Financial Assistance for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

The international humanitarian organization Mercy Corps, in partnership with the NGO “West Ukraine Digital”, continues implementing the Ukraine Economic Resilience Support Programme.

Under the funding stream “Financial Assistance for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Affected by War,” support is provided to businesses seeking to restore and strengthen their operations.

Key features of the programme include:

• financial assistance aimed at supporting business recovery;
• funds may be used to help restore business activities affected by the consequences of war;
• the initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s economic resilience.

The programme is open to applicants who meet the established business and project implementation requirements.

The program operates in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odesa regions and is open to local or relocated businesses that have been affected by the war and need funds to recover or reorient their operations.

Key eligibility criteria include:

• official business registration;
• business operations within the regions defined by the programme;
• at least one employee;
• an operating business that is not undergoing bankruptcy or liquidation procedures;
• no outstanding debts, court rulings, or links to sanctioned individuals;
• previous business management experience.

In addition, applicants are expected to ensure the creation or preservation of at least three jobs for internally displaced persons or local residents and provide co-investment of their own funds for the implementation of the proposed business idea.

• Business recovery activities.
• Production expansion.
• Purchase of equipment and tools.
• Procurement of production materials.
• Job creation and retention.
• Strengthening business resilience.
• Business development activities.

• Submit an online application.
• Verification of eligibility for the program.
• Evaluation of the application.
• Interview or additional verification (if necessary).
• Decision on the award of financial assistance.
• Signing of the necessary documents.
• Provision of financial support to the winners.

To participate in the programme, applicants must register on the programme website and complete the application questionnaire. At the first stage of the selection process, this is sufficient to submit an application.

Key steps:

1. Register on the programme website.
2. Complete the questionnaire by providing information about the business, its history, the impact of the war on operations, its current status, and the proposed business idea.
3. If needed, save a partially completed application and return to it later.
4. Submit the completed form for consideration.

It is important to note that the business plan is required only at the final stage of the selection process. Participants will also receive guidance and support during the implementation of their business ideas.

Applicants are selected through a competitive process based on the alignment of both the applicant and the proposed business idea with the programme objectives.

The evaluation considers the following criteria:

• eligibility as a small or medium-sized business affected by the war;
• a business idea that demonstrates potential for increased profitability and the creation or preservation of jobs;
• clear justification for the requested financial assistance;
• business management experience and a solid understanding of how the proposed idea will be implemented;
• a positive business reputation with no identified concerns.

Additional priority is given to businesses that have been adversely affected by the war, including those experiencing physical damage, forced relocation, loss of assets, or loss of access to assets.

The selection process also considers the broader socio-economic value of the business, including its contribution to community development, support for local populations, improved access to goods and services for vulnerable groups, and the strengthening of supply chains and market opportunities.

• The application questionnaire is the primary document required at the initial stage of the application process.
• The form should include information about the business, its needs, and the proposed business idea.
• A business plan is not required during the first stage and is only requested at the final stage of the selection process.

Within the programme framework, it is stated that Mercy Corps and its partner organisations do not request any payment for the provision of humanitarian assistance. If any requests for payment or compensation are identified, participants are encouraged to report them through the official feedback channels.

Key provisions include:

• Humanitarian assistance is provided free of charge to participants.
• Any request for payment, reward, or compensation by programme staff or partners should be reported through the designated communication channels: by email: integrityhotline@mercycorps.org or through the portal https://mercycorps.i-sight.com/portal.
• Mercy Corps feedback channels are not used for registration for assistance.
• The programme is implemented with financial support from Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).