Grant competition for NGOs to develop veteran leadership and participation in community life

The competition is held within the Veterans Reintegration Program, implemented by IREX with the support of the U.S. Department of State. The goal of the program is to support civil society organizations in implementing initiatives aimed at developing the leadership potential of veterans and encouraging their active participation in community life.

Priority is given to projects that help change the perception of veterans as active members of society and opinion leaders. The program also focuses on creating conditions for the self-realization of veterans after returning to civilian life.

Реєстрація та правовий статус

• Організація повинна бути офіційно зареєстрована як юридична особа в Україні та діяти відповідно до чинного законодавства.
• Участь не можуть брати фізичні особи або громадяни США чи третіх країн (право на участь мають лише українські юридичні особи).

Операційний контекст

• Організація повинна здійснювати діяльність в Україні.
• Заявник має статус неприбуткової організації.

Відповідність цілям програми

• Запропонований проєкт має відповідати цілям і принципам UVVR.
• У заявці повинні бути чітко визначені очікувані результати та вплив, що відповідають цілям програми.

Партнерство та співпраця

• Передбачена офіційна співпраця з державними органами або місцевими установами.
• Така співпраця має бути підтверджена листами підтримки, меморандумами або угодами про співпрацю.

Політична нейтральність

• Проєкти не можуть бути пов’язані з політичними партіями або призначеними посадовими особами.

Дотримання вимог та обмежень

• Заявник не повинен бути організацією, яка була відсторонена або призупинена від участі у програмах.
• Необхідно дотримуватися нормативних актів уряду США, включно з правилами щодо відстеження фінансування.
• Кошти, отримані в межах цього конкурсу, не можуть бути використані для субгрантів або переказів третім сторонам.

Мовні вимоги

• Заявки подаються українською або англійською мовою.
• Запропонований період реалізації проєкту не може виходити за межі встановленого дедлайну конкурсу.

Допустимі типи заявників

• Організації громадянського суспільства, зокрема:

  • неурядові організації;

  • благодійні організації;

  • благодійні фонди.

• Також можуть брати участь консорціуми організацій із визначеними ролями, відповідальністю та частками бюджету.

Funding

• Within the competition, IREX plans to award one grant with a potential value of up to USD 200,000, subject to the availability of funds.
• The expected implementation period is 12 months, starting from April 2026.
• IREX reserves the right to:

  • fund any or none of the submitted proposals;

  • adjust the number of grants, grant amounts, and implementation timelines;

  • decide not to award grants under this RFA.

• One organization or a consortium of organizations may submit only one proposal.
• The selected applicant will participate in all stages of grant implementation in accordance with the subgrant agreement.
• Costs incurred prior to the grant award are not allowable and will not be reimbursed.

Restrictions on the use of funds

Grant funds may not be used for:

• working with vendors listed in U.S. government sanctions or exclusion lists;
• purchasing equipment or covering expenses (e.g., office premises) not directly related to project implementation;
• covering previous obligations, bad debts, fines, or penalties;
• gambling activities or international travel expenses;
• expenses directly or indirectly supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations;
• procurement of medicines, food, humanitarian aid, or disposable goods;
• charitable activities or support for political parties or religious initiatives;
• loans, alcoholic beverages, or large durable equipment purchases;
• construction or reconstruction costs;
• activities involving elected officials, political parties, or religious groups;
• political or partisan activities, activities outside Ukraine, or specialized scientific research;
• purchase or lease of land or buildings;
• internal capital, commercial projects, or participation fees;
• individual scholarships, gifts, or prizes;
• any expenses not compliant with 2 CFR 200 (Subpart E) and FAR 31.2 cost principles.

Expected project results

• At least 50 participants of the leadership programme will strengthen their civic and leadership skills.
• At least 20 veterans will report implementing changes in their communities after completing the programme.
• A minimum of 20 veterans will continue participating in civic or community initiatives.
• Participants will implement at least 50 local initiatives as a result of the project.

Focus of project activities

• Activities should contribute to measurable improvements in veterans’ civic engagement.
• Proposed approaches should present a clear strategy for helping veterans apply newly acquired skills to address community challenges.
• Initiatives should promote constructive civic dialogue and cooperation with local authorities.
• Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative approaches that respond to local needs and strengthen veterans’ leadership potential.

Examples of supported approaches

• Training programmes aimed at developing civic and leadership competencies.
• Mentorship, coaching, or peer-support programmes for veterans.
• Initiatives supporting the development of community participation mechanisms.
• Veteran-led initiatives addressing local challenges and cooperation with local authorities.
• Activities that promote knowledge sharing and exchange of civic engagement practices.

Thematic areas for skill development

• Principles of local self-governance and distribution of authority.
• Leadership and community development skills.
• Transparency and accountability in governance.
• Local decision-making processes and civic engagement tools.
• Development and implementation of community initiatives.
• Advocacy, strategic communication, and negotiation skills.
• Nonviolent communication practices.

• Announcement date of the competition: 19 February 2026.
• Application submission deadline: 20 March 2026.
• Final submission time: 23:59 Kyiv time.
• After the selection process, approved projects are expected to be implemented over a period of 12 months.
• Project implementation is planned to start in April 2026.

Applications must be submitted in written form via email to tender-ua@irex.org.

The subject line of the email should include: “UVRR RFA Veterans Engagement in Local Governance and Decision Making”.

Main submission requirements

• Applications must be submitted no later than 10 days before the final submission deadline indicated in the call.
• Responses to applicants’ questions are provided in the form of clarifications, which are published on the day following the deadline for submitting questions.

Submission of the full application package

• The complete set of application documents must be submitted before the official deadline specified on the title page of the RFA.
• Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applications are assessed according to established criteria with a maximum total score of 100 points.

Main evaluation criteria

1. Technical aspect — 20 points

• Relevance of the proposed approach for supporting veterans in transitioning from training to active civic engagement.
• Relevance of approaches aimed at strengthening trust and cooperation with local authorities.

2. Previous experience — 15 points

• Experience of the organization in promoting civic engagement and entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrated experience working with veterans and their families, or a clear approach to engaging this target group.

3. Organizational capacity — 20 points

• Experience in local governance, civic engagement, or advocacy activities.
• Quality and relevance of the proposed project team.
• Experience using training programs to develop civic and leadership skills.

4. Feasibility and cost-effectiveness — 20 points

• Alignment of planned costs with the proposed activities.
• Justification of the proposed budget.
• Cost-effectiveness per participant.

5. Scope of work — 25 points

• Feasibility of implementing activities within the proposed timeline and available resources.
• Capacity to reach the intended target audience according to the planned coverage.
• Potential of the activities to ensure sustainability of results after project completion.
• If necessary, IREX may conduct clarifications or negotiations with applicants whose proposals demonstrate strong potential for funding.

A complete application must include several mandatory components prepared according to IREX requirements.

Main application documents

1. Project proposal (using the template provided by IREX), which includes:

• information about the organization (maximum 3000 characters);
• programme description (maximum 1000 characters);
• details on beneficiaries, results, and expected impact;
• work plan (description and/or table);
• communication plan;
• monitoring plan.

2. CVs or short biographies of key project staff.

3. Project budget (using the template provided by IREX).

4. Additional supporting documents, such as:

• letters of support, memoranda of understanding, or partnership agreements with partners (including local authorities, public institutions, or private organizations);
• the total length of these documents must not exceed 20 pages.
• Applicants are advised to keep copies of all submitted documents for their records.

Additional verification

• The selected applicant will be required to complete a due diligence questionnaire using the IREX template before the final decision on awarding the subgrant is made.

Applicable regulations:

• U.S. Department of State Standard Terms.
• Conditions 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Subparts A–E.
• 2 CFR 600.