseline report maps out findings from the baseline data collection conducted between August 2024 and September 2024. The data collected by trained DRC staff applied a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, using a snowball sampling approach to identify qualified and context-relevant respondents based on the oblast and the sub-sector of implementation. This was complemented by secondary data analysis to validate and compare the findings, ensuring a comprehensive and reliable evidence base.

The results of this baseline evaluation are organised according to the programme design, disaggregated into the three primary sub-sectors of proposed implementation: (1) improving agricultural inputs; (2) new livelihood development; and (3) livelihood development. This mirrors the three sub-sectors of implementation for the previous grant (October 2023 – September 2024) meaning that DRC could draw on lessons learned, project monitoring data, and the first baseline evaluation of the prior grant to design a more tailored and impactful new project phase.

The findings from this baseline evaluation, combined with DRC’s expertise and experience in implementing livelihoods activities in the previous BHA grant in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, will guide decision-making in finalising the selection of target locations and assistance modalities, enhancing the existing programme design. DRC's established knowledge, presence, and operational capacities in the seven targeted areas will play a crucial role in contextualising and applying the results of this baseline. By integrating a comprehensive, multisectoral approach, DRC will leverage its expertise across various sectors to ensure that the needs of conflict-affected populations are effectively addressed. This will be achieved in close collaboration with local authorities, civil society, and duty-bearers, maximising the overall impact of the intervention.