Briefly
Program description
The Recovery and Empowerment through Market Access and Resilient Economic Transformation in Ukraine (REMARKET) project is a three-year initiative implemented by Caritas Switzerland in partnership with Caritas Ukraine, Caritas-Spes Ukraine, and SPARK. Funding is provided by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the If Foundation, with support from Caritas international partners: Caritas Austria, Cordaid, and Trócaire.
The project aims to strengthen business resilience, improve income opportunities and support the development of the beekeeping, garment manufacturing and bakery sectors through MSME support. Selected businesses receive grants, business development services and improved access to financing.
Special attention is given to entrepreneurs from vulnerable groups such as women, youth, elderly people, veterans, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities.
Main Information
Eligibility
MSMEs that:
- operate in beekeeping, garment manufacturing or bakery sectors (or related sectors with ≥25% income linked to them);
- are registered and operate in eligible regions
- have at least 6 months of business activity;
- are registered in the state register
Financing
Grant amount
- Applicants may apply for a grant for MSMEs of up to UAH 237,000.
- The amount is indicated as gross funding.
- If funds are transferred to individual entrepreneurs, the grantor pays 18% personal income tax and 5% military levy on behalf of the recipient.
- For legal entities, taxation applies according to current national tax regulations.
Eligible costs
Grant funds may be used for the following categories of expenses:
- Production equipment (as listed in the annex) — these costs may account for up to 100% of the grant.
- Equipment for related business activities or modernization of existing equipment — up to 30% of the grant combined.
- Software for production equipment, delivery and installation costs, marketing expenses, purchase of raw materials, and certification — up to 30% of the grant combined.
- Alternative energy supply equipment — only as supplementary support for production equipment and subject to technical justification and a payback calculation of up to 24 months.
Important funding conditions
- Funding exclusively for alternative energy solutions without production equipment is not allowed.
- All eligible expenses must correspond to the project objectives described in the applicant’s business plan.
- Any other expenses not covered by the grant rules cannot be financed.
Examples of production equipment
The grant may support the purchase of equipment for several production sectors, including:
Bakery sector
- equipment for raw material preparation, dough mixing, shaping, and baking;
- systems for product quality control and storage in line with HACCP requirements;
- packaging machinery and supporting infrastructure.
Beekeeping
- equipment for apiary production (hives, frames, honey extractors, etc.);
- tools for honey extraction and primary processing;
- equipment for value-added honey products, packaging, and storage;
- laboratory instruments for quality control.
Garment production
- equipment for production preparation and fabric cutting;
- industrial sewing machines and equipment for specialized sewing operations;
- equipment for wet-heat treatment and quality control;
- packaging, labeling, and additional equipment for small clothing brands.
Supported Activities
Target sectors
Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) applying for the grant must operate in one of the following sectors:
- Beekeeping — businesses with practical experience in honey production, processing, manufacturing related products, or developing sales channels to increase income and sustainability.
- Garment manufacturing — enterprises producing goods for sale and able to improve product quality, expand product lines, and develop branding and standardization.
- Bakery production — businesses with practical experience in the regular production of bakery or confectionery products for sale.
Related sectors
Businesses operating in related sectors may also participate if at least 25% of their revenue is directly connected with products or services of the target sectors.
Examples of such related activities include:
- Honey-based cosmetics, using honey or beekeeping products in cosmetic and wellness industries.
- Honey-based medicinal and wellness products, including propolis tinctures, apitherapy products, immune-support mixtures, and natural balms.
- Wearable technologies in clothing, as well as production of uniforms, eco-bags, branding, and clothing repair services.
- Other bakery-related activities, such as confectionery production or cafés with their own baked goods.
Additional related activities
Related sectors may also include enterprises that:
- manufacture specialized technological equipment;
- provide veterinary, service, or research services;
- supply products or services to businesses operating in the target sectors.
In such cases, at least 25% of the enterprise’s revenue must come from cooperation with businesses in the target sectors or from products produced within those sectors.
Roadmap
The application, selection, and grant disbursement process is organized in several stages. In total, approximately 3.5 months may pass between application submission and grant payment.
Stage 1. Launch of the call and consultations
Duration: about 3 weeks
- Announcement of the call for applications (CFA) with annexes.
- Answers to frequently asked questions from applicants.
- Organization of information sessions explaining eligibility criteria and deadlines.
- Telephone or online consultations for individual guidance and document checks.
Stage 2. Application submission
- Applicants complete and submit online applications.
- Required documents include registration certificate and extract from the state register.
Stage 3. Initial screening and eligibility check
Duration: about 1 week
- Local Caritas teams review the completeness and compliance of applications.
- If necessary, telephone interviews with applicants are conducted.
- Applicants receive feedback on the results of the preliminary selection.
Stage 4. Business plan development and submission
Duration: about 2 weeks
- Selected applicants receive instructions for preparing a business plan and cash-flow projection.
- An online Q&A session is organized.
- Applicants submit their business plans.
Stage 5. Initial evaluation of business plans
Duration: about 3 weeks
- Assessment of business plans and financial projections.
- Assignment of initial evaluation scores.
- Selected applicants are invited to present to the selection committee.
Stage 6. Selection committee review
Duration: about 2 weeks
- The committee meets online and includes representatives of local teams, the national Caritas office, and Caritas Switzerland.
- Applicants present their business ideas and answer questions.
- The committee assigns final scores and determines the next stage.
- Applicants receive feedback on the selection results.
Stage 7. Business training
Duration: 2 days
- Applicants may optionally participate in offline training on business structuring.
- The training runs in parallel with the business plan evaluation and is not mandatory.
Stage 8. Due diligence (including field visits)
Duration: about 2 weeks
- Local teams conduct site visits to verify business activities.
- Infrastructure and compliance with regulatory requirements are assessed.
- Additional document verification may be conducted.
- Successful applicants receive official confirmation letters of grant selection.
Stage 9. Grant agreement and payment
Duration: about 1 week
- Signing of the grant agreement outlining conditions and obligations.
- Disbursement of grant funds.
Stage 10. Capacity development and coaching
Period: after grant distribution
- Grant recipients receive coaching focused on business challenges and scaling opportunities.
- Where possible, industry experts and experienced entrepreneurs are involved.
Stage 11. Post-funding monitoring
Period: 1–3–6–12 months after grant allocation
- Follow-up calls after 1 and 3 months to assess initial progress.
- Monitoring visits to evaluate the use of funds and business development.
- Collection of regular reports on results and lessons learned.
How to Apply
MSMEs that meet the requirements may submit their applications by March 20, 2026.
Submit the registration application via the following links:
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed based on several key criteria:
- Expansion of market linkages — applicants must demonstrate how investments in equipment will contribute to strengthening or establishing new commercial relationships.
- The business should have multiple sales channels and the capacity to effectively use grant funding for production development.
- Maintaining basic financial accounting is an important requirement for the business.
- Particular attention is given to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned or managed by representatives of vulnerable groups.
- These groups may include women, youth, older persons, veterans, persons with disabilities, and representatives of ethnic minorities.
Required Documents
Documents required at the application stage
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Registration certificate / extract from the State Register (EDR) — mandatory for both individual entrepreneurs and legal entities.
- Consent form for personal data processing, available during the application submission process.
Documents required at the business plan stage
At the next stage applicants must submit:
- A business plan.
- A cash-flow table.
Both documents are mandatory for individual entrepreneurs and legal entities.
Documents required at the contract signing stage
(for applicants selected for funding)
- Passport and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of the owner or director.
- Extract from the Unified State Register (EDR) issued not earlier than 30 days prior.
- Certificate of no criminal record for the owner or director — required only if negative information appears in public registers.
- Bank account details for grant transfer.
- Documents required after signing the contract and receiving the grant
After receiving the grant, beneficiaries must provide:
- Proof of payment for expenses covered by the grant (e.g., bank transfers or payment receipts).
- Official invoices from equipment suppliers or acts of completed work if services were financed through the grant.
Reporting and Compliance
Applicants must support due diligence checks, provide necessary documents and participate in monitoring visits. Failure to comply may lead to suspension or termination of the grant agreement and recovery of funds.
Legal Terms
Legal status of applicants
- The applicant must be a legally registered business entity in Ukraine for at least six months before the application submission.
- The business must operate in one of the following regions: Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, or Lviv oblasts.
- The enterprise must operate in one of the eligible sectors, including beekeeping, garment manufacturing, bakery production, or related sectors.
- Businesses that relocated must provide evidence of re-registration and proof of business activity for at least six months.
Compliance with regulations
- Micro, small, and medium enterprises must comply with Ukrainian regulatory and tax requirements applicable to their activities.
- Applicants must follow international and national standards on anti-corruption and counter-terrorism financing.
Compliance checks
As part of the evaluation process, several checks may be conducted:
- Anti-terrorism screening to verify the absence of links with sanctioned individuals or organizations.
- Military affiliation checks, particularly where business activities may intersect with military supply chains. In such cases, applicants must disclose any relevant contractual relationships.
Deduplication procedure
To prevent double funding, a deduplication mechanism is applied:
- verification of whether the applicant has received similar grants or financial support from other donor programmes;
- information exchange between programme partners, donors, and relevant clusters;
- if double funding is identified, the application may be rejected at any stage of the selection process.
Obligation of truthful declaration
- Applicants are responsible for the accuracy of information provided regarding previous assistance.
- Intentional concealment of such information may lead to rejection of the application or termination of support.
Restrictions related to previous funding
Applicants may be considered ineligible if they:
- received a business grant within the last 6 months from an international or national humanitarian or development organization below USD 5,000; or
- received a grant within the last 12 months from such organizations in the amount between USD 5,000 and USD 20,000.
Exceptions
The deduplication process does not apply to applicants receiving state support programmes, including:
- Diia.Business,
- Made in Ukraine,
- the 5-7-9 affordable loans programme,
- the Ukrainian Startup Fund,
- grants for horticulture, greenhouse farming, and manufacturing,
- employment compensation programmes,
- the “Own Business” programme for youth,
- and regional grant programmes.