Return and Reintegration of Ukrainians: Innovative Approaches of OECD and Other Countries to Support the Long Way Home

This seminar will provide a retrospective on the returns and reintegration efforts following the Balkan Wars of the 1990s, one of the largest post-conflict return operations in history. By examining the successes and challenges encountered, participants will gain insights into effective strategies for managing complex post-conflict returns and long-term reintegration.

Drawing on experiences from contexts such as Türkiye, Iraq, or the United States, the seminar explored the complex trade-offs between return and reintegration for internally displaced persons, support during periods of uncertainty, and approaches to rebuilding social cohesion in disrupted communities. It brought together representatives from organizations including the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, UNDP, UNHCR, the World Bank, and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, alongside academics and civil society actors. The event concluded with remarks from a representative of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.

The seminar welcomed academics, representatives of civil society and organizations such as UNHCR, the World Bank, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and included closing remarks from a representative of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. Discussions highlighted a variety of country experiences on safe returns, housing and property rights, and long-term reintegration support, spanning a variety of country experiences such as Japan, Puerto Rico, Portugal, or Syria.