Resilient Roots Subgrant Competition

The German non-governmental organization Austausch e.V., in partnership with the charitable organization “GRINRUTSCHAB” and with financial support from Brot für die Welt, is announcing an open grant competition for non-profit organizations as part of the “Resilient Roots” project.

The project aims to support environmental initiatives, develop local solutions for environmental restoration, strengthen organizational capacity, and foster collaboration with local governments. It includes mentoring support, training, and participation in Green Roots Hub events.

• Eligible applicants include registered Ukrainian NGOs, charitable organizations, and youth associations
• Applicants must operate in areas such as environmental education, climate action, and environmental protection and restoration
• Priority is given to initiatives working in frontline and adjacent communities
• Special focus is placed on women-led and/or IDP-led organizations
• One applicant may submit multiple project proposals, but only one proposal can be funded

Amount and duration:

• grant size — up to €16,000 per project;
• project duration — up to 8 months.

Geographic scope:

• projects are implemented in Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions.

Eligible costs:

• goods: equipment and materials required for project activities;
• services: expert, technical, and consulting services;
• other costs: operational expenses within the approved budget.

Funding conditions:

• transparent and targeted use of funds is required;
• proper financial and narrative reporting must be ensured;
• compliance with integrity and anti-corruption policies of donors is mandatory.

• Implementation of local environmental solutions: communities introduce measures for forest restoration, soil and water improvement to address environmental impacts of war and climate change; planned goals and indicators are achieved.
• Strengthening capacity of local initiatives: teams improve skills in planning, management, and reporting; an active group of participants/volunteers is formed to continue activities beyond the project.
• Enhanced cooperation with stakeholders: initiatives establish regular collaboration with local authorities through meetings, consultations, and joint activities; developed solutions may be integrated into local strategies and programs.
• Increased awareness and visibility: public awareness grows through information campaigns and public events; projects and organizations become more visible within communities.

• Application deadline: 07.04.2026.
• Review: 08–10 Apr 2026.
• Results: 13.04.2026.

• Applications must be submitted in Ukrainian and only in electronic format using the установлену application form.
• Deadline: by 23:59 on April 7, 2026.
• Applications should be sent to: green.roots.application@gmail.com
• The email subject line must include: “Project конкурс: organization name”.

The evaluation system is structured around clearly defined criteria groups, scoring rules, and minimum thresholds.

Overall scoring system:

• applications are assessed across three key blocks: relevance, quality, and impact;
• maximum score — 100 points (40 + 40 + 20);
• evaluation is based solely on submitted applications and documents 

Criteria blocks:

• Relevance (up to 40 points): alignment with priorities, community needs, geography, target groups, inclusiveness, and synergy;
• Quality and feasibility (up to 40 points): clarity of objectives, logic of activities, implementation plan, budget justification, team capacity, safety;
• Impact (up to 20 points): long-term effect, environmental outcomes, cooperation with authorities, partnerships.

Scoring scale:

• each sub-criterion is rated on a 1–5 scale;
• scores are weighted and summed within each block.

Evaluation process:

• each application is reviewed by at least three evaluators;
• final score is calculated as the average per block;
• additional evaluation may be initiated in case of significant discrepancies.

Minimum thresholds for funding:

• relevance — at least 21/40;
• quality — at least 21/40;
• impact — at least 11/20;
• total score — at least 53/100.

Evaluation principles:

• transparency, equal treatment, non-discrimination;
• integrity and conflict-of-interest prevention;
• alignment with program objectives.

To participate in the конкурс, applicants must submit the following document package:

Registration documents:

• Extract from the Unified State Register (USR)
• Extract from the register of non-profit institutions and organizations
• Documents confirming the authority of the person representing the organization
• Identification document of the representative

Project proposal, including:

• Completed application form (standard template)
• Project description (activities, timelines, stages, team and, if applicable, supporting documents on staff qualifications, expected results, success indicators, estimated number and направления of beneficiaries)
• Information about the target group, including participation of women, IDPs, and other vulnerable groups
• Brief information about the organization and its experience in implementing similar projects

Budget broken down by cost categories in the установленій form

Reporting requirements within the program are clearly defined to ensure proper project implementation and use of funds.

• After signing the grant agreement, financial and narrative reporting requirements as well as timelines are established.
• Participants must submit interim and final reports to track progress and results.
• Reporting includes evidence of implemented activities and proper use of funds in line with grant conditions.
• Organizers conduct implementation monitoring through report analysis, online meetings, and document verification.
• Spot monitoring visits and additional checks of supporting documents may be carried out.
• In cases of violations or misuse of funds, financing may be suspended or terminated.
• Participants are required to comply with reporting obligations and financial discipline throughout the project.

Requires:

• grant agreement;
• reporting compliance;
• participation in trainings;
• media standards compliance.