Grants for the restoration of critical infrastructure

The grant programme is implemented by the NGO “Southern Development Strategy” (SDS) in partnership with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and is aimed at supporting water supply, heating, and wastewater utility enterprises.

Communities from Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions are invited to participate. The initiative is designed to help communities prepare critical infrastructure for the challenges of the 2026/2027 winter season.

The programme focuses on supporting solutions that ensure the continuous operation of essential public utility systems in frontline and de-occupied communities. Particular attention is given to maintaining access to heating and safe drinking water regardless of external challenges, including shelling or power supply disruptions.

The main objective of the programme is to provide communities with an opportunity to implement critical infrastructure solutions that were not previously planned but have become necessary to strengthen resilience and ensure reliable service delivery during the winter period.

The grant programme is open to communities from Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions that seek to strengthen the resilience of water supply, heating, and wastewater systems ahead of the 2026/2027 winter season.

The programme is primarily targeted at frontline and de-occupied communities, where the reliable operation of critical infrastructure directly affects the quality of life of local residents.

Eligible participants are communities that require the implementation of critical solutions to ensure uninterrupted access to heating and safe drinking water, including under conditions of potential shelling or power supply disruptions.

The grant programme provides support for infrastructure projects in the areas of water supply, heating, and wastewater services.

The total competition budget amounts to UAH 38,250,000, while the estimated value of support for a single project is UAH 2,250,000.

A key feature of the programme is that assistance is provided exclusively in-kind. SDS is responsible for procuring the necessary equipment and materials required for the implementation of selected projects.

No cash transfers are made to beneficiaries’ accounts. Instead, support is delivered through the provision of equipment and materials in accordance with the approved project needs and programme requirements.

The grant programme supports projects aimed at strengthening the resilience of water supply, heating, and wastewater systems, particularly in preparation for the 2026/2027 winter season.

Priority areas of support include:

• Emergency recovery of infrastructure and networks to rapidly restore interrupted services.
• Expansion of access to water and heating services for households that previously lacked access to centralized systems.
• Winter resilience measures, including energy independence of wells and boiler houses, as well as system automation for operation during power outages.
• Innovative technical solutions that contribute to the protection of families with children and ensure continuity of essential services.

The programme promotes active community participation in project implementation. Successful communities are expected to facilitate project activities by providing access to sites, technical documentation, and necessary resources.

Co-financing arrangements are also encouraged, particularly where communities contribute to preparatory works or the procurement of related materials.

Special emphasis is placed on sustainability. Participating communities should be prepared to sign a cooperation memorandum and accept the supported assets onto their balance sheets.

In addition to technical assistance, selected participants will gain access to an expert community, training events, workshops, field visits, and individual mentoring support for technical specialists.

The programme roadmap includes a defined schedule for application submission, applicant support activities, and project implementation.

• 25 May 2026 – opening of the application period.
• 2 June 2026 at 3:00 PM – an information session (webinar) will be held to provide guidance on application preparation and submission.
• 15 June 2026 – deadline for application submission.
• Following the selection process, approved projects move to the implementation stage in accordance with programme requirements.
• By 1 December 2026, selected projects must be successfully implemented and completed.

The key milestones for applicants are the timely submission of applications, participation in the information session, and successful completion of project activities within the established timeframe.

• Link to the file – Appendix to the SDS Application Form.
• Submission form: Application Form – KoBo forms.

The grant programme applies a professional project assessment approach, which includes verification of technical feasibility and risk analysis for proposed initiatives.

Each submitted application will undergo structured field verification conducted by the SDS engineering department. This process is intended to assess the quality of the proposed solution and its practical feasibility.

As part of the evaluation process, SDS experts will prepare a detailed risk assessment for each project site. This analysis helps identify potential implementation challenges and determine the conditions necessary for successful project delivery.

Particular attention is given to project quality and sustainability, as well as the applicant’s ability to implement the proposed solution effectively within the required timeframe.

The overall objective of this approach is to support the successful implementation of projects by 1 December 2026.

Appendix to the SDS Application Form.

Info Session: A webinar explaining how to fill out applications will be held on June 2 at 3:00 p.m. at the following link:
https://zoom.us/meetings/94927668995/invitations?signature=yFA4hysmDBHkVI0-2ZF3Sgcs8j1Stg4nV2Z2qzO507o