Grant Support for Micro, Small and Medium Businesses from DRC

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) business programme is aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs affected by the war and seeking assistance to restore or continue their operations.

The programme accepts applications from businesses and entrepreneurs operating in Ukraine that have experienced the impact of the war.

Financial support is provided by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) with the support of:

• the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands;
• the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency;
• the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Businesses and individual entrepreneurs may participate in the grant programme if they meet the established eligibility requirements.

Applications may be submitted by:

• companies or sole proprietors with more than 2 years of active operations;
• businesses employing up to 20 people with an annual turnover of up to UAH 9 million;
• enterprises affected by the war, including relocated businesses that continue paying taxes;
• businesses operating legally and in compliance with current legislation.

The grant programme provides financial support for businesses affected by the war.

The grant amount ranges from USD 1,000 to USD 5,000. The level of funding depends on the business needs and the number of employees.

Within the grant programme, participants may receive not only financial assistance but also additional advisory support for business development.

The programme provides up to 5 hours of business consultations on accounting, marketing, legal support, and related topics.

Grant funds may be used for:

• equipment purchases;
• rent expenses — up to 25% of the grant amount;
• restoration of damaged premises;
• other business-related needs.

Key stages include:

• for Kharkiv Oblast, the application deadline is May 31;
• for Mykolaiv Oblast, the deadline is set for June 30;
• after submission, applications will be reviewed and shortlisted by the organizers;
• applicants are expected to receive feedback on the review results within a maximum of three months.

Applications can be submitted via the following link: https://ee-kobo.drc.ngo/x/sZOyXHwZ 

To participate in the grant programme, applicants are encouraged to complete the application carefully and truthfully, providing full information about their business and motivation for receiving funding.

The organizers note that:

• a well-prepared business plan will significantly influence the grant decision;
• the application should clearly describe the business development plans;
• all applications will be assessed according to the programme selection criteria;
• the number of grants is limited, and registration may close once the maximum number of applications is reached;
• submitting an application does not guarantee funding;
• DRC representatives will contact only those businesses that pass the preliminary selection stage.

Key evaluation priorities include:

• support for vulnerable households, including single parents, people with disabilities, and conflict-affected individuals;
• creation or preservation of jobs;
• businesses providing communities with essential goods and services;
• support for agricultural businesses and related sectors, including production, processing, logistics, and services for farmers.

Special attention will be given to projects that improve farmers’ access to markets.

• Detailed business plan describing the use of the grant.
• Justification of market demand for products or services.
• Marketing research confirming the feasibility of grant use

• Submission of an application does not guarantee automatic grant approval.
• The number of grants is limited.
• No similar assistance received within the last 6 months.
• No legal barriers to receiving the grant.
• The business must operate legally and comply with current legislation.