Business continuity and operational resilience of MSMEs in frontline regions

The programme is implemented within the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), delivered by Chemonics Group UK Ltd and funded by the governments of Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The programme aims to strengthen the resilience of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in frontline regions of Ukraine through digital training and implementation of digital tools.

The grant supports development of training programmes and practical assistance enabling businesses to adopt digital solutions, cybersecurity measures, cloud infrastructure and operational continuity tools.

Basic eligibility requirements

Applicants must:

• have the status of a legally registered organisation under Ukrainian law (civil society organisation, charitable organisation or business association);
• hold non-profit status;
• be ready to undergo due diligence procedures and complete the applicant self-assessment form;
• pass screening through the Visual Compliance system, which checks international sanctions and restricted-party lists.

The organisation must also:

• have qualified staff with experience in project management and financial reporting;
• demonstrate an effective governance structure and internal control system;
• maintain policies and procedures that prevent fraud, corruption and misuse of funds.

Additional organisational requirements

Applicants must ensure:

• the existence of a policy on health, wellbeing and human rights protection;
• appropriate procedures of care regarding staff members and external consultants;
• compliance with ethical standards and the Chemonics Supplier Code of Conduct, based on the UK FCDO Code of Conduct.

Ineligible organisations

The following organisations are not eligible to apply:

• organisations registered in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine that have not re-registered in government-controlled territory;
• organisations not registered under Ukrainian legislation;
• organisations with a record of misusing donor funds within the past five years;
• organisations included in international sanctions or restricted-party lists;
• political parties or affiliated entities;
• religious organisations;
• organisations supporting anti-democratic or illegal activities;
• organisations registered in Russia, North Korea or Iran;
• organisations associated with individuals or entities included in the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council sanctions list.

Key stages:

• submission of applications;
• eligibility review;
• evaluation by the selection committee;
• duediligence;
• budget approval;
• final decision on grant award.

Applications are evaluated after a compliance check confirming that they meet the formal eligibility and submission requirements.

Only eligible applications are reviewed by the selection committee according to the established evaluation criteria.

Overall scoring framework

Applications are assessed across four main categories with a maximum score of 100 points:

• Project methodology and design — up to 40 points
• Expert knowledge and experience — up to 30 points
• Budget and value for money — up to 20 points
• Risk management — up to 10 points

Applications scoring at least 70 points may be invited to the next stage and undergo due diligence checks.

Key evaluation criteria

1. Project methodology and design (up to 40 points)
This criterion assesses the quality of the proposed programme for MSME training and support, including:

• relevance to the needs of frontline MSMEs;
• clarity and coherence of the project structure;
• realism of the implementation approach;
• usefulness and practical applicability of project deliverables.

The evaluation also considers:

• the strategy for engaging MSMEs, particularly priority groups;
• inclusiveness and alignment with GEDSI principles;
• the scalability of the implementation model, including the capacity to reach at least 300 MSMEs.

2. Expert knowledge and experience (up to 30 points)
This category evaluates the applicant’s experience in:

• delivering digital training and support programmes for MSMEs;
• implementing donor-funded initiatives;
• operating programmes across multiple regions or locations.

Evidence of measurable results from previous projects is particularly important.

3. Budget and value for money (up to 20 points)
Assessment focuses on:

• the clarity and realism of the proposed budget;
• justification of each cost item;
• efficient use of resources and overall value for money.

4. Risk management (up to 10 points)
Applications should include:

• a structured risk matrix;
• identification of operational, financial, security and access risks;
• mitigation measures and the organisation’s capacity to adapt to challenging implementation conditions.

Additional evaluation considerations

The evaluation also takes into account:

• the organisation’s readiness to identify technological needs of MSMEs and recommend support packages;
• the ability to build partnerships and provide in-kind contributions, such as donated software licences or pro bono services;
• the overall organisational capacity and feasibility of the implementation plan.

• Online application form.
• Grant proposal form (Appendix A).
• Budget (Appendix B).
• Self-assessment form (Appendix C).
• Risk matrix (Appendix D).
• Extract from the Unified State Register.
• Certificate of non-profit status.
• Articles of Incorporation.
• Organizational structure and CVs of key personnel.
• Financial reports.
• Audit reports (if available).

Online pre-application workshop on 19 March 2026 at 16:00 (Teams).

The grantee must propose specific and measurable project results in the application in line with the project methodology. The expected outcomes should demonstrate progress in strengthening the operational resilience of MSMEs, implementing digital solutions and ensuring proper accountability.

Core reporting requirements

The grant recipient is expected to prepare and submit the following materials:

• Regular interim reports describing:

  • participant engagement;

  • implementation milestones achieved;

  • challenges encountered and programme adjustments;

  • MSME needs related to digital tools and equipment;

  • training sessions, consultations and practical support provided.

The reported data should be structured and disaggregated by:

• region and community;
• sector;
• business size;
• priority beneficiary groups.

Additional reporting outputs

Reporting should also include preparation of:

• case studies of successful MSME digital transformation journeys, suitable for communication and promotional materials;
• replicable digital improvement scenarios by sector;
• practical guidelines and methodological materials on digital transformation and business continuity for MSMEs.

Final reporting

At the end of the project, the grantee must prepare:

• a final report summarising the programme results;
• a presentation for the programme management, outlining key outcomes, lessons learned and recommendations for future support initiatives.

Key regulatory documents

Grants are awarded in line with:

• the Standard Terms and Conditions of the UK FCDO;
• the Chemonics Supplier Code of Conduct, which is based on the FCDO Code of Conduct.

These documents set out the core rules and compliance requirements for organisations receiving funding.

Obligations of grant recipients

Organisations receiving funding are required to:

• comply with the provisions of the above-mentioned regulations;
• adhere to the requirements included in the Applicant Self-Assessment Form;
• implement project activities in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement.

Rights of the donor organisation

Chemonics and the FCDO reserve the right to:

• refuse to award a grant to any applicant;
• suspend or terminate funding, either fully or partially, at any time.

Additional notice

Submission of an application:

• does not guarantee funding;
• does not create any obligation for Chemonics to award funding to any applicant.