Grant for NGOs to develop veteran programs in communities

The Ukraine Veterans Rehabilitation and Reintegration (UVRR) Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and implemented by IREX, aims to create a supportive environment for veterans and assist in their reintegration. 

The competition aims to strengthen the capacity of local governments to implement effective veteran policies and to develop and implement data-driven and community-participatory programs to support veterans. 

Applicants must meet a set of legal, operational, and programmatic requirements, as well as consider geographic priorities.

1. Geographic coverage

• Projects must be implemented within Ukraine (excluding non-government-controlled areas).
• Priority is given to:

• • communities with limited access to services;

  • communities that have not received similar support in the past 2 years;

  • communities ready to develop veteran support programmes.

• Preference is given to applicants able to cover a larger number of communities.

2. Target groups

• Primary audience: local self-government authorities.
• Additional stakeholders include:

• • veterans and their families;

  • service providers (social, healthcare, employment);

  • civil society organisations and activists;

  • local businesses.

3. Legal status and registration

• Applicants must be legally registered entities in Ukraine.
• Only Ukrainian organisations are eligible (not US or third-country entities).
• Organisations must have non-profit status.

4. Operational requirements

• Activities must be carried out within Ukraine.
• Applicants must demonstrate relevant experience and capacity in local governance.

5. Alignment with programme objectives

• Proposed projects must align with programme goals.
• Applications must clearly define expected results and long-term impact.

6. Political and compliance restrictions

• Applicants must not be affiliated with political parties or public officials.
• Organisations under sanctions or non-compliance are not eligible.
• Funds cannot be transferred to third parties (including entities like UNRWA).

7. Language and timelines

• Applications must be submitted in Ukrainian or English.
• Project duration must comply with the defined timelines.

8. Eligible applicant types

• Civil society organisations, including:

  • NGOs;

  • charitable organisations and foundations;

• Consortia are allowed with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

The programme provides grants with defined conditions, restrictions, and discretionary rights of the organizer.

Funding amount and duration:

• up to two grants are planned;
• each grant is estimated at up to USD 200,000;
• project duration is 15 months (starting from June 2026).

Key conditions:

• each organization or consortium may submit only one proposal;
• application preparation costs are not reimbursed;
• the organizer (IREX) reserves the right to:

• • fund or not fund any proposals;

  • adjust the number of grants, amounts, and timelines.

Restrictions on the use of funds:
Grant funds cannot be used for:

• procurement from sanctioned or restricted suppliers;
• expenses not directly related to project implementation;
• debts, penalties, or fines;
• gambling activities;
• international travel;
• activities related to military structures;
• medicines, food, or humanitarian aid;
• political or religious activities;
• loans or alcohol-related expenses;
• costs incurred outside the project period;
• construction or reconstruction;
• activities outside Ukraine;
• purchase of land or buildings;
• scholarships, gifts, or prizes.

The grant programme focuses on rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans by strengthening support systems and local capacities.

Key support areas:

• Institutional capacity building of veteran service systems and cooperation with public authorities.
• Expansion of access to mental health and psychosocial services.
• Support for employment and vocational training of veterans, especially vulnerable groups.

Types of supported activities:

• Community selection and partnerships
  Transparent selection of communities, establishment of partnerships with local authorities, and creation of working groups.
• Training and capacity development
  Practical trainings on policy development, budgeting, data analysis, and decision-making.
• Mentorship and advisory support
  Continuous expert support for communities, including:

  • development or revision of local veteran support programmes;

  • integration of services into local systems;

  • financial planning.

• Stakeholder engagement
  Involvement of veterans, civil society, and other stakeholders in programme design and implementation.
• Sustainability measures
  Activities aimed at long-term impact, including:

• • integration into local planning and budgeting;

  • coordination mechanisms among authorities, business, and civil society;

  • knowledge sharing across communities.

• Information and awareness activities
  Promoting understanding of veteran support programmes and encouraging community participation.

Applicants may also propose additional justified activities that contribute to achieving the programme’s objectives.

The grant programme defines key dates and implementation stages:

• Call announcement date: April 1, 2026;
• Application deadline: April 30, 2026;
• Submission deadline time: 23:59 Kyiv time;
• Project start: approximately June 2026;
• Implementation duration: about 15 months.

The full RFA text and application package can be requested via email:
tender-ua@irex.org (with the subject line: “RFA UVRR Veterans Support Local Programs”).

Completed applications must be submitted electronically to the same email address:
tender-ua@irex.org.

Application deadline: April 30, 2026, 23:59 (Kyiv time).
Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applications are assessed based on five criteria, with a maximum total of 100 points:

• Scope of work — 20 points
  Assesses the realism of the proposed approach, its alignment with the call objectives, and expected impact.
• Technical aspect — 20 points
  Evaluates the quality of capacity-building approaches, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability of results.
• Organisational expertise and experience — 20 points
  Considers experience in local governance, strategic planning, and policies, including support for veterans.
• Organisational capacity — 20 points
  Reviews internal management systems, financial procedures, and team qualifications.
• Budget realism and cost-effectiveness — 20 points
  Assesses whether planned costs are justified and aligned with expected project outcomes.

Additionally, the organiser may conduct additional checks, including audits or negotiations if needed.

Important: selection or recommendation does not guarantee funding — applicants must demonstrate sufficient management and accountability capacity.

A complete application under the grant programme must include the following key components:

• Project proposal (using the IREX template);
• CVs or short biographies of key project staff;
• Budget (in the IREX template format).

Additionally (optional), applicants may submit:

• letters of support, memoranda, or partnership agreements.

Applicants are advised to keep copies of all submitted documents for their records.

Important: selected finalists will be required to submit an additional due diligence questionnaire before the final funding decision.

Within the grant programme, reporting must be carried out in accordance with the grant agreement. Reporting templates are provided to grantees, and detailed requirements are defined in the contract.

Main types of reports:

• Periodic program reports
  Submitted during project implementation according to the schedule. They include progress updates, identified challenges, mitigation measures, and planned activities.
• Final program report
  Summarises the achievement of project goals, key results, and lessons learned, including challenges and solutions.
• Financial reports
  Submitted based on the agreed schedule. Their type and frequency depend on the grant parameters, but a final financial report is mandatory.

Important: the final tranche payment is made only after the submission and approval of both the final program and financial reports.

The grant programme is governed by specific regulatory frameworks and legal requirements.

Key provisions:

• The programme follows the U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions.
• It also complies with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Administrative Requirements, Subparts A–E).
• Additionally, provisions of 2 CFR 600 apply.

These regulations define administrative procedures, financial rules, and overall requirements for grant implementation.