Program to Support Energy Sustainability in Agribusiness

The Energy Resilience Support Programme for the Southern Agricultural Sector is implemented as an initiative of the World Food Programme in partnership with Southern Development Strategy.

The programme is designed to support agricultural businesses operating in war-affected and frontline communities.

The programme aims to:

• strengthen the energy resilience of agricultural producers;
• enable continued operations during power outages;
• protect critical production processes;
• minimise losses caused by blackouts;
• support community food security through the provision of energy equipment.

The programme is intended for registered and operating business entities (legal entities and sole proprietors) engaged in horticulture, fruit growing, livestock farming, or agricultural processing.

The programme is implemented in the following communities of Kherson region:

• Kochubeivka;
• Kalynivka;
• Velykooleksandrivka;
• Vysokopillia.

Key participation requirements include:

• operating in the eligible sectors for at least one year;
• demonstrated commercial experience;
• a documented need for energy equipment and the ability to describe the risks and losses caused by power outages or lack of electricity;
• ownership or legal use of a suitable site (building, roof, or land plot) for the installation of an energy system;
• no receipt of similar support (cash grants or in-kind assistance for energy resilience) from other donors or programmes during the previous 12 months.

The programme does not support commercial farmers engaged in field crop production.

The programme provides alternative energy system packages to ensure the uninterrupted operation of agricultural production processes.

Depending on the applicant's verified needs, the support package may include:

• a hybrid inverter (typically ranging from 3.5 to 12 kW);
• a battery energy storage system;
• solar panels;
• installation works, an electrical distribution board, grounding, and surge protection;
• technical consultation on system operation.

Support is provided through solar mini power system packages with a capacity of up to 10 kW. The system configuration is not fixed and is determined individually following a verification visit, based on the applicant's confirmed needs and the submitted business case.

The programme supports projects aimed at:

• ensuring continuity of production during power outages;
• reducing production losses and preventing operational interruptions;
• strengthening the economic resilience of agricultural businesses through their own electricity generation.

The programme is implemented in four stages, each with a defined timeline.

• Application submission — until 10 August.
• Review and evaluation of applications by the selection committee — until 17 August.
• Verification visits to the applicant's farm or business location and notification of the final decision — until 28 August.
• Delivery and installation of the support equipment — until 28 September.

Following the successful completion of the evaluation stage, applicants are contacted to arrange a verification visit. Applicants are requested to provide a valid telephone number for this purpose.

Please fill out the online application form to participate in the program at the following link: https://enketo.moda.wfp.org/x/GWFu6hLd

During the competitive selection process, certain characteristics are not mandatory, but they may provide applicants with an advantage when proposals are otherwise assessed equally.

Preference may be given to:

• internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have relocated their business activities from temporarily occupied territories and require business expansion or recovery;
• businesses and farms whose equipment or production infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed as a result of shelling or hostilities;
• business entities operating on land that was contaminated with explosive hazards and has undergone demining procedures.

Before completing the application form, the applicant should prepare the documents and supporting materials required for upload:

• an extract from the Unified State Register (EDRPOU) — to confirm business activity;
• photos or documents confirming actual business operations, such as photos of products, production processes, business activities, or sales.

Within the programme, applicants' personal data are processed confidentially and with a high level of protection.

Key conditions include:

• personal data are not disclosed to third parties;
• personal data are processed with the highest level of security;
• personal data are used only with the applicant's consent;
• personal data may be used only where this can help the applicant access assistance provided under the WFP project.