Grant to Expand Local Services for Vulnerable Communities

The Partnership for a Strong Ukraine (PFRU) aims to improve the quality, accessibility, and continuity of integrated community-based services for vulnerable populations. The programme is implemented by Chemonics as part of a multi-year donor initiative funded by the governments of Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The selected grantee is expected to work with municipal social services, civil society organisations, charitable foundations, and other local service providers to strengthen integrated service delivery.

Eligible applicants should demonstrate experience in delivering integrated services for vulnerable populations and be able to work with municipal social services, civil society organisations, charitable foundations, and other local service providers.

The grant programme is implemented by Chemonics under the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine initiative, with financial support from the governments of Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Key funding conditions include:

• the expected maximum grant amount is up to UAH 18,350,000;
• the final grant amount will depend on the proposed activities and the outcomes of negotiations;
• applicants are expected to prepare a realistic budget covering the full project cycle, including service delivery, coordination, supervision, reporting, quality assurance, sustainability, and audit requirements;
• funding will be provided under a cost-reimbursed or milestone-based cost-reimbursed model;
• grant recipients will be required to document eligible costs with appropriate financial records and submit periodic financial reports.

The grant programme supports integrated service delivery models for vulnerable populations by combining social support, legal assistance, and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

Key supported activities include:

• Social support services, including home care, day care, short-term respite for caregivers, supported or assisted living, and other community-based services delivered with local partners.
• Legal assistance, including support with documentation, IDP rights and entitlements, veterans' benefits, housing and property issues, administrative procedures, complaint mechanisms, and access to public services.
• MHPSS activities, such as psychological first aid, individual and group psychosocial support, stress management, resilience-building, and community-based psychosocial services.
• Development of service delivery models through cooperation with local service providers, municipal social services, civil society organisations, and charitable foundations.
• Delivery of the full project cycle, including planning, needs assessment, service package development, service delivery, quality assurance, monitoring and reporting, sustainability planning, and dissemination of project results.

The grant programme follows a structured implementation process from the launch of the call to the delivery of funded projects.

Key milestones include:

• publication of the call for applications;
• an information webinar on 30 July 2026 (11:00 AM–12:00 PM GMT);
• application deadline: 3 August 2026;
• evaluation of submitted proposals;
• negotiations on the project budget and planned activities;
• signing of the grant agreement with selected applicants;
• project implementation for a period of 9 months.

Step 1. Review the PFRU call requirements.

Step 2. Prepare a proposal describing the integrated service delivery model, local partnerships, implementation approach, and budget.

Step 3. Include external audit costs in the budget and ensure compliance with the cost-reimbursed or milestone-based cost-reimbursed grant model.

Step 4. Submit the application in accordance with Partnership for a Strong Ukraine (PFRU) requirements by 3 August 2026.

Applications will be assessed based on their ability to deliver integrated services in partnership with local service providers and their relevance to the needs of vulnerable populations.

The assessment may consider:

• relevance to vulnerable communities and understanding of local service needs;
• the strength of the proposed service delivery model and partnerships with local providers;
• the capacity to deliver social support, legal assistance, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS);
• community engagement, quality assurance arrangements, and the sustainability plan;
• budget realism, the ability to meet financial reporting requirements, and plans for national dissemination.

To strengthen an application, applicants are encouraged to:

• conduct a clear community needs assessment;
• establish strong local partnerships;
• propose a practical integrated service delivery model;
• ensure qualified service providers together with effective coordination and quality assurance systems;
• prepare a realistic nine-month implementation plan, a well-justified budget, and a sustainability strategy.

As part of the grant programme, an online webinar titled "Donor Engagement and Relationship Building" has been announced, focusing on donor communication and partnership development.

Key information:

• Date: Thursday, 30 July 2026.
• Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM GMT.
• Local time information is available for participants.
• Premium Members can register immediately, while other participants have the option to sign up for membership and then register for the webinar via link: https://webinars.fundsforngospremium.com/live-webinar-donor-engagement-and-relationship-building-2/

The webinar will cover:

• practical strategies for improving communication with donors;
• approaches to strengthening engagement;
• guidance on building long-term partnerships to enhance fundraising success.

Following the award of funding, grant recipients are required to comply with financial reporting, expenditure documentation, and audit requirements in accordance with the grant conditions.

Key requirements include:

• the grant is implemented under a cost-reimbursed or milestone-based cost-reimbursed funding model;
• beneficiaries must submit periodic financial reports and maintain supporting documentation for all eligible project costs;
• the project budget should cover the full implementation cycle, including coordination, reporting, quality assurance, sustainability, and audit requirements;
• audit costs must be included in the project budget and clearly reflected in the financial proposal;
• the grant will be subject to an external audit funded by PFRU;
• reimbursement of project costs requires compliance with the grant agreement and all financial documentation requirements.