Vulnerabilities: Elderly women, single mothers and female-headed households

social protection enjoy in their rural communities, is an important asset to build upon for humanitarian NGOs . Workers in the “social sector” are also often more vocal, active in public life, and responsive to innovative proposals . It may be worthwhile for Caritas to think in the direction of support for municipal infrastructure, schools and clinics, as well as for teachers, doctors and social workers (for instance, ways to encourage and support municipal workers include conferences and trainings, sponsored visits to bigger cities to gain new skills and experiences, provision with educational hand-out materials to use in their work, and collaboration on identifying material infrastructural needs where NGOs could step in to offer assistance) .

Vulnerabilities: Elderly women, single mothers and femaleheaded households

Women in our study were more likely to be classified as vulnerable . Respondents identified two categories of women, who in their view are in greatest need to support: the elderly, and mothers with children . Paradoxically, at a national level poverty is not feminized (in 2017 according to the Institute of Demography 24 .2% of women and 24 .6% of men were below the poverty line) . But at the same time one can clearly identify specific social categories that are at greater risk of poverty, and women are overrepresented in many of them, for instance among the rural elderly . According to the FAO report, rural population is at a higher risk of poverty with 42 .2% living below subsistence minimum as opposed to 23 .8% of urban population, women’s pensions tend to be lower than that of men, the share of older widowed women is higher in rural areas, and the largest group of elderly persons in Ukraine are rural women) . Furthermore, high prevalence of non-monetary forms of poverty (living conditions, deprivation / lack of access to basic goods and services, social exclusion and insecurity) has lead FAO to insist on the prevalence of rural feminization of poverty12 .

Children’s vulnerability was also singled out in our study in the context of war (that increased the need for psychological support, speech therapy), as well as lack of recreational facilities and activities to keep children and youth engaged — a possible area for Caritas intervention (consequently, as women are generally main caregivers for their children, these concerns indirectly affect women more than men) . There is also evidence to suggest that poverty rates increase with the number of children . Women are generally responsible for unpaid care work within a household, and approach social service providers not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of their children . Thus, presence of children indirectly affects women’s subjective sense of poverty and deprivation . Single mothers and large families are at a particular risk, especially in rural areas with poor social service provision .

At the same time, while clearly identifying these vulnerable categories, social workers, in particular those employed by Caritas, were skeptical of targeted assistance following lists of beneficiaries (“We understand why it’s easier for donors – you just take a list of beneficiaries and go giving out parcels. But it would have been better to offer something more substantial”) . Social workers pointed to cases of “overlap” between different humanitarian projects (like assistance to the elderly offered by several different NGOs, while other vulnerable groups may be omitted) . In Zolote, Caritas workers mentioned participating in regular planning meetings with representatives from other NGOs, but complained that such meetings are often

Reduced-mobility beneficiaries, most of whom are women receive social payments on their banking cards, but lack a possibility to withdraw funds, thus being forced to lend their cards and share pin-codes with neighbours who are heading off to cities, asking to withdraw money on their behalf. The need for ATMs could be seen as a case of infrastructural intervention, to be taken into consideration.

rather formal and there is little collaboration and division of roles between NGOs . In all sites, social workers pointed to the need of more substantial collaboration, dividing roles and responsibilities and engaging in more long-term strategic planning (perhaps also in collaboration with the local government) .

Respondents claimed that these vulnerable categories are also more likely to receive humanitarian assistance, and challenged the notion of differentiated levels of need .

Oh, but single mothers have nothing to complain about! Single mothers, or mothers with many children, they are never left with empty hands (elderly nurse, site 1)

It is difficult for everyone except pensioners. They receive humanitarian aid every week. I suspect that every other pensioner in Novobakhmutivka can open a shop selling household good, washing detergents. I’m telling you the truth — they get everything by the second. Everyone who is above 65 lives like in God’s bosom. (у Бога за пазухой). And they are still complaining that they don’t receive products. But Caritas gives them coal, Caritas gives them hygiene items. And as for single mothers… honestly, I had forgotten when was the last time I received humanitarian aid. Our main problem usually is the pensioners. (single mother, IDP, site 1)

Now there are no more programs for IDPs. IDPs don’t have it as before, aid calmed down, but we don’t need anything — if only war would end… People got used to the idea that they would always keep getting aid. If there is some meeting, they think it must be because we will received something, or they even think that others are obliged to give them something. “If you are not giving us anything — then why did we come here?” Everyone eased their view (“все расслабились”). (single mother, IDP, site 1).

A disabled man from Novobakhmutivka both insisted that the elderly are in need of humanitarian aid (“it is good for NGOs to step in, because the elderly don’t really have anything, just some minimal pension”) but later on expressed frustration that “the system is stupid! Those who are above 80 or above 60 — they get aid, but those who are, say, above 40, don’t” . He personally has a disability pension, but claims to be ineligible for many charitable programs because of his age, although he did receive a water filter from Caritas and a small plough . He concludes now aid has become more limited (“they used to give, but not anymore”) and there is more competition, but that “everyone can’t have it all. There is needs-testing (assessment) or through the school” (his daughter receives school supplies and other gifts from NGOs at a local school) .

Much humanitarian assistance is targeted to specific vulnerable groups, which leads to resentment on behalf of those who don’t qualify, and to competition for scarce resources . On the other hand, most respondents resisted the logic of targeting and the questions of “who is in greatest need”, by insisting on universal provision for all . Among their proposals for NGO intervention, dominant ones consisted in community-building efforts, and more long-term solutions with regards to infrastructure, employment and social cohesion .

Poverty rates increase with the number of children. Women are generally responsible for unpaid care work within a household, and approach social service providers not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of their children. Thus, presence of children indirectly affects women’s subjective sense of poverty and deprivation. Single mothers and large families are at a particular risk, especially in rural areas with poor social service provision.