Grants for starting a business for vulnerable groups

The Economic Resilience Program is supported by Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the ERP Consortium including Mercy Corps, Right to Protection, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and JERU (Joint Emergency Response in Ukraine by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide). The Program supports sole proprietors, individuals conducting independent commercial activities, and those planning to start a business. Priority is given to IDPs, veterans, persons with disabilities, family members of persons with disabilities, families of fallen service members, single and large-family parents, people aged over 60, and other vulnerable groups. Particular attention is paid to youth and women.

The grant programme is open to representatives of micro and small businesses, as well as individuals planning to start or restore their own business activities.

Eligible applicants include:

• individual entrepreneurs (FOPs);
• individuals engaged in independent commercial activities who are not registered as sole proprietors;
• individuals with practical experience in a relevant field who intend to establish their own business.

The programme is designed to support entrepreneurs who currently hold or previously held, after 24 February 2024, the status of an internally displaced person (IDP) and have returned to their place of permanent residence, as well as veterans and members of vulnerable population groups.

Eligible vulnerable groups include, among others:

• persons with disabilities;
• family members or caregivers of persons with disabilities;
• family members of fallen military personnel;
• single parents and large families;
• individuals over the age of 60 and other vulnerable groups.

Particular attention will be given to young people and women engaged in entrepreneurial activities.

Participation is limited to applicants operating in Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Vinnytsia regions. At the time of application, applicants must not be located in or conduct activities within temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The grant programme provides financial support to micro and small businesses, as well as individuals engaged in independent commercial activities or planning to start their own business.

The maximum grant amount is UAH 139,100. This amount may include applicable taxes withheld in accordance with national legislation. Where taxation applies, the maximum grant amount available to the recipient is UAH 107,107.

Funding is provided through a targeted charitable assistance agreement, after which the grant is transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account. Individuals who are not registered as sole proprietors are required to open a separate bank account.

Grant funding may be used for:

• procurement of equipment;
• purchase of consumable materials (up to 20% of the total budget);
• payment for equipment setup and related consulting services.

The grant does not cover:

• construction of new business premises;
• taxes, salaries, or bank fees;
• debt repayment and payment for goods or services purchased before receiving the grant;
• fuel expenses;
• rent, utility, or logistics costs;
• targeted advertising and promotional services;
• procurement of military-purpose items;
• medicines and medical products.

To optimize the use of grant funds, applicants are encouraged to avoid including duplicate budget items or excessive consumable materials in their business plans.

The grant programme supports a broad range of entrepreneurial initiatives across various sectors of the economy. Eligible projects may focus on business development, expansion, or recovery within the supported fields.

The programme covers activities such as:

• construction and repair services;
• bakeries and confectionery businesses;
• food service establishments, including cafés and fast-food outlets;
• small-scale farming;
• clothing, footwear, and textile production;
• jewellery, cosmetics, and soap manufacturing;
• manufacturing activities;
• vehicle maintenance and repair services;
• installation of alternative energy solutions;
• cleaning and laundry services;
• hairdressing and cosmetology services;
• retail trade;
• passenger and freight transportation.

Projects may also be supported in the following areas:

• IT and telecommunications;
• educational services;
• medical, psychological, and developmental support services;
• sports and fitness services;
• tourism services;
• veterinary and animal-related services;
• photo and video services;
• translation services;
• arts and culture.

The list of supported sectors is not exhaustive. If an applicant’s activity does not fall within the listed categories, they may select the “Other” option and specify their field of activity.

To participate in the grant competition, applicants are required to prepare and submit a complete application package using the prescribed templates.

The application process includes the following steps:

1. Complete the application form.
2. Prepare and complete the business plan form according to the required template.
3. Prepare photo or video materials about the business activity, as well as a short video introduction describing the applicant’s business and motivation for participating in the competition.
4. Provide supporting documents confirming eligibility, such as an IDP certificate, a combat veteran certificate together with a military discharge document, or other documents confirming vulnerability status.
5. Upload all required documents to a cloud storage platform and include the corresponding links in the application form. The shared files must be accessible to everyone via the provided links.
6. Submit the completed application through the application submission form.

Applicants should note that both the application form and the business plan annex must be completed in Ukrainian. Documents submitted using templates other than those required by the programme will not be considered.

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms acceptance of the programme rules and declares that they are not receiving funding from other organizations for the same needs described in the grant proposal.

Applications are assessed by the selection committee according to established evaluation criteria. During the first stage, submitted applications, business plans, and supporting documents are reviewed. Applicants who receive the highest scores may be invited to monitoring visits and/or video interviews.

The maximum possible score is 100 points. Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Sustainability and effectiveness of the business idea — up to 25 points.
• Realism and rationality of the proposed objectives — up to 25 points.
• Capacity and willingness to expand existing potential — up to 20 points.
• Relevant implementation and business management experience — up to 15 points.
• Social and financial vulnerability of the applicant or the social impact of the business activity — up to 15 points.

During interviews and monitoring visits, organisers may further assess:

• the history of business establishment or relocation and adaptation to wartime conditions;
• competitive advantages and potential business risks;
• short- and medium-term development plans;
• motivation to participate in the programme;
• the level of detail of the business concept and budget justification.

At the final stage, organisers conduct due diligence of shortlisted applicants, including a review of publicly available information and business reputation. If reputational concerns are identified, the applicant may be excluded from further consideration.

To participate in the grant competition, applicants are required to submit a document package that includes:

• a completed application form;
• a completed business plan form in accordance with the programme requirements;
• photo or video materials demonstrating the applicant’s business activity;
• a short video introduction presenting the applicant’s business and motivation for joining the competition;
• supporting documents confirming eligibility under the programme criteria.

Supporting documents may include:

• an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) certificate;
• a combat veteran certificate together with a military discharge order;
• other documents confirming vulnerability status, such as a pension certificate, a certificate confirming large-family status, or a disability certificate.

Submission of a complete set of documents is required for the application to be considered within the competition.

The programme organisers have announced an informational Q&A session dedicated to the grant competition, application requirements, and participation procedures.

The session will take place on 3 June at 14:00 Kyiv time and is expected to last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The first 30 minutes will be devoted to a presentation of the programme and competition conditions, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Topics to be covered include:

• the programme objectives;
• participation requirements;
• eligible expenditure categories;
• priority economic activities;
• key implementation stages and timelines.

The official announcement of the information session will be published on the organiser’s Facebook page on 27 May.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their questions by 1 June inclusive via the email address (ukraine@helvetas.org) specified by the organisers or through the registration form provided in the event announcement. Submitted questions will be incorporated into the Q&A session agenda.

Within the grant programme, reporting on all expenditure categories is a mandatory requirement for receiving and using grant funds.

The reporting package must include:

• A financial report prepared using the template provided by the organiser.
• Scanned copies of primary accounting documents, including invoices, completion certificates, delivery notes, payment orders, contracts, and other supporting documentation.
• Photographs of purchased materials, equipment, production processes, and other project implementation results.

The organiser will provide administrative support to grant recipients, including assistance with project management, activity monitoring, accounting practices, and grant reporting requirements.

In addition, grant recipients may request advisory support related to business creation, development, expansion, and the achievement of business objectives.

Within the grant programme, applicants selected for funding will receive an official grant award notification sent to the email address provided in their application. Applicants whose proposals are not selected will also receive a notification regarding the outcome of the selection process.

Following the grant award notification, the parties will conduct final negotiations prior to signing the agreement. Contractual arrangements under the programme may proceed only after this stage has been completed.

Successful grantees are expected to cooperate with the Organiser on programme-related and technical aspects of project implementation. Cooperation with Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation is considered an important component of the successful delivery of the programme and its objectives.