Grant Competition for CSOs

The Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) announced the first wave of the grant competition for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the programme “Reintegration, Education and Support for Veterans at the Community Level.”

The competition is implemented within the project “Resilience and Engagement for Ukraine: Expanding Civil Society Capacity to Address War-Related Needs and Support Ukraine’s Path to the EU,” funded by the European Union.

The project implementation started in December 2025. The initiative aims to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience by supporting the capacity of civil society organizations and contributing to the gradual growth of social resilience, including addressing challenges caused by the war.

The main objective of the competition is to support civil society organizations implementing:

• psychosocial programmes;
• educational initiatives;
• economic reintegration projects for war veterans.

The programme covers the territory of Ukraine, excluding temporarily occupied territories, active combat zones, and areas where security risks make project implementation impossible.

The grant competition is open to non-profit civil society organizations (CSOs / NGOs) that have been officially registered in Ukraine for at least one year as of the application submission date.

Organizations must have an appropriate non-profit status code:

• 0032;
• 0036;
• 0038;
• 39.  

Preference will be given to organizations with proven experience:

• working with veterans and their family members;
• providing social services.

A mandatory component of the project is participation in training aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of civil society organizations.

Participation in the training is mandatory for grant recipients. At least two representatives directly involved in project implementation must participate from each organization.

The grant programme provides project funding with the following budget parameters:

• the expected grant amount is UAH 750,000;
• the minimum grant budget is UAH 500,000;
• the total competition budget is UAH 4,500,000.

The organisers state that the project budget cannot include expenses identified in the competition guidelines as non-eligible for funding.

Project proposals within the grant programme must align with the competition priorities focused on supporting veterans and strengthening social cohesion.

The main priority areas include:

• supporting the reintegration of veterans into civilian life through community-level initiatives;
• strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to implement psychosocial, educational, and economic reintegration programmes;
• promoting social cohesion and reducing the stigmatization of veterans across Ukraine.

Eligible activities include:

• vocational training and employment support services for veterans;
• peer support groups and mental health counselling;
• provision of legal assistance and support in accessing social services;
• information and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing stigmatization and promoting social integration;
• support for veterans’ entrepreneurial activities.

The grant programme defines the main implementation stages and the competition timeline.

Key roadmap stages include:

• project duration — up to 10 months;
• information session — 12 May 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00;
• the final deadline for grant applications — 5 June 2026;
• Grant Committee meeting date — 29 June 2026;
• announcement of winners — 6 July 2026;
• project implementation start date — 15 July 2026.

To participate in the grant competition, organizations must prepare a project proposal and submit it using two mandatory submission methods simultaneously.

Step-by-step application process:

• prepare the application package, including the project team CVs;
• send the documents by email to: reu@ier.kyiv.ua;
• use the subject line: “Competition ‘Veteran Reintegration Competition for CSOs’”;
• submit the application through the grant platform: grant.ier.com.ua.

The following files must be attached separately:

• application form (Word);
• project budget (.xlsx);
• project matrix (.xlsx);
• supporting documents (PDF, Word).

If the file size is too large, applicants may use a file-sharing service and provide an active access link.

Within the competition, one organization may submit up to three applications, but only one project per organization may receive funding.

The organizers also note that:

• submitted materials will not be reviewed individually;
• decisions of the Grant Committee are not subject to appeal;
• competition results will be announced publicly and by separate email notification;
• reasons for rejection will not be explained.

The main evaluation criteria include:

• project relevance;
• experience working with veterans and their family members;
• effectiveness, feasibility, and sustainability of project activities;
• budget transparency;
• financial and operational capacity of the organisation;
• inclusion and protection measures, including safety-related policies.

The organisers will assess both the quality of the proposed project and the organisation’s ability to effectively implement the planned activities.

The main list of required documents includes:

• the application form;
• project budget;
• project matrix;
• competition guidelines;
• template of the guarantee letter.

Within the grant programme for Civil Society Organizations, an information session has been announced to present the competition conditions and participation details.

The information session will take place on 12 May 2026 from 10:00 to 12:00.

Participants are required to complete prior online registration using the registration link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/psM20XmM3P

Within the grant programme, applicants must ensure a transparent budget and have the necessary financial and operational resources for project implementation and reporting.

Organisations are also required to:

• follow safety and inclusion principles in project implementation regions;
• maintain at least two communication channels (such as Facebook, Telegram, Instagram, LinkedIn, or a website).

Project activities must include broad public communication about the implementation process and project results, including through:

• social media;
• distribution of project materials;
• media announcements.

Grant recipients are responsible for monitoring project implementation, evaluating results, and complying with EU communication and branding requirements.

Beneficiaries are required to submit reports in the formats defined by IER.