Grant competition for entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals for starting and developing a business

Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation announces a call for grant support for individual entrepreneurs and self-employed persons from vulnerable categories.

The program is aimed at those wishing to start, restore, or expand business activities. The competition is held within the "Resilience: Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Labor Market in Ukraine" project, supported by Sweden.

The organizer will provide administrative support to winners, including assistance in project management and reporting.

The project is designed to support entrepreneurs (sole proprietors and self-employed individuals) who intend to start, restore, or expand their business activities.

Priority is given to vulnerable population groups, including:

• veterans;
• internally displaced persons (IDPs);
• persons with disabilities;
• family members of fallen military personnel;
• individuals who have returned to their permanent place of residence after displacement;
• women entrepreneurs, who are given preference during the selection process.

Participation in the program is open exclusively to sole proprietors and self-employed individuals who conduct business activities officially.

Applicants must operate their business within the eligible geographic areas, namely:

• Kharkiv region;
• Poltava region;
• Sumy region;
• Dnipropetrovsk region;
• Chernihiv region;
• Kyiv region (excluding the city of Kyiv).

Applicants are required to meet the program’s territorial and status eligibility criteria and demonstrate a clear intention to develop, restore, or expand their business in line with the objectives of the grant program.

The grant program provides financial support for business development through the purchase of equipment and related implementation costs.

The maximum grant amount: 

• 135,200 UAH, and this amount may include taxes and mandatory charges in accordance with applicable legislation;
• Each applicant is eligible to receive only one grant within the competition, ensuring equal access to funding.

Grant funds may be used for the following purposes:

• purchase of equipment required for implementing the business initiative;
• procurement of consumable materials, limited to no more than 15–20% of the total grant budget;
• payment for installation and consulting services related to equipment setup and commissioning.

The following expenses are not covered under the grant:

• construction of new premises for business operations;
• payment of taxes, salaries, and bank fees;
• repayment of debts and payment for goods and services purchased before receiving the grant;
• fuel purchase expenses;
• payment for rent, utilities, or logistics services;
• payment for targeted advertising and promotion services;
• purchase of military-use items;
• purchase of medicines and medical supplies.

The grant program supports a wide range of entrepreneurial activities aimed at small business development, job creation, and economic recovery. The main supported areas include:

• Construction and renovation activities, including completion of construction, electrical installation, roofing, and installation works (such as windows and doors).
• Activities in the food production sector, including the production of bread, confectionery, semi-finished products, and catering services.
• Development of food service establishments, such as coffee shops, cafés, bakeries, fast-food outlets, and similar businesses.
• Small-scale farming and agricultural production, including horticulture, greenhouse farming, livestock breeding, and beekeeping.
• Production and repair of clothing, footwear, and textile products, as well as manufacturing of jewelry, cosmetics, and related goods.
• Small-scale production and processing activities, including businesses employing up to 10 workers.
• Provision of technical services, including vehicle maintenance and repair.
• Services in the personal and household services sector, including cleaning, laundry, hairdressing, cosmetology, massage, and barber services.
• Development of retail trade, including grocery stores, furniture stores, flower shops, and clothing stores.
• Provision of transport and logistics services, including passenger and freight transportation.
• Services in the education, sports, and wellness sectors, including training centers, fitness centers, dance studios, and gyms.
• Development of veterinary services and pet-related businesses, including grooming, medical services, and pet supplies.
• Activities in the IT and telecommunications sector, including software development, website creation, mobile applications, and IT solutions.
• Provision of photo and video production services, including studio and commercial photography and videography.
• Development of tourism-related services, including tour agencies, mini-hotels, equipment rental, and tourism support services.
• Activities in the arts, culture, and creative industries, including galleries, exhibitions, event organization, and cultural content production.
• The program may also support other types of activities that align with the objectives of entrepreneurship development and economic recovery, even if not explicitly listed.

Important: The list of supported sectors is not exhaustive. Applicants may propose projects in other areas, provided they contribute to the program’s overall goals.

Key dates:

• by Feb 23, 2026: registration for info session;
• Feb 25, 2026: information session;
• by Mar 05, 2026: deadline for questions;
• by Mar 08, 2026: application deadline.

Key stages:

• announcement of the grant competition;
• competition closure (March 8, 2026);
• stage 1 — review and evaluation of applications;
• stage 2 — monitoring visits (and video interviews) with applicants;
• notification of final results to all competition participants;
• signing of agreements and grant disbursement;
• project implementation and submission of activity reports;
• monitoring of implemented activities.

To apply for the competition, it is mandatory to complete the application form via the link.

1. Business plan and business idea description

• The applicant must submit a completed business plan form using the official template (Business Plan Annex).
• The document should include a clear description of the business idea, development plan, and key operational parameters.

2. Visual proof of business activity or idea

• The applicant must provide photos or videos of the existing business activity, if the business is already operating.
• If the business is at the startup stage, a video presentation of the business idea may be submitted to demonstrate its concept and potential.

3. Documents confirming vulnerability status

The applicant must submit scanned copies of supporting documents confirming eligibility under the program’s vulnerability criteria.

These may include, for example:

• internally displaced person (IDP) certificate;
• pension certificate;
• disability certificate;
• veteran certificate together with the military discharge order;
• or other relevant supporting documents.

4. Supporting documents confirming experience and qualifications (optional but recommended)

• The applicant may additionally submit recommendation letters, certificates, awards, or recognitions.
• These documents help demonstrate relevant business, educational, or professional experience and may strengthen the application.

An information session presenting the competition will be held on February 25 at 4:30 PM.

Registration is available until the end of February 23 via the link.

• By submitting an application, the participant formally confirms acceptance of the program’s rules and conditions, as defined in the relevant regulations, and waives any further claims against the organizer, including decisions regarding the selection of grantees and the grant amount.
• The applicant also confirms that no funding from other sources is being received for the same purposes specified in the grant application, ensuring compliance with transparency and integrity requirements.
• Submission of reports is a mandatory condition for receiving and using grant funds. The grant recipient is required to provide a complete set of supporting documentation confirming the proper use of the funding.
• The mandatory reporting package includes:

• • a financial report in the prescribed format, detailing all expenditures covered by the grant;

  • scanned copies of primary accounting documents, including invoices, acts of completed works, delivery notes, payment orders, and contracts;

  • photographic evidence of purchased equipment, materials, or the implementation process, confirming the actual execution of the project.

• Compliance with reporting requirements and submission of supporting documentation ensures proper oversight and targeted use of grant funds and is a necessary condition for fulfilling compliance obligations under the program.

General legal provisions:

• By submitting an application, the applicant fully agrees to the rules and restrictions of the program as defined in the relevant Regulations.
• The applicant confirms acceptance of all program terms and waives any further claims against the Organizer, including those related to the selection results or the grant amount.
• Submission of the application also confirms that the applicant does not receive funding from other sources to cover the same expenses specified in the grant application.

Legal conditions for grant provision:

• The grant is provided based on the signing of a Targeted Charitable Assistance Agreement between the Organizer and the grant recipient.
• After the agreement is signed, the grant funds are transferred to the recipient’s bank account in accordance with the approved terms.
• The funding must be used strictly in line with the objectives defined in the application and the signed agreement.

Financial and legal obligations of the grant recipient:

• The recipient is required to comply with the terms of the agreement and the grant program requirements.
• The funds must be used for their intended purpose and supported by appropriate documentation.
• In case of non-compliance with program or contractual conditions, appropriate legal consequences may apply in accordance with applicable legislation and grant agreement provisions.

Compliance and integrity requirements:

• Participation in the program requires adherence to principles of transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
• All submitted information must be truthful, and the applicant is responsible for its accuracy.
• Compliance with the grant agreement is a mandatory condition for receiving and using the grant funding.