Briefly
Program description
The competition is implemented within the project “Strengthening the resilience of conflict-affected communities in southern and eastern Ukraine to meet basic needs and reduce the impact of future shocks.” The project is implemented by People in Need in consortium with JERU/Welthungerhilfe and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The competition supports civic initiatives that strengthen resilience, social cohesion, youth participation, local governance, support for IDPs and war-affected populations.
Main Information
Eligibility
Within the grant programme, civil society organisations and initiatives operating in Ukraine are invited to apply, provided they meet the established eligibility requirements.
Key eligibility criteria include:
- funding will be provided to Ukrainian civil society organisations officially registered and operating under Ukrainian legislation;
- if an initiative is not formally registered, it must sign a support memorandum with a registered civil society organisation;
- the organisation must hold non-profit status;
- the application must align with the programme’s goals and principles and include a description of expected project results;
- applicants must have an electronic signature in the VCHASNO electronic document system for future contract signing.
The following entities are not eligible:
- organisations affiliated with political parties, candidates, public officials, or religious organisations;
- organisations registered in other countries;
- organisations registered or legally located in temporarily occupied territories.
Financing
Within the grant programme, funding is provided for social projects with an estimated grant amount of UAH 250,000. At least 80% of the grant budget must be allocated to direct expenses related to project implementation activities.
Grant funding may cover:
- procurement of equipment and tools for implementing social projects;
- payment for project promotion services, including the development of informational materials and campaign activities;
- payment for services necessary for project implementation.
The following expenses are considered ineligible:
- purchase of land, real estate, or weapons;
- alcohol and tobacco products;
- international travel expenses;
- debt repayment and penalties;
- expenses unrelated to the project goals and activities;
- procurement of goods or services restricted due to the country of origin.
Grant funds also cannot be used to cover expenses incurred before or after project implementation, or costs that do not meet the principles of justification and relevance to the project objectives.
Supported Activities
Within the grant programme, support will be provided to community initiatives and local projects aimed at strengthening resilience and social cohesion at the local level.
Priority will be given to projects that:
- strengthen youth capacity and involvement in recovery processes;
- support the development of local self-government;
- provide assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and war-affected populations;
- are implemented by civil society organisations in selected communities of Mykolaiv and Sumy regions.
Projects are expected to be based on the following key principles:
- inclusiveness and sustainability;
- evidence-based approaches and dignity;
- participation and social cohesion;
- the “do no harm” principle.
Roadmap
The grant programme includes a structured implementation timeline covering all stages of the competition and project execution.
Key stages of the roadmap include:
- the application submission period from 4 May to 31 May 2026;
- initial application review by the selection committee on 1–3 June 2026;
- project presentations scheduled for 4–5 June 2026;
- project evaluation from 8 to 21 June 2026;
- announcement of winners on 22 June 2026.
Following the selection process, the programme предусматривает:
- grant contract signing from 22 June to 6 July 2026;
- information sessions with grant recipients on 23–24 June 2026 to coordinate implementation details;
- project implementation from 6 July to 31 October 2026.
The final programme stages include:
- submission of grant agreement reports by 15 November 2026;
- report verification and monitoring of initiative results by 30 November 2026.
How to Apply
To participate in the grant competition, applicants are required to prepare and submit a package of documents according to the established procedure.
Step-by-step application process:
- Complete Annex 1 — the project description section in WORD format.
- Complete Annex 2 — the project budget in EXCEL format.
- Download the required annex templates using the link provided by the organisers.
- Submit the documents to the appropriate email address depending on the project implementation region:
- for Mykolaiv region;
- for Sumy region.
- Use the following subject line in the email: “Grant Application_Organisation Name”.
- Attach all required documents to the email submission.
If applicants have questions regarding the competition conditions, they may contact the provided email addresses during the indicated working hours.
The organisers reserve the right to make changes to the stages and timelines of the grant competition.
Evaluation Criteria
Within the grant programme, applications will be evaluated through a two-stage selection process. During the first stage, potential grantees will present their projects to representatives of the Selection Committee, local authorities, and the public. During the second stage, projects will be assessed collectively by the Selection Committee through open voting.
The committee will include representatives of:
- the Czech humanitarian organisation People in Need;
- local community administrations where the projects are planned to be implemented.
The evaluation criteria and scoring system include:
- project potential success and sustainability — 30 points;
- compliance with the objectives and principles of the competition — 25 points;
- alignment of the budget with the proposed activities — 20 points;
- organisational capacity — 15 points;
- previous relevant experience — 10 points.
The assessment will consider:
- the realism of resource planning;
- relevance to community needs;
- transparency of financial calculations;
- the organisation’s ability to manage grant funding effectively;
- prior experience in implementing social initiatives and working with target groups.
Additional preference will be given to projects that include a material or infrastructure component, such as renovation, equipment procurement, construction, or space improvement activities.
The Selection Committee may also request revisions to the project or budget and may conduct site visits or online interviews if necessary.
Required Documents
- Annex 1 — narrative project description (WORD).
- Annex 2 — project budget (EXCEL).
Reporting and Compliance
After completing project implementation, grant recipients are required to submit a set of reporting documents confirming the implementation of project activities and the use of grant funding.
The mandatory reporting package includes:
- a narrative report describing the implemented project;
- documents confirming full payment for goods, works, or services, including bank statements;
- photo evidence of completed activities and implemented works;
- participant registration lists from conducted events;
- a database of project participants.
Reporting templates, examples of supporting documents, and additional reporting guidance will be provided separately to grant recipients.
Legal Terms
Within the grant programme, applicants are required to follow the principles of impartiality, integrity, and objectivity during the preparation and submission of applications.
Special attention is given to conflict of interest regulations. Applicants are required to:
- inform the selection committee about any real or potential conflict of interest;
- independently assess their private interests and their possible impact on decision-making;
- take all necessary measures to prevent conflicts of interest;
- provide additional information if requested by the selection committee members.
Applicants may not participate in decisions regarding the use of grant funds if a real or potential conflict of interest exists or may arise.
If a conflict of interest is identified, the applicant must immediately submit a written notification to the selection committee describing the situation and the measures taken to avoid or resolve the conflict.
After receiving the notification, the selection committee will issue a written decision within 5 working days regarding:
- the absence of a conflict of interest;
- or the possible exclusion of the applicant from the project.