Briefly
Program description
The international humanitarian organization Mercy Corps is implementing the BLOOM (Building Livelihoods and Opportunities for Optimized Markets) program to support small and medium-sized enterprises that aim to create new jobs while expanding their activities with a focus on social impact and inclusiveness. The project is being implemented by the non-governmental organization West Ukraine Digital.
The program aims to create new opportunities for employment, business development, and community resilience to reduce the affected population's dependence on cash and in-kind assistance, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.
Main Information
Eligibility
The program operates in the Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions and applies to local or relocated businesses.
Conditions for participation in the program:
- official business registration;
- creation or preservation of jobs for IDPs or the local population;
- co-investment of own funds in the implementation of the submitted business idea up to 50% of the grant amount.
Financing
Assistance is provided to businesses for the purchase of fixed production assets.
How to Apply
- Register on the program portal https://bloom.mercycorps.org/
- Fill out the questionnaire. You will need to answer questions about the history of your business, the impact of the war on it, its current state of activity, a description of your business idea, and the social and inclusive impact of your project.
Evaluation Criteria
Participants are selected on a competitive basis according to the following criteria:
- a business idea that promises to increase profits and create or preserve jobs;
- clear justification of the need for financial assistance;
- social or inclusive impact;
- experience in running a business and a clear understanding of how to implement the proposed business idea;
- no concerns about the applicant's business reputation.