Grants for Micro and Small Businesses

The grant competition is implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation with the financial support of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic under the "Help in Place" program (Program pomoci na místě) within the framework of the project "Return: entrepreneurship support from forced displacement to new opportunities". The program considers micro and small entrepreneurship as an important driving force for economic recovery and stabilization due to their flexibility, as well as a key component in supporting the social function of the state by providing employment. The main goal of the competition is to provide grant support to self-employed individuals, business entities (Private Entrepreneurs), and persons conducting independent commercial activities who plan to start, restore, or expand their own micro or small business.

Participation in the program is open to individuals who have or had internally displaced person (IDP) status after February 24, 2022, and have returned to their place of permanent residence; individuals who returned to Ukraine from abroad after February 24, 2022; veterans; as well as representatives of other vulnerable categories of the population. The latter includes people with disabilities and their guardians, family members of fallen military personnel, single or large-family mothers and fathers, people over 60 years of age, and others. The organizers note that special attention will be paid to youth and women engaged in entrepreneurial activities. Geographically, the project covers individuals conducting their activities in the Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions, provided that the applicant is not located and does not operate in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Additionally, upon request, grantees can receive expert support and enterprise development consultations from the organization's partners — the NGO "Association of Private Employers".

• Regional criteria: Participation is open exclusively to individuals operating in Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions. The applicant must not be located or operating in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
• Who can apply: Private Entrepreneurs (PE / FOP); individuals conducting independent commercial activities (not registered as PEs); individuals with practical experience in the relevant field planning to start a business.
• Target categories: The program targets vulnerable populations:
  • IDPs (including those who have returned to their place of permanent residence).
  • Persons who returned to Ukraine from abroad after February 24, 2022.
  • Veterans (male/female).
  • Persons with disabilities and their guardians/family members.
  • Family members of fallen service members.
  • Single or multi-child mothers and fathers.
  • Persons over 60 years old.
  • Special attention will be paid to youth and women engaged in entrepreneurial activities.
• Additional requirement: The applicant confirms that they do not receive funding from other organizations to cover the needs described in this grant application.

• Maximum grant amount: 139,100 UAH. This amount may include taxes (18% Personal Income Tax and 5% military tax), which will be withheld in accordance with the legislation, in which case the maximum net amount received will be 107,107 UAH.
• Payment mechanism: Funds are transferred to the grantee's bank account after signing the Targeted Charitable Assistance Agreement. If the applicant is a Private Entrepreneur (FOP), there is no need to create a separate account; if the applicant is not registered as a Private Entrepreneur, they must create a separate bank account.
• Eligible costs (what the grant covers):
  • Purchase of equipment.
  • Purchase of consumables (but not more than 20% of the total budget amount). To minimize the tax burden, it is advisable to avoid including consumables and recurring items in the business plan.
  • Payment for setup services or consulting regarding equipment setup.
• Ineligible costs (not covered by the grant):
  • Construction of new premises for running a business.
  • Payment of taxes, salaries, bank commissions.
  • Payment of debts and payment for goods/services purchased before receiving the grant.
  • Fuel expenses.
  • Rent of premises, utility, or logistics services.
  • Targeted advertising and promotion services.
  • Purchase of military items, medicines, and medical supplies.

• Grants are provided to start, restore, or expand micro/small businesses.
• Eligible sectors: Construction and repair work; bakeries/confectioneries; food establishments; small-scale farming; production of clothing/footwear/textiles; production of jewelry, cosmetics, and soap; general manufacturing activities; auto service and vehicle repair; installation of alternative energy sources; cleaning and laundry services; hairdressing and cosmetology services; retail trade; passenger and cargo transportation; translation services; sports and fitness services; veterinary and pet care services; IT and telecom; photo and video services; medical/psychological/developmental support services; tourism; education; art and culture; other.

1. By October 6, 2026 – preferred deadline for sending questions to grants.ukraine@helvetas.org or via the registration form to receive comprehensive answers during the information session.
2. October 8, 2026, 15:00 Kyiv time – informational Q&A session (estimated duration 1 hour 30 minutes: the first 30 minutes – presentation of the Program and competition conditions, the next hour – Q&A session).
3. The day after the Q&A session – sending a link to the video recording of the session to all registered participants.
4. By October 13, 2026 (until 23:59) – deadline for additional questions arising after the information session.
5. October 15, 2026 (inclusive) – deadline for submitting applications.

1. Prepare all required documents (completed forms, photo/video materials, and status-confirming documents) using the provided templates in Ukrainian.
2. Upload all additional files to any cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive).
3. Set the access permissions for the files in the cloud storage to "open to everyone".
4. Add the links to these files in the corresponding online application form (Kobo form) for registration.
5. Submit the application before the deadline (October 15, 2026).

• Sustainability and effectiveness of the business idea (max 25 points): Evaluates the realism of the idea, clarity of timelines, projected performance indicators (before/after), vision of prospects, as well as contribution to the local economy and value chains.
• Realism and rationality of set goals (max 25 points): Presence of effective steps to maximize profit (new products, client base expansion), alignment of planned expenses with expected results.
• Capacity and desire to expand existing potential (max 20 points): Understanding of the market, vision for development, plans to increase market share or enter new markets, ability to implement improvements (marketing, digitalization, etc.).
• Implementation experience (max 15 points): Practical experience in business management or work in the relevant industry.
• Social and financial vulnerability (max 15 points): Demonstration of social impact — employment of vulnerable categories (IDPs, veterans, persons with disabilities), owner's membership in such a category, production of eco-friendly goods, or provision of social services.

• Completed application form.
• Completed business plan form (Business Plan Annex).
• Photos/videos of business activity and a video business card of the applicant (a short presentation of their business and motivation for participating in the competition).
• One or more of the following documents (depending on the applicant category):
  • IDP certificate.
  • Combatant status certificate (UBD) together with the order of discharge from military service.
  • A document confirming return to Ukraine from abroad after February 24, 2022 (e.g., border crossing stamp in an international passport, document terminating temporary protection status in the host country, etc.).
  • And/or documents confirming the vulnerability category (such as, but not limited to: pension certificate, certificate of status as a large family, disability certificate, etc.).

• Informational Q&A session on October 8, 2026, at 15:00 Kyiv time.

• Reporting on all expenditure items is a mandatory condition for receiving grant funds.
• The reporting package must include:
  • Financial report (based on a template provided additionally).
  • Scanned copies of primary accounting documents (invoices, acts of completed work / delivery notes, payment orders, contracts).
  • Photos of purchased materials, equipment, production process, etc.
• The organizer will provide administrative support to applicants on project management, accounting, and reporting issues.

• Acceptance of rules and waiver of claims: By submitting an application, the participant fully accepts the rules and restrictions set forth in the Regulations and waives any further claims against the Organizer (specifically regarding the grantee selection procedure and determination of grant amounts).
• Prohibition of double funding: The applicant officially confirms that they do not receive funding from other organizations to cover the same needs stated in the grant application.
• Territorial restrictions: Participation is open exclusively to individuals operating in Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions. At the time of application submission, applicants must not be located in or operating from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
• Form of assistance: The grant is provided based on the signed Targeted Charitable Assistance Agreement with subsequent transfer of funds to the recipient's bank account.
• Bank account requirements: If the selected applicant is a registered Private Entrepreneur (PE / FOP), creating a separate bank account is not required; however, an individual who is not registered as a PE must open a separate bank account.
• Taxation: The maximum grant amount (139,100 UAH) may include mandatory taxes — 18% Personal Income Tax (PIT) and 5% Military Tax, which are withheld in accordance with applicable legislation on fringe benefit taxation (in which case the net amount received will be 107,107 UAH).
• Reporting and compliance requirements: Reporting on all expenditure items is a strict and mandatory condition; it must include a financial report using the provided template, scanned copies of primary accounting documents (invoices, acts, delivery notes, contracts, payment orders, etc.), as well as photographs of purchased materials, equipment, and the production process.