Kiri

In 2025, despite having to optimize its

structure and scale down its activities due

to financial cuts, IRC Poland’s staff of some

30 served 39,930 clients (of whom 28,319

women) through 52 client-facing services.

IRC Poland cooperated with 11 local non-

governmental organisations – mostly in

Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice and Poznań.

We provided 261 external individuals with

training sessions.

At a Glance

IRC in Poland

Country Program Update 2025

Who We Are

Where We Work

Context Working in Country

The IRC has been present in Poland since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

in 2022. Over time, our role has evolved from direct humanitarian assistance to long-

term economic empowerment and social integration of migrants and refugees from

Ukraine of which 90 percent are women and children.

Today, we help refugees thrive through job readiness programs, vocational trainings,

language courses, and support for microbusiness development. In women empowerment

and child protection areas, we work in partnership with authorities, NGOs, refugees and

communities to create inclusive, lasting solutions. We also work to ensure all refugees

have access to their rights. To-date, some 180,000 clients have received our services.

Poland is a stable democracy, although it

struggles with the growing influence of

nationalist and xenophobic attitudes. Since

February 2025, a law has been in effect that

restricts the right to asylum for people who

enter Poland from Belarusian territory. At the

same time, however, the million-strong

community of refugees from Ukraine can still

enjoy full rights – incl. access to education,

the labor market, and support programs.

Impact of funding cuts in FY25

Some of IRC Poland’s partners were

critically affected by the cuts. To ensure

continuity of their services for our clients,

we decided to cover their financial shortfalls

under TR518. This applied to two Women's

Protection and Empowerment partners and

two Protection partners: Feminoteka,

Martynka, Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center,

and the Rule of Law Institute, respectively.

Child Protection Implementation of Standards for the Protection of Minors and trauma-

informed practices. IRC Poland helped schools create six „Peace Corners”

– dedicated quiet spaces where children can rest and practise self-

regulation techniques. Due to positive feedback we received, we plan to

roll out the program in and around Warsaw. We also organized roundtables

to improve risk identification and focus on integrating education and child

protection systems for coordinated responses. Conflict management and

prevention of peer violence remain our top prriorities.

1,980

clients

served

4,507

clients

served

14,009

clients

served

19,434

clients

served

Learn more about the IRC in Poland: Dariusz Ziętek, Country Director, [email protected]

International Rescue Committee | Rescue.org

Economic Empowerment IRC Poland works to ensure migrants and refugees in Poland achieve

financial independence. We organize job fairs, support microenterprise

and business development and upskilling, conduct trainings for aspiring

entrepreneurs, identify barriers in access to employment which stem

from discrimination and socio-economic status. In 2025, our program to

support microbusinesses was scaled up through cooperation with the

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Polish-

Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.

Education IRC Poland led sustained advocacy efforts focused on ensuring access

to education for Ukrainian children in Poland. Additionally, new

partnerships were created to promote inclusive education for refugee

children. Other priorities, among others, were: data-informed dialogue on

the needs of foreign students, including the release of a quantitative

report, alongside programs promoting student participation, engagement,

teamwork, and well-being.

Protection Main areas of focus: initiatives to counter hate speech and bias-

motivated violence against refugees and migrants; GBV prevention and

supporting GBV survivors, Women Protection and Rule of Law and

strengthening state-supported protection frameworks, among others. IRC

Poland focused its efforts on strengthening institutional and community

capacity to prevent and respond to GBV through targeted trainings,

practical tools, and partnerships with Polish organizations

Programming in Country

Fundacja International Rescue Committee Polska Registration number: 0000967282 Address: Zelazna 59A 00-848 Warsaw Poland

Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia To whom it may concern Assessment Mission of IRC Poland to the Baltics Dear Sir/Madam,

On behalf of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Poland, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the important work carried out by the Government of the Republic of Estonia in responding to the challenges related to migration and displacement in recent years.

The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian organization operating in more than 40 countries, supporting people affected by conflict, crisis, and displacement. Within Europe, IRC Poland leads several regional initiatives aimed at strengthening protection systems, promoting economic inclusion, and supporting access to services for refugees and displaced populations, particularly those affected by the war in Ukraine.

In this context, our colleague Mr. Božidar Dimić will be visiting Estonia, from 16-18 of March, as part of a regional learning visit to the Baltic states. The purpose of this visit is to exchange perspectives with public institutions and relevant stakeholders, better understand national approaches to migration management and refugee inclusion, and explore opportunities for sharing experiences and good practices.

During his visit, Mr. Dimić will be meeting with a range of national institutions, civil society organisations, and international partners working in areas such as migration governance, economic inclusion, and social integration.

Should it be possible, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity for Mr. Dimić to briefly meet with representatives of your institution during his stay in Estonia in order to exchange perspectives and learn more about Estonia’s experience and priorities in this area.

We thank you in advance for considering this request and remain at your disposal for any additional information.

Yours sincerely,

Dariusz Zietek, Country Director [email protected]

In 2025, despite having to optimize its

structure and scale down its activities due

to financial cuts, IRC Poland’s staff of some

30 served 39,930 clients (of whom 28,319

women) through 52 client-facing services.

IRC Poland cooperated with 11 local non-

governmental organisations – mostly in

Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice and Poznań.

We provided 261 external individuals with

training sessions.

At a Glance

IRC in Poland

Country Program Update 2025

Who We Are

Where We Work

Context Working in Country

The IRC has been present in Poland since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

in 2022. Over time, our role has evolved from direct humanitarian assistance to long-

term economic empowerment and social integration of migrants and refugees from

Ukraine of which 90 percent are women and children.

Today, we help refugees thrive through job readiness programs, vocational trainings,

language courses, and support for microbusiness development. In women empowerment

and child protection areas, we work in partnership with authorities, NGOs, refugees and

communities to create inclusive, lasting solutions. We also work to ensure all refugees

have access to their rights. To-date, some 180,000 clients have received our services.

Poland is a stable democracy, although it

struggles with the growing influence of

nationalist and xenophobic attitudes. Since

February 2025, a law has been in effect that

restricts the right to asylum for people who

enter Poland from Belarusian territory. At the

same time, however, the million-strong

community of refugees from Ukraine can still

enjoy full rights – incl. access to education,

the labor market, and support programs.

Impact of funding cuts in FY25

Some of IRC Poland’s partners were

critically affected by the cuts. To ensure

continuity of their services for our clients,

we decided to cover their financial shortfalls

under TR518. This applied to two Women's

Protection and Empowerment partners and

two Protection partners: Feminoteka,

Martynka, Halina Nieć Legal Aid Center,

and the Rule of Law Institute, respectively.

Child Protection Implementation of Standards for the Protection of Minors and trauma-

informed practices. IRC Poland helped schools create six „Peace Corners”

– dedicated quiet spaces where children can rest and practise self-

regulation techniques. Due to positive feedback we received, we plan to

roll out the program in and around Warsaw. We also organized roundtables

to improve risk identification and focus on integrating education and child

protection systems for coordinated responses. Conflict management and

prevention of peer violence remain our top prriorities.

1,980

clients

served

4,507

clients

served

14,009

clients

served

19,434

clients

served

Learn more about the IRC in Poland: Dariusz Ziętek, Country Director, [email protected]

International Rescue Committee | Rescue.org

Economic Empowerment IRC Poland works to ensure migrants and refugees in Poland achieve

financial independence. We organize job fairs, support microenterprise

and business development and upskilling, conduct trainings for aspiring

entrepreneurs, identify barriers in access to employment which stem

from discrimination and socio-economic status. In 2025, our program to

support microbusinesses was scaled up through cooperation with the

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Polish-

Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.

Education IRC Poland led sustained advocacy efforts focused on ensuring access

to education for Ukrainian children in Poland. Additionally, new

partnerships were created to promote inclusive education for refugee

children. Other priorities, among others, were: data-informed dialogue on

the needs of foreign students, including the release of a quantitative

report, alongside programs promoting student participation, engagement,

teamwork, and well-being.

Protection Main areas of focus: initiatives to counter hate speech and bias-

motivated violence against refugees and migrants; GBV prevention and

supporting GBV survivors, Women Protection and Rule of Law and

strengthening state-supported protection frameworks, among others. IRC

Poland focused its efforts on strengthening institutional and community

capacity to prevent and respond to GBV through targeted trainings,

practical tools, and partnerships with Polish organizations

Programming in Country

Fundacja International Rescue Committee Polska Registration number: 0000967282 Address: Zelazna 59A 00-848 Warsaw Poland

Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Estonia To whom it may concern Assessment Mission of IRC Poland to the Baltics Dear Sir/Madam,

On behalf of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Poland, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the important work carried out by the Government of the Republic of Estonia in responding to the challenges related to migration and displacement in recent years.

The International Rescue Committee is a global humanitarian organization operating in more than 40 countries, supporting people affected by conflict, crisis, and displacement. Within Europe, IRC Poland leads several regional initiatives aimed at strengthening protection systems, promoting economic inclusion, and supporting access to services for refugees and displaced populations, particularly those affected by the war in Ukraine.

In this context, our colleague Mr. Božidar Dimić will be visiting Estonia, from 16-18 of March, as part of a regional learning visit to the Baltic states. The purpose of this visit is to exchange perspectives with public institutions and relevant stakeholders, better understand national approaches to migration management and refugee inclusion, and explore opportunities for sharing experiences and good practices.

During his visit, Mr. Dimić will be meeting with a range of national institutions, civil society organisations, and international partners working in areas such as migration governance, economic inclusion, and social integration.

Should it be possible, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity for Mr. Dimić to briefly meet with representatives of your institution during his stay in Estonia in order to exchange perspectives and learn more about Estonia’s experience and priorities in this area.

We thank you in advance for considering this request and remain at your disposal for any additional information.

Yours sincerely,

Dariusz Zietek, Country Director [email protected]