Grant for Local Mental Health Initiatives

The open grant competition "Support for Local Initiatives in the Field of Mental Health" is designed to support civil society organisations working in the field of mental health and psychosocial services in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zakarpattia regions of Ukraine.

The programme aims to:

• strengthen the capacity of local organisations to provide assistance to vulnerable population groups;
• support community development and responses to the challenges of war;
• expand access to quality psychosocial support for local communities;
• promote effective cooperation between civil society organisations, Mental Health Centres, and other service providers.

The competition provides funding for initiatives that contribute to improved mental well-being and community development.

The grant competition is open to charitable organisations and civil society organisations that are officially registered in Ukraine and operate in the field of mental health and psychosocial support.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• official registration in Ukraine;
• activities focused on mental health and psychosocial support for children, adolescents, and vulnerable population groups;
• implementation of projects in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, or Zakarpattia regions of Ukraine.

Under the grant programme, applicants may receive from UAH 500,000 to UAH 1,300,000 for the implementation of a single project.

Grant funding may be used, among other things, for:

• direct support to target groups;
• procurement of services from subcontractors;
• purchase of equipment and materials required for project activities;
• staff salaries;
• maintenance of a local office;
• travel and business trips outside the region;
• indirect administrative project costs.

Grant funding may not be used for:

• retrospective expenses incurred before the grant is awarded;
• repayment of debts, fines, financial penalties, or losses caused by exchange rate differences;
• the purchase of land or buildings;
• expenses for alcohol, entertainment, or hospitality unrelated to project activities;
• costs that are not directly related to project implementation.

The grant programme supports projects aimed at improving mental health, providing psychosocial support, and strengthening the capacity of communities and local institutions.

Eligible projects may include activities related to:

• mental health and psychosocial support for conflict-affected populations;
• psychological support for children and adolescents;
• development of referral mechanisms;
• psychosocial support for vulnerable population groups;
• psychoeducation and resilience-building;
• information and awareness-raising activities in the field of mental health;
• comprehensive social support for individuals and families experiencing multiple vulnerabilities;
• integration of internally displaced persons and returnees into host communities;
• capacity building for local authorities and civil society organisations.

The grant programme follows a defined timeline covering the application period, the evaluation process, and the announcement of results.

Key milestones include:

• application deadline — 31 July 2026, 18:00 (Kyiv time);
• questions regarding the competition may be submitted by email until 14 July 2026;
• responses to submitted questions will be published on 20 July 2026;
• applicants will be notified of the results of the initial selection stages by 10 September 2026;
• announcement of finalists will take place on 30 September 2026 on the programme's official website.

To participate in the grant competition, applicants should use the step-by-step application guide, which provides information on the selection criteria and stages, the list of required documents, document templates, and practical guidance for preparing the application.

The main steps include:

• reviewing the application guide and competition requirements;
• preparing the application in accordance with the established requirements;
• compiling the required supporting documents;
• submitting the grant application together with the complete document package by 18:00 (Kyiv time) on 31 July 2026.

Applications are assessed through a three-stage selection process, including eligibility verification, technical assessment, and final evaluation of shortlisted applicants.

The evaluation process includes:

• verification of applicants' compliance with the competition eligibility requirements;
• technical assessment of organisations using a 0–100 point scale, with a minimum passing score of 60 points;
• evaluation interviews with finalists and monitoring visits by Caritas Czech Republic to the proposed project implementation locations.

Only applications that meet the eligibility requirements and achieve the required score proceed to the next stage of the selection process.

To participate in the grant competition, applicants are required to prepare, complete, and upload a complete set of mandatory application documents in accordance with the application guidelines.

The required application package includes:

• Application Form (Annex 3), completed in Ukrainian;
• Project Budget (Annex 4), prepared using the prescribed template;
• signed Declaration of Integrity (Annex 6), submitted as a scanned PDF document;
• the organisation's statute or founding document;
• an extract from the Unified State Register;
• the latest financial statement or a bank account statement;
• any additional documents required under Section F of the Application Guidelines.

Applicants are also required to:

• provide links to the organisation's official communication channels (website and/or social media pages);
• optionally register for the online information session.

Before submitting the application, applicants should verify that all mandatory documents have been uploaded and that the application form, budget, and Declaration of Integrity have been properly signed and attached.