Grant competition "Strengthening the capacity of CSOs to recover in emergency situations"

The grant competition is implemented by the Askold and Dir Foundation within the framework of the project “Strong Civil Society — a Driver of Reform and Recovery,” with financial support from international partners. The program aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) that assist communities affected by the consequences of war and the destruction of critical infrastructure.

Key focus areas of the program:

• strengthening the institutional capacity of CSOs to respond to emergency situations;
• supporting activities aimed at maintaining access to essential social services for affected populations;
• contributing to community recovery and enhancing resilience in crisis conditions;
• facilitating coordination between civil society organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders;
• monitoring the needs of vulnerable groups and ensuring inclusive approaches.

The program focuses on strengthening the operational and institutional capacity of civil society organizations rather than providing direct humanitarian aid or material assistance to households.

Program objective:

The objective of the grant competition is to enhance the ability of CSOs to respond effectively to war-related crises and to support inclusive and sustainable community recovery, even in conditions of humanitarian instability.

Project proposals prepared in accordance with the requirements of this Call for Proposals will be accepted from organizations registered under the laws of Ukraine “On Public Associations” or “On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations,” and included in the Register of Non-Profit Organizations with the relevant non-profit status (including codes 0032, 0036, 0038, and 0039).

Organizations that pass the preliminary selection stage of the grant competition must undergo a verification (due diligence) procedure to confirm their capacity to effectively implement the project.

The grant competition provides financial support to civil society organizations to strengthen their capacity to respond to crisis situations and ensure the continuity of essential services.

Grant Amount

• The indicative budget for each supported project is up to UAH 1,000,000.
• The final grant amount may vary depending on the project duration, the number of selected applications, and the justification of the proposed budget.
• The project budget must be prepared in Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH).

Budget Requirements

• All costs must be clearly described, justified, and aligned with the project’s objectives and activities.
• The level of involvement of staff and consultants must be specified, including working hours or percentage of engagement.
• Activity-related costs must be detailed (e.g., venue rental, equipment rental, etc.).
• Administrative costs (e.g., banking fees, accounting services, communications, office rent) must be transparently listed and should generally not exceed 10% of the total grant amount.

Eligible Expenses

Grant funding may cover expenses that:

• are reasonable and necessary for project implementation;
• comply with the principle of cost-effectiveness;
• are properly documented and verifiable;
• are directly related to achieving the project’s objectives.

Ineligible Expenses

Grant funds may not be used for:

• providing charitable or direct material assistance;
• purchasing or renovating real estate;
• repayment of debts;
• activities related to political, religious, or unlawful purposes;
• salaries of public officials;
• purchasing luxury items or goods and services exceeding reasonable and justified cost levels.

The grant program supports projects that ensure the preservation or restoration of access to essential services for vulnerable populations, as well as strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to respond effectively to emergency situations.

Adaptation and Delivery of Social Services in Crisis Conditions

Supported activities include initiatives aimed at adapting social, care, educational, and psychological services to emergency contexts, including:

• establishment of mobile or alternative service delivery formats;
• ensuring the continuity of organizational operations during crisis situations.

Monitoring Community Needs and Responding to Them

The program supports activities related to:

• systematic data collection and analysis of community needs;
• identification of gaps in response mechanisms;
• development of evidence-based recommendations for public authorities and partners.

Advocacy and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups

Funded activities include:

• representation of the interests of vulnerable populations;
• response to cases of discrimination or social exclusion;
• advocacy for access to essential services and protection of rights.

Community Mobilization and Coordination of Local Actors

Support is provided for activities that involve:

• development of local networks and partnerships;
• coordination among CSOs, volunteers, community initiatives, and local authorities;
• strengthening collaboration among key response stakeholders.

Inclusive Crisis Response

The program supports measures aimed at ensuring accessibility of services for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, including:

• development of accessible service formats;
• implementation of individual response plans;
• training teams in inclusive approaches and practices.

Crisis Support and Navigation

Supported activities include providing guidance and support to individuals in crisis situations, including:

• assisting individuals in navigating available services and support mechanisms;
• providing information and advisory support.

Coordination and Support of Evacuation Efforts

The program supports initiatives focused on:

• coordination and organization of evacuation processes;
• providing support to vulnerable population groups during evacuation;
• ensuring safety and protection during evacuation activities.

Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Organizations

The program also supports activities aimed at:

• crisis planning and risk management;
• enhancing the operational resilience of organizations;
• ensuring the safety of staff and beneficiaries;
• strengthening the institutional readiness of CSOs to operate in emergency conditions.

• Application period: applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 31, 2026.
• Technical screening: submitted applications are reviewed for compliance with formal eligibility criteria.
• Application evaluation: conducted by an independent Selection Committee, including interviews with applicant teams.
• Verification: organizations that pass the selection process undergo a due diligence procedure to confirm their eligibility and compliance with program requirements.

Project proposals must be submitted electronically via the website http://ednannia.ua.

To submit an application:

1. The applicant must register their organization using the link http://ednannia.ua/reestratsiya (if it has not already been registered) and wait for a response from the administrator, which will be sent to the email address provided during registration. If you encounter difficulties with registration, you may contact office@ednannia.ua, indicating the organization’s EDRPOU code and describing the issue.

2. After activating the account, you must log in to the “user dashboard” on the website by entering the email address and password specified during registration.

3. Complete the application form in the section Applications / Submit an application for the open grant competition “Strengthening CSO Capacity for Recovery in Emergency Conditions” and click “Submit application” to ISAR Ednannia. After this, the application will be saved on the server and the ability to edit it will be closed.

4. ISAR Ednannia grant managers will review the application after it has been saved on the server. If the application requires revision, its status will be changed to “Requires revision.” After that, the applicant will regain the ability to edit it.

The grant competition is implemented by the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia within the framework of the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine – a Driver of Reforms and Democracy,” funded by Norway and Sweden.

5. If the application is completed in full, its status will be changed to “Under review by the ISAR Ednannia Grant Committee.”

Project proposals that do not meet the above requirements or are submitted to ISAR Ednannia after the specified deadlines will not be considered.

The evaluation of project applications is conducted in several stages and includes both a technical eligibility review and a qualitative assessment by an independent Selection Committee.

Stage 1. Technical Screening

At the first stage, the grant committee reviews applications for compliance with the established formal requirements. In particular, the following aspects are assessed:

• compliance with the required application format and completeness of the submitted information;
• alignment of the project with the competition priorities;
• eligibility of the applicant organization according to the established criteria;
• relevant experience of the organization in the proposed field of activity;
• completeness of the required documentation package;
• compliance of the proposed budget with established limits.

Applications that do not meet the formal requirements may be rejected without further consideration.

Stage 2. Evaluation by the Independent Selection Committee

Applications that pass the technical screening are submitted to an independent Selection Committee composed of representatives of international institutions and experts in civil society development. The Committee conducts a detailed evaluation and may hold interviews with applicant teams to clarify project details.

Key Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation is based on the following key factors:

• relevance of the project to emergency conditions and the current needs of communities;
• feasibility, practicality, and timeliness of the proposed solutions;
• operational capacity of the organization to effectively implement the project;
• soundness and justification of the proposed budget and resource allocation.

• Completed electronic application form.
• Detailed budget in Excel format (according to the template).
• Bank certificate with IBAN account details (issued no more than 3 months ago).

The Organizer announces changes to application deadlines or other updates on the website http://ednannia.ua.

After receiving grant funding, beneficiaries are required to comply with established project implementation procedures, ensure transparency in the use of funds, and regularly report on project progress and results.

Compliance with Grant Agreement Conditions

Grant recipients must comply with the donor’s policies and procedures, as well as all terms specified in the grant agreement and its annexes. This includes implementing the approved work plan, budget, and other contractual obligations.

Procurement and Tender Procedures

All procurement of goods and services under the project must be carried out through transparent and competitive tender procedures, except for project team members defined in advance. This includes:

• announcement of tenders;
• collection and evaluation of supplier proposals;
• selection of suppliers based on objective criteria, including cost, quality, and compliance with project requirements.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The donor organization reserves the right to conduct monitoring and evaluation of project implementation, either independently or with the involvement of external experts. Grant recipients are required to:

• track the implementation of planned activities and performance indicators;
• conduct internal monitoring of project activities;
• ensure alignment of project outcomes with defined indicators and expected results.

Project and Financial Reporting

Grant recipients must submit:

• project reports, including descriptions of completed activities, achieved results, and copies of developed documents and materials;
• financial reports, including copies of all supporting documents such as accounting records, invoices, contracts, and other financial documentation confirming expenditures.

Accountability for Proper Use of Funds

Grant recipients are responsible for the proper and intended use of grant funds, accurate documentation of expenses, and compliance with all project implementation procedures.