Grant Competition for CSOs “Advocacy Support to Strengthen the Role and Influence of Civil Society”

The grant program is implemented by the Askold and Dir Fund, administered by ISAR Ednannia, and is designed to strengthen the role of civil society in Ukraine by enhancing advocacy capacity and supporting the institutional development of civil society organizations (CSOs).

Overall objective of the program

The program aims to strengthen the advocacy capacity of CSOs, enabling them to:

• influence decision-making processes more effectively;
• participate in public policy development;
• contribute to democratic governance;
• implement advocacy campaigns at the local and national levels.

The program also supports organizations seeking systemic change and introducing innovative approaches to advocacy.

Key objectives of the fund

To achieve its mission, the fund focuses on the following priorities:

• strengthening the organizational capacity of CSOs;
• expanding the role of CSOs in inclusive and sustainable recovery efforts;
• providing tools for effective advocacy and civic oversight;
• supporting civil society participation in democratic reforms.

The fund also provides grants, training programs, networking opportunities, and organizational development support.

Funding areas (Lots)

The grant competition includes two main funding streams:

Lot 1. Improving the legal environment for civil society

This lot supports initiatives aimed at:

• improving the legal and regulatory environment for CSOs;
• enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of civil society and volunteer organizations;
• strengthening the operational capacity of civic initiatives.

Lot 2. Institutional support for CSOs

This lot focuses on strengthening the institutional sustainability of CSOs that:

• conduct advocacy activities;
• participate in recovery and reconstruction processes;
• support democratic reforms;
• protect human rights;
• operate in socially important sectors.

Participation conditions and features

• applicants may submit multiple project proposals under the competition;
• however, only one proposal per organization may receive funding;
• the program is implemented within the broader initiative “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine — a Driver of Reforms and Democracy”;
• funding is provided with the support of international partners, including Norway and Sweden.

Who can apply

• Applications are accepted from civil society organizations (CSOs) that submit project proposals in accordance with the competition requirements.
• Organizations must be officially registered under the legislation of Ukraine, including the laws “On Public Associations” or “On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations.”
• Applicants must be included in the Register of Nonprofit Organizations with the appropriate nonprofit status code (0032 or 0036).

Experience and organizational capacity requirements

• Applicant organizations must have at least 2 years of experience in advocacy activities.
• Only organizations capable of demonstrating relevant experience and institutional capacity to implement the proposed project are eligible.

Verification and due diligence

• Organizations that pass the preliminary selection stage will be required to undergo a verification (due diligence) process.
• This procedure is intended to confirm the organization’s operational capacity, compliance, and readiness to successfully implement the project.

General participation requirements

• Project proposals must fully comply with the competition guidelines and requirements.
• Only organizations that meet the legal, institutional, and programmatic eligibility criteria will be considered.

Funding amounts

The grant amount depends on the selected funding lot:

• Lot 1 (“Improving the legal environment for civil society”):

  • maximum project budget — up to UAH 1,500,000;

  • maximum project duration — up to 1 year.

• Lot 2 (“Institutional support for CSOs”):

  • maximum project budget — up to UAH 2,500,000;

  • project duration — up to 1 year, with a possibility of extension if properly justified.

Project budgets must be prepared in Ukrainian hryvnias, and the final grant amount may be adjusted by the selection committee depending on project scope and justification.

Key budget preparation requirements

Applicants must ensure:

• detailed justification of all budget items in line with project objectives and activities;
• alignment of costs with market rates in Ukraine;
• clear indication of personnel roles, compensation rates, and level of engagement;
• detailed breakdown of event-related costs, including venue rental, equipment, and operational expenses;
• transparent planning of administrative expenses, which should not exceed 10% of the total grant amount.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses include those that:

• are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to project implementation;
• reflect cost-effectiveness and value for money;
• are properly documented and supported by financial records.

Ineligible expenses

Grant funds cannot be used for:

• charitable donations or sub-granting activities;
• purchase of vehicles or real estate;
• capital renovation or construction works;
• repayment of debts or liabilities;
• salaries for government officials or public sector employees;
• support for political, religious, or unlawful activities;
• luxury items or unjustified expenditures.

Lot 1. Improving the Legal Environment for Civil Society

• The program supports projects aimed at creating an enabling legal environment for CSO activities through legislative monitoring and the development of recommendations for regulatory improvements.
• It promotes the development of mechanisms that strengthen civil society participation in decision-making processes at both national and local levels.
• Supported initiatives include advocacy for systemic reforms that reflect public interests and contribute to democratic development.
• The program also encourages activities related to representing civil society interests at the international level and strengthening international advocacy.

Eligible activities include:

• monitoring legislative initiatives and analyzing legal acts affecting CSOs;
• drafting laws, regulations, and policy proposals to improve CSO operating conditions;
• developing and strengthening consultative and advisory mechanisms for CSO engagement in governance;
• preparing recommendations to simplify registration, reporting, and regulatory procedures;
• developing digital tools and online solutions to support CSO operations;
• strengthening partnerships between civil society, government, and the private sector;
• promoting innovative approaches to financing civic initiatives and leveraging co-funding.

Lot 2. Institutional Support for CSOs Engaged in Advocacy

• This lot focuses on strengthening the organizational and operational capacity of CSOs working in recovery, democratic development, and reform processes.
• It supports projects that contribute to human rights protection and legislative advocacy efforts.
• A key priority is promoting democratic governance practices and citizen participation in decision-making.
• Advocacy campaigns supporting inclusive and sustainable recovery of war-affected communities are eligible.
• The program supports initiatives advancing key reforms, including in justice, anti-corruption, and decentralization.
• It also promotes international advocacy efforts supporting Ukraine’s democratic transformation and reform agenda.
• Additional priority areas include strengthening energy security and community resilience, improving governance solutions, and supporting critical infrastructure stability.

Additional supported activities include:

• public awareness and information campaigns on democratic values and reforms;
• mobilizing public support for systemic and policy changes;
• building partnerships between CSOs, government institutions, and other stakeholders.

Mandatory requirement for Lot 2:

• Applicants must demonstrate proven advocacy experience, such as successful advocacy campaigns, cooperation with public authorities, or participation in strategic partnerships.

Application submission stage

Applications must be submitted within the specified deadlines:

• first application deadline — March 12, 2026 (17:00);
• second application deadline — May 12, 2026 (17:00).

Applications submitted after the deadlines will not be considered.

Selection and award stage

• after the submission period closes, all applications undergo an evaluation process;
• approximately 25–30 organizations are expected to receive funding;
• selection is conducted based on the program’s eligibility and evaluation criteria.

Project implementation stage

• project implementation begins no earlier than one month after the application deadline;
• the expected project duration is up to 12 months;
• selected organizations implement their projects in accordance with the approved work plan.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the ednannia.ua website within the established deadline. The submission process includes several key steps:

Organization Registration

• The organization must register on the ednannia.ua platform if it does not already have an account.
• After registration, the applicant must wait for confirmation via email provided during registration.
• In case of technical issues, applicants may contact support, providing the organization’s registration code (EDRPOU) and a description of the problem.

Access to the Personal Account

• Once the account is activated, the applicant logs into the personal workspace (dashboard) using their email and password.
• The personal account provides access to application forms and submission tools.

Completing and Submitting the Application

• The applicant must complete the online application form in the relevant grant competition section.
• All required information and supporting documents must be attached according to the competition requirements.
• After completion, the applicant must click “Submit Application”, after which the application will be saved on the server and editing will no longer be available.

Initial Review and Revision (if needed)

• After submission, grant managers conduct an initial review of the application.
• If revisions are required, the application status will be changed to “Requires revision”, allowing the applicant to make corrections.
• Once finalized and compliant, the application status will change to “Under review by the grant committee.”

Important Submission Conditions

• Applications submitted after the deadline or not meeting the requirements will not be considered.
• The application form and budget are mandatory components of the application package.

Communication and Support

• Applicants may contact the organizers via the hotline or email for консультації and support.
• Assistance is provided during official working hours within the application period.

The evaluation of project proposals is conducted through a multi-stage process to identify the most relevant, feasible, and impactful initiatives.

Stage 1. Technical eligibility review

At the first stage, the ICAP Ednannia Grant Committee conducts a technical compliance review of submitted applications to ensure they meet the formal requirements of the competition.

The review includes the following criteria:

• compliance of the application with the required format and submission guidelines;
• alignment of the proposal with the competition priorities and the selected Lot;
• eligibility of the applicant organization;
• submission of a complete set of required documents;
• demonstrated organizational experience in the relevant field;
• compliance of the proposed budget with the established financial limits.

Applications that do not meet the technical requirements are not advanced to the next stage.

Stage 2. Expert evaluation by an independent selection committee

Applications that pass the technical review are evaluated by an independent selection committee composed of experts in civil society development.

The evaluation is based on the following criteria:

• relevance of the project and its alignment with societal needs;
• clarity of project objectives, activities, and expected results;
• feasibility and logical consistency of the implementation plan;
• experience and capacity of the project team to successfully implement the project;
• justification, balance, and alignment of the budget with project objectives.

Additional evaluation procedures

• interviews may be conducted with shortlisted applicant organizations;
• interviews help clarify project details, team capacity, and implementation plans;
• the evaluation process is conducted independently and in accordance with impartiality principles.

Important evaluation provisions

• funding decisions are based on a comprehensive expert assessment of project proposals;
• the organizer reserves the right not to advance applications that do not meet program requirements;
• explanations may not be provided in cases of funding rejection;
• project proposals are not subject to external peer review outside the official selection process.

• Completed application form and budget (Annex A).
• Team CVs.
• If the project предусматривает cooperation with Members of Parliament of Ukraine, state authorities, or local self-government bodies, applicants are recommended to provide a letter of support from the relevant authority or MP and attach it to the application. During the evaluation process, ISAR Ednannia will contact representatives of these authorities to verify the integrity and intentions of the applicants.

Compliance with donor policies and procedures

• project implementation must comply with the policies and requirements of the donor and ISAR Ednannia;
• all obligations and conditions are defined in the grant agreement and its annexes;
• grant recipients are responsible for ensuring full compliance with all grant implementation requirements.

Procurement requirements (tender procedures)

Grant recipients must:

• conduct procurement of goods and services through transparent and competitive tender procedures;
• ensure an open and fair supplier selection process;
• evaluate supplier proposals based on defined criteria, including quality, cost, and project relevance;
• select suppliers based on justified and properly documented decisions.

Monitoring and evaluation requirements

ISAR Ednannia conducts ongoing supervision of project implementation, including:

• monitoring progress against planned indicators and expected results;
• conducting internal and external evaluations of project activities;
• assessing the effectiveness of project implementation;
• verifying compliance with grant agreement requirements.

Grant recipients are required to:

• track project implementation progress;
• document achieved results;
• provide necessary information for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Reporting obligations

Grant recipients must submit:

• project reports, including results and copies of developed materials;
• financial reports with supporting documentation;
• accounting records and financial documentation required under the grant agreement;
• additional documents necessary to verify the proper use of grant funds.

• Mandatory CSO Verification procedure (due diligence).
• Compliance with donor and ISAR Ednannia policies. 
• Prohibition of AI use without disclosure.