• In Estonia, we have relaunched the "Boost" entrepreneurship programme, which helps participants develop or restart their existing businesses. Registration is open on the Estonian Refugee Council platform.
• In Ukraine we have provided cash-based assistance to nearly 296,000 people. 
• In Ukraine, we continue to distribute winter support to cover heating costs for 5000 households during the upcoming winter season. Assistance will be provided in cash, or alternatively, firewood or coal will be delivered directly to those in need.
• We are launching four community councils in Armenia to enable people with refugee backgrounds to express their concerns, advocate for solutions to their problems, and participate in decision-making processes that affect them.
• We will also continue working with community councils in Georgia to amplify the voices of refugees and internally displaced persons there.

Ukraine

We provide cash-based assistance, which allows people affected by the war to purchase food, medicines, hygiene products, and other essentials. As of now, we have provided cash-based assistance to nearly 296,000 conflict-affected people, totaling over 53 million euros. Cash assistance is provided for three months, with support of 3600 Ukrainian hryvnias per household member per month, equivalent to about 80 euros. Registration for assistance is carried out through Estonian Refugee Council's local registration points or via the online application platform. Currently, our focus is on assisting those in need in frontline areas in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts. The programme is funded by the European Union, the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) through the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF), and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acted is the lead partner for EU and BHA projects.

This winter, we will assist about 5000 vulnerable households with heating aid. We are providing both financial and in-kind support to help cover rising heating costs and ensure fuel supplies for the winter. Registration and distribution of aid began in September, focusing on frontline and hard-to-reach areas in eastern and southern Ukraine—specifically in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts—where intensified hostilities and damaged infrastructure have severely hindered people's ability to meet their basic winter needs. In December, 1,437 vulnerable households were supported with cash for heating assistance, with the amount of 650,000 euros. The programme is funded by the European Union, the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) through the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF), and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acted is the lead partner for EU and BHA projects. NGO YES is the sub-implementing partner for the UHF project.

We offer vulnerable women the opportunity to participate in entrepreneurship programmes to develop or create sustainable and crisis-resilient micro-businesses. The entrepreneurship programme is supported by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA/USAID) in partnership with Acted and Garage48.

During December, we supported 281 households (703 individuals) from Kirovohrad, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk oblasts through an Emergency Livelihood Assistance programme, with a total amount exceeding 197,600 euros. The support is aimed at starting or continuing economic activities to improve self-reliance. Through this programme, we are supporting sectors related to agriculture, livestock farming, food production, and various services. The amount of support is up to 36,000 Ukrainian hryvnias, or approximately 800 euros. The programme is supported by the European Union, USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA/USAID), and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and implemented in cooperation with Acted Ukraine.

In December, we completed this winter’s livelihoods support for livestock. We supported people from Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts with a total amount of 41,625 euros. The programme increases food security and the self-sufficiency of vulnerable households and war-affected communities by protecting and restoring their means for food production and livelihoods. The programme is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We are part of the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI), through which we assist the humanitarian community in maintaining a consistent overview of market conditions and the price levels of essential goods in Ukraine. Through JMMI, we can better prepare our cash-based assistance programs and direct them to the areas where help is most needed. Our data collection scope covers Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Donetsk oblasts.

Estonia

We launched the second round of our entrepreneurship programme “Boost”, helping participants develop or relaunch their businesses. Those with prior entrepreneurial experience, but without a current business, are also welcome to apply. Registration information can be found on the Estonian Refugee Council’s platform. The programme is supported by Wise. 

We are running the "Edge Up" employability programme, aimed at people with a refugee background who wish to enter the job market or move on to a more suitable position. So far, six groups have completed the programme in Estonia and Latvia each. In Latvia we have partnered up with a local organisation Shelter Safe House. Each month, 10–12 people participate in the training. Registration for the programme is open. The employability programme is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, with support from the European Regional Development Fund.

The third season of the Empowering Women entrepreneurship programme is underway, organised by the Estonian Refugee Council, Garage48, and Swedbank. The top 41 teams, including 14 teams featuring women with refugee backgrounds, advanced to the incubation programme, which will run until the end of March. The programme is co-financed by Swedbank, Garage48, the Estonian Refugee Council, the Estonian Association of Business and Professional Women, OBJEKT, and the European Union.

In collaboration with Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, we are implementing an employability programme aimed at increasing the competitiveness of people with a refugee background in business and the labour market through the learning of artificial intelligence. The programme is funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme with support from the European Regional Development Fund.

We conduct monthly adaptation support training sessions on various subjects, including healthcare and social systems, adaptation for parents and pensioners, education system, entrepreneurship, legal issues in the context of Estonia and Ukraine, the labour market, and digital skills. The training sessions take place across Estonia, both in face-to-face and online formats. In 2024, we held 165 trainings for over 2600 people. Since 2022, the trainings have been attended by over 9800 people. 
Changes in the procedures for applying for and extending temporary protection have created a high demand for trainings on this topic. In November and December, we conducted seminars for 345 people on various legal matters and residence permits. Recent changes in the healthcare system have increased interest in trainings related to health and the social system. 

We provide counselling by appointment at the Estonian Refugee Council office (Vambola 6, Tallinn) every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Our information hotline is open to all refugees, as well as institutions and individuals assisting them, at +372 5881 1311 (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm), and via email at counselling@pagulasabi.ee. Additionally, counselling services are available on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram at +372 5464 0007.

We organise regular group activities and community events across Estonia. This year, nearly 4000 people have participated in our community empowerment activities. Community activities are supported by UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency.

Georgia

We have successfully completed our Winterisation Cash Assistance Programme in Georgia, helping 160 households of Ukrainian refugees. The programme focused on those living in rural areas of Georgia, excluding two major cities, Tbilisi and Batumi, ensuring support reached those in regions with greater need during the cold season. The programme is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With supporting the launch or development of small businesses through our Emergency Livelihoods Programme, helping people secure a stabile source of income and foster long-term self-sufficiency. We have helped 76 Ukrainian refugees in Georgia secure sustainable livelihoods. The programme is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Georgia, we continue working with community councils to strengthen civil society and make sure the voices of refugees and internally displaced people are heard. In December, the community councils focused on improving access to healthcare services for internally displaced people, and supporting people with a refugee background on their entrepreneurial journey. The programme is supported by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development and implemented in collaboration with local NGO MMRH. 

Armenia 

In Armenia, we are implementing an environmentally friendly agriculture programme designed to assist three schools in the rural Tavush region in adopting water- and energy-efficient agricultural solutions developed in Estonia. This initiative aims to alleviate water scarcity, promote climate change adaptation, and provide children with valuable environmental education. The programme is supported by the Environmental Investment Centre.

We are supporting displaced women from Nagorno-Karabakh through a livelihoods programme in the Lori region. In December, we selected the 35 women to participate in the incubation period training sessions scheduled for January. The programme is funded by the US Embassy in Armenia.

We are establishing four community councils for active refugees to voice their concerns, advocate for addressing their challenges, and participate in the decision-making processes that affect them. Similar community councils that amplify the voices of people with refugee backgrounds are actively operating in both Estonia and Georgia. Additionally, we are establishing self-help groups, offering mental health and psychosocial support, and empowering them to build sustainable, independent livelihoods. The programme is funded by the European Union.

Jordan

In Jordan, our focus is on vulnerable female-led households. We are preparing for the next phase of the programme, where we will develop our training centre and provide training for 40 women, with support for 12 to establish hydroponic greenhouses on their own land. The greenhouses enable women to grow food for their own families or enhance their income by selling produce. Additionally, we will conduct hydroponics training for four female-led community organisations to increase knowledge of water-efficient agricultural methods in the entire region. The activities of the Estonian Refugee Council in Jordan are supported by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development. 

Lebanon

In collaboration with the local organisation Nusaned, we are providing cash assistance to people in Lebanon who have fled their homes due to armed conflict, helping them meet their basic needs related to finding emergency shelter. The Estonian Refugee Council’s response in Lebanon is funded by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

You can support the activities of the Estonian Refugee Council on our website.