German Embassy Grants: Human Rights Protection

The Embassy of benzoate the Federal Republic of Germany in Kyiv announces a call for proposals for non-governmental human rights organizations and media to receive funding for projects in the field of human rights. The initiative aims to support civil society through the implementation of concrete, time-bound, and clearly formulated initiatives.

Within the program, applicant organizations can receive from 50,000 to 150,000 EUR to implement their ideas. Funding focuses on three key priorities: combating disinformation and protecting media freedom (including countering SLAPP lawsuits), strengthening children's rights through educational support, and combating gender-based violence, which includes assistance to victims, psychosocial support, and the reintegration of traumatized female and male veterans into families.

The program has strict time limits: every supported project must be completed no later than December 31 of the current year, as multi-year initiatives are fundamentally not funded. Organizations that are ready to make their own financial contribution to the overall project budget are invited to participate. Grant funds have a targeted purpose and cannot be used for general institutional support of organizations, for example, to cover ongoing operational costs or pay for permanent staff.

The project is implemented using funds from the German Federal Foreign Office. The selection procedure consists of two stages: first, the project concept form is filled out and submitted, and only after receiving a positive response from the Embassy do applicants receive the full application form for detailed budget planning.

• The organization must operate in the field of human rights protection, civil society support, or independent media development.
• The applicant must possess resources for a mandatory own financial contribution concerning the overall project budget rather than separate expenditure items.
• The application must target the implementation of an exclusively concrete, clearly formulated, and time-bound initiative.
• The applicant must not request funds for institutional support, such as covering basic rent or permanent personnel salaries.
• The organization must be capable of fully implementing and completing all project activities no later than December 31 of the current year.

Project Financing:

• The average funding amount for a single project ranges from 50,000 to 150,000 EUR.
• Funds are allocated exclusively for the implementation of concrete, clearly formulated initiatives that are limited in scope and duration.
• The grant cannot be used for institutional support of organizations. It is strictly forbidden to cover the applicant's current operational and personnel costs with these funds, such as basic office rent or permanent staff salaries. 
• When submitting the full project application (at the second stage of selection), it is necessary to provide a detailed financing plan with an exhaustive list of all projected expenses. 
• Upon project completion, the organization is required to submit a financial report on the targeted use of the allocated funds according to a special template provided by the Embassy.
  
  

Co-financing (Own Contribution):

• The applicant organization must mandatory make its own financial contribution to the project implementation.
• The own contribution must be calculated and applied to the overall project budget as a whole. It is not permitted to link or allocate it exclusively to specific items of the financial plan.

• Initiatives to combat disinformation and support press freedom and independent media.
• Collection and provision of evidence to ensure accountability and justice.
• Measures to counter SLAPP lawsuits directed against journalists and civic activists.
• Educational projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening and protecting the rights of children and adolescents.
• Protection, prevention, and support programs for individuals who have experienced gender-based or domestic violence.
• Provision of psychosocial support to vulnerable population groups.
• Programs promoting the reintegration of traumatized female and male veterans into their families.
• Implementation of other concrete, time-bound measures that align with the goals of the German Federal Government's Action Plan on Human Rights.

Stage 1: Concept Submission

• Fill out the project concept form, which can be found on the Embassy's website.
• Send the completed document by email (in Ukrainian or German) for the Embassy's review.

Stage 2: Full Project Application Submission

• Receive a positive response from the German Embassy regarding the submitted concept.
• Obtain the application form required for project financing.
• Prepare and submit the full project application, which must include a detailed financing plan with a list of all projected expenses and the calculation of the own contribution to the overall budget.

Stage 3: Agreement Conclusion

• Receive final approval for funding from the German Embassy.
• Conclude an official grant agreement in accordance with German law.

Stage 4: Project Implementation

• Implement the planned initiatives in accordance with the agreed plan.
• Complete all project activities no later than December 31 of the current year, regardless of the start date.

Stage 5: Reporting

• Prepare a report on the targeted use of the allocated funds after the complete completion of the project.
• Submit reporting documentation according to the template provided by the Embassy.

1. Download and fill out the project concept form available on the Embassy's website.
2. Send the prepared document to the official email address: pol-200@kyji.auswaertiges-amt.de.
3. Fill out the documents and conduct communication exclusively in Ukrainian or German.
4. Wait for the results of the first stage: upon approval of the concept, the Embassy will provide the full application form for filling out the detailed budget and final submission.

• The project must focus on the key areas of the program (combating disinformation, child rights protection, countering gender-based violence) or target the goals of the German Federal Government's Action Plan on Human Rights.
• The initiative must be concrete, clearly formulated, and limited in time and scope.
• The ability to fully implement and complete the project by December 31 of the current year is required, as multi-year initiatives are fundamentally not funded.
• The presence of an own financial contribution to the overall budget and the absence of institutional support costs in the request (such as covering basic operational or personnel expenses of the organization).

Stage 1: Concept Submission (Currently Active)

• Completed project concept form.

Stage 2: Full Application Submission (Only after concept approval by the Embassy)

• Completed application form (provided individually).
• Detailed financing plan with an exhaustive list of projected expenses.
• Calculation of the organization's own financial contribution to the overall project budget.

• Funds must be used and reported in accordance with German legal provisions.
• After funding is approved, the grant agreement is also concluded in accordance with German law.
• Upon complete completion of the project, the organization must provide a report on the targeted use of funds.
• Reporting is carried out using a special template (form) provided by the Embassy.
• Expenditures must strictly comply with the detailed financing plan, as misuse, particularly for covering ongoing institutional costs of the organization (rent, permanent staff), is not permitted.

• The conclusion of the grant agreement and the financing procedure are carried out exclusively in accordance with German law.
• The use of allocated funds must strictly comply with the approved detailed financing plan; misuse of funds is not permitted.
• Financing the organization's institutional costs (basic office rent, permanent staff salaries) is strictly prohibited by the program terms.
• A mandatory condition for receiving funding is the provision of the organization's own financial contribution to the overall project budget.
• The organization assumes a legal obligation to submit a financial report on the targeted use of funds according to the template established by the Embassy upon full completion of the project.