Grant for CSOs to establish collaboration platforms

The grant competition is organized by the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Unity, as part of the project “A Strong Civil Society in Ukraine: A Driving Force for Reform and Democracy,” funded by Norway and Sweden.

The goal is to support the creation and development of platforms for cooperation between CSOs and other stakeholders to achieve practical results in communities. The platforms should include public events and accompanying activities aimed at bringing about change.

Who can apply:

• Officially registered organizations under Ukrainian law:
  • civil society organizations
  • charitable organizations
  • associations of local self-government bodies
• Organizations must be included in the Register of non-profit organizations (with relevant non-profit status codes)
• Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience in the priority areas

Additional requirements:

• Shortlisted organizations must пройти due diligence verification
• They are required to demonstrate their capacity to effectively implement the project

Key funding parameters:

• Most projects may receive funding of up to UAH 1,000,000
• The final amount may vary depending on project duration and outputs
• The budget must be prepared in Ukrainian hryvnias

Budget requirements:

• All costs must be clearly justified and aligned with market prices
• The level of effort (% of time) for each team member must be specified
• Event-related costs (venue, equipment, etc.) must be detailed
• Administrative costs:
  • must be itemized
  • recommended not to exceed 10% of the grant amount

Expert fees:

• May be calculated on an hourly or daily basis
• Alternatively, rates and level of involvement must be specified

Eligible costs:

• Reasonable and justified expenses
• Properly documented and supported

Ineligible costs:

• Charitable donations or endowments
• Purchase of vehicles or real estate
• Capital renovations
• Debt payments
• Activities related to religious or prohibited purposes
• Payments to certain public officials
• Luxury items or unjustified excessive expenses

Priority 1. CSO Capacity Building Platforms

Focus: strengthening organizational capacity through collaboration
Supported activities:

• development of communities of practice
• thematic sessions with practical application
• knowledge exchange and mentoring
• small group work on implementing changes
• co-creation of tools and models

Expected results:

• adoption of new practices
• improved management capacity
• stronger partnerships

Priority 2. Collaboration Platforms for Recovery

Focus: community recovery and cross-sector cooperation
Supported activities:

• dialogue between CSOs, authorities, and stakeholders
• development of local/regional solutions and action plans
• working groups addressing specific challenges
• piloting new approaches
• exchange of experience between communities

Expected results:

• implementation of concrete recovery solutions
• strengthened cross-sector collaboration
• partial closure of service gaps

Priority 3. Advocacy Platforms

Focus: influencing policies and decision-making
Supported activities:

• building coalitions and networks
• development of analytical and policy documents
• advocacy campaigns
• public consultations with authorities
• engagement to support implementation of decisions

Expected results:

• influence on policies and regulations
• increased civic participation
• broader inclusion in decision-making processes

Key stages:

• The call operates on a rolling basis (open call format)
• Applications are reviewed continuously as they are received
• The submission period runs until August 31

Project implementation:

• The project start is expected no earlier than one month after the Selection Committee decision

Applications to the grant program are submitted online via the official website.

Step-by-step process:

1. The applicant must register their organization on the platform. An activation email is sent to complete the registration.
2. After activation, the applicant logs into their personal account using the registered email and password.
3. The applicant completes the application form in the designated section and submits it. After submission, editing is temporarily disabled.
4. Grant managers review the application. If revisions are needed, the status changes to “Requires revision”, and editing becomes available again.
5. Once completed properly, the application status changes to “Under review by the grant committee.”

Additional notes:

• Applications that do not meet the requirements or deadlines will not be considered.
• Communication with program representatives is conducted via phone or email.

Evaluation stages:

1. Technical screening by the ICAP Ednannia grant committee:
   • verification of compliance with call requirements
   • decision on whether the proposal proceeds or is rejected
2. Selection by an independent Selection Committee:
   • composed of independent experts
   • members confirm absence of conflicts of interest
   • interviews with applicant teams may be conducted (with 3–4 representatives)

Formal screening criteria:

• compliance with the required application format
• alignment with program priorities
• applicant eligibility
• prior organizational experience
• completeness of documentation
• adherence to budget limits

Project evaluation criteria:

• Project relevance to societal needs
• Logical consistency and feasibility (objectives → activities → results)
• Team experience and implementation capacity
• Budget justification and balance

Important:

• Proposals are not re-reviewed
• Funding decisions are final, without explanation of rejection reasons

• Application form;
• budget;
• team summary.

Key reporting requirements:

• Submission of a project report:
  • includes copies of all developed documents and materials
• Submission of a financial report:
  • includes supporting documentation
  • covers primary accounting and other documents specified in the agreement

Within the grant program, mandatory legal conditions apply, requiring compliance with donor and ICAP Ednannia policies. These conditions are detailed in the grant agreement and its annexes.

Key provisions:

• Procurement of goods and services must follow tender procedures, ensuring a transparent and competitive selection of suppliers.
• This process includes announcing the tender, collecting and evaluating proposals, and selecting the best option based on quality, cost, and project requirements.
• ICAP Ednannia conducts project monitoring and evaluation, either independently or with external experts.
• Applicants are required to track project implementation, carry out regular internal monitoring, and assess results based on defined indicators.