Support for CSO Advocacy Campaigns

The grant competition is implemented by East Europe Foundation within the “Phoenix: The Power of Communities” project with financial support from the European Union.

The objective is to strengthen the participation of civil society organizations in territorial community recovery processes and Ukraine’s European integration.

Advocacy projects, information campaigns and other initiatives aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in recovery processes, strengthening cooperation between civil society and the public sector, and raising awareness of recovery efforts and EU integration will be supported. 

Up to 10 organizations are expected to receive support.

Who can apply

• The competition is open to civil society organizations (CSOs), including:

  • charitable organizations (non-profit associations, institutions, foundations, etc.);

  • public associations (public organizations and public unions).

• Organizations must be registered in Ukraine and have the status of a non-profit organization (non-profit codes 0032, 0034, 0036, 0038).
• The applicant organization’s team must have at least two years of experience implementing projects in the relevant thematic area.
• Organizations that previously participated in grant competitions of the “Phoenix: Power of Communities” project are also eligible to apply.

Who is not eligible

Applications will not be considered from:

• individuals or business entities (including private entrepreneurs);
• state authorities and local government bodies;
• political parties;
• religious organizations.

Additional restrictions

• At the time of application, the organization must not be undergoing liquidation or bankruptcy procedures.
• Grants will not be awarded to organizations registered in temporarily occupied territories or along the contact line.

The programme is funded by the European Union.

Grant amount

• Grants under the competition range from UAH 800,000 to UAH 1,100,000 per project.

Geographic scope

• Projects may be implemented throughout Ukraine, including territories under the control of the Government of Ukraine.

Number of grants and additional support

• The competition plans to support up to 10 organizations.
• Selected organizations will also receive organizational support, including online courses, networking opportunities, and other capacity-building activities.

Main types of activities eligible for support

Within the grant projects, organizations may plan activities aimed at:

• public monitoring and civic expertise of recovery processes in territorial communities, including oversight of public finances and implementation of development strategies;
• civic assessment of the work of local self-government bodies and officials related to community recovery and implementation of local programmes;
• development of analytical documents on public participation, public-private dialogue, and local recovery policies;
• analysis of key community development challenges with preparation of recommendations and advocacy initiatives;
• organization of regional forums, discussions, and dialogue platforms to strengthen cooperation between civil society and public authorities;
• media support for recovery processes to improve transparency and public awareness;
• information campaigns promoting EU standards and best practices at the community level.

Thematic focus areas

The competition supports CSO advocacy projects focused on:

• strengthening democratic citizen participation in territorial community recovery processes;
• development and implementation of local development programmes addressing key economic or socio-cultural challenges;
• integration of sustainable development principles, human rights, non-discrimination, and gender equality into community development strategies;
• improving transparency and accountability in recovery governance;
• active engagement of residents in planning recovery and advocacy processes with representation of different social groups;
• involvement of citizens in public finance management and municipal asset governance;
• development of policies supporting veterans and their families;
• preparation and implementation of local programmes related to EU standards and Ukraine’s European integration at the community level.

Application submission period

• Start of application submission: 5 March 2026, 10:00.
• Application deadline: 3 April 2026, 18:00.

Announcement of results

• The competition results are expected to be announced in June–July 2026.

Project implementation

• The expected project implementation period is 6 to 8 months.
• After the selection stage, the approved organizations proceed to implementation of the supported projects within the specified timeframe.

Application submission method

• Applications must be submitted exclusively through the East Europe Foundation Grant Portal.
• Applicants may download document templates from the “Documents” section, prepare the necessary files, and then upload the information to the portal.

Key submission requirements

• Applications must be submitted in Ukrainian.
• A list of expenses not eligible for funding is provided in the budget template and in the “Budget Completion Instructions” section.
• Co-funding is not required and does not affect the evaluation of the proposal.

Results and decisions

• Applicants will be notified of the results through the grant portal account and via email.
• Decisions of the selection committee are final and cannot be appealed.
• The East Europe Foundation reserves the right not to award funding if submitted applications do not meet the competition requirements.

Supporting documents

• Letters of support or memoranda of cooperation with local authorities are welcome but not mandatory.

All submitted applications are reviewed and evaluated by an Expert Council according to established criteria.

Project relevance

The evaluation considers the justification of the project’s relevance and its alignment with current challenges.

Alignment with thematic priorities

Assessors examine how well the proposed activities correspond to the thematic priorities of the competition.

Quality and coherence of project activities

The extent to which the proposed activities ensure achievement of project results, including clarity, logical structure, and practical feasibility.

Contribution to problem-solving and sustainability

The evaluation considers the project’s potential to address the identified problem and ensure sustainability of outcomes.

Applicant organization’s capacity

The organization’s relevant experience in implementing similar projects and the expertise of its team and involved specialists are taken into account.

Budget justification

The reasonableness and balance of the proposed budget are assessed.

An online information session will be held for those wishing to participate in the grant competition. During the session, the team will provide more details about the competition and how to use the Grant Portal. A Q&A session is also planned as part of this event. To participate in the information session, please fill out the form at the link.

Applications are not accepted from individuals, businesses, state authorities, local self-government bodies, political parties, or religious organizations. The organization must not be in the process of liquidation or bankruptcy. Grants are not provided to organizations registered in temporarily occupied territories or along the contact line.