Briefly
Status
Closed
Deadline
27 February 2026, 16:00
Max. funding
₴1,300,000
Who can apply
NGO\CSO
Geography
National
Program description
The contest is held by East Europe Foundation with EU financial support.
- the goal is to support organizations working with affected populations, promoting digitalization of services and strengthening local security.
- special attention is given to initiatives helping IDP integration and community innovation.
Within the framework of the Call for Proposals, projects will be supported in the following areas:
- development of regulatory and/or strategic documents related to recovery;
- facilitation of constructive dialogue between civil society and local authorities to coordinate recovery efforts;
- provision of support in the areas of mental health, mentorship, and employment assistance to strengthen communities’ capacity for sustainable functioning.
Main Information
Program Type
Grant
Program Range
₴1,000,000 – ₴1,300,000
Project Duration
6-9 months
Economic Sectors
Social Protection & Employment, Digitalization & IT, Human Rights Protection, Gender Equality & Inclusion
Submission Language
Ukrainian
Eligibility
The competition is open to civil society organizations (CSOs), namely:
- charitable organizations (non-profit societies, institutions, foundations, etc.) and public associations (public organizations, public unions);
- associations of local self-government bodies that are registered in Ukraine and hold non-profit status (non-profit codes 0032, 0034, 0036, 0038, 0039).
The applicant organization’s team must have at least two years of experience in implementing projects in the proposed thematic area at the level of territorial communities and must carry out ongoing activities in one or more territorial communities.
Applications will not be considered from:
- individuals;
- business entities (including legal entities and sole proprietors);
- state authorities;
- local self-government bodies;
- political parties;
- religious organizations.
At the time of application submission, the organization must not be undergoing liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings.
Grants will not be awarded to organizations registered in temporarily occupied territories or along the line of contact.
Financing
Grant amount:
- from UAH 1,100,000 to UAH 1,600,000.
Within the framework of grant projects, organizations may plan and allocate funds for the following types of activities:
- activities aimed at restoring disrupted or destroyed public service delivery processes within a territorial community (education, healthcare, culture, social and youth work, etc.), as well as expanding access to such services;
- establishment and support of broad local networks, partnerships, and platforms for direct cooperation between CSOs and local self-government bodies; between public authorities, business, and civil society; and between residents of different settlements within the same territorial community;
- promotion of the institutionalization and application of financial instruments for engaging CSOs and citizens in local governance and community recovery processes (including participatory budgeting, school budgeting, CSO project competitions, etc.);
- activities within the framework of social and youth work in the territorial community;
- initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion in the territorial community, including dialogue practices and psycho-emotional and psychosocial support for the population;
- activities focused on the social integration of veterans, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and other population groups;
- support for initiative groups of citizens not formally organized as CSOs, as well as volunteer groups, in addressing local issues (training, mentoring, etc.);
- awareness-raising and educational activities for various social groups aimed at developing professional competencies that are in demand on the labor market;
- introduction or further development of cluster-based approaches to strengthening and preserving the economic potential of the territorial community;
- training and capacity-building activities on Ukraine’s recovery and EU accession for representatives of local self-organization bodies, local self-government authorities, municipal institutions, and establishments.
Additional opportunities within the call, considering potential security risks:
- Organizations may allocate up to 10% of the grant budget to solutions that enhance their resilience in conditions of unstable energy supply, including generators, power banks, small/portable solar panels, fuel for generators, etc.
- Organizations operating in frontline areas or along the border with the Russian Federation or Belarus may procure protective equipment and personal protective gear (e.g., protective vests, etc.).
The following activities are not eligible for support under this call:
- procurement, transportation, and distribution of humanitarian aid (including food and non-food items, medicines, etc.) or assistance to the military;
- construction or renovation works;
- procurement of office equipment, except for equipment that enhances organizational resilience in conditions of unstable energy supply.
Supported Activities
Within the framework of the Call, projects implemented by CSOs may be supported in the following thematic areas:
- assessment of territorial community needs related to the restoration of social infrastructure and essential public services, development of recovery proposals, and facilitation of their discussion within the community;
- support to territorial communities in developing new or updating existing regulatory and strategic documents related to recovery and development (such as territorial community development strategies, comprehensive recovery plans, medium-term priority public investment plans, a unified public investment project portfolio, local targeted programs, etc.);
- improvement of the quality and accessibility of public services provided at the territorial community level (including social, educational, cultural, healthcare services, public amenities, psycho-emotional support, and services for veterans and their families, etc.);
- strengthening social ties and cohesion within territorial communities, and fostering interaction and cooperation among residents of different settlements within the same community to support recovery and development;
- improving access to the labor market, creating conditions for economic self-realization, promoting entrepreneurship and self-reliance—particularly for women, veterans, internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, and older persons—as well as increasing workplace inclusiveness;
- support and enhancement of social infrastructure and adult education and reskilling programs;
- establishment, development, and institutionalization of safe and inclusive public spaces for civic engagement and interaction.
Roadmap
- Application submission start date: January 29, 2026, 10:00.
- Application submission deadline: February 27, 2026, 18:00.
- Notification of competition results: June 2026.
- Expected start of activities: June 2026.
How to Apply
Applications may be submitted through the East Europe Foundation Grant Portal.
An informational online session will be organized for those interested in participating in the grant competition. During the session, the Foundation’s team will provide more detailed information about the call and guidance on using the grant portal, as well as answer applicants’ questions. To participate in the informational session, it is necessary to complete the registration form via the provided link.
For convenience, applicants may download the document templates, review and complete them, prepare the required submission files, and later upload them to the Portal.
Letters of support and memoranda of cooperation with local authorities are desirable but not mandatory.
Evaluation Criteria
All applications submitted to the competition will be reviewed and evaluated by the Expert Council in accordance with the following criteria:
- justification of the project’s relevance;
- alignment of the proposed activities with the thematic priorities of the call;
- the extent to which the proposed activities ensure the achievement of project results (clarity, logical structure, feasibility, and appropriateness of the planned activities);
- the extent to which the proposed activities contribute to addressing the identified problem and ensuring project sustainability;
- the organization’s capacity to implement the project (including relevant experience in implementing similar projects and the professional expertise of its team and engaged specialists);
- justification and balance of the proposed budget.
Required Documents
Full package includes project description, budget, and copies of constituent documents.
Updates / Announcements
Selected organizations will be offered organizational support in the form of online courses, networking opportunities, and related capacity-building activities.
Legal Terms
The East Europe Foundation reserves the right not to provide funding if the content of submitted applications does not comply with the requirements of the call.
Please note that:
- the application must be submitted in Ukrainian;
- the list of expenditures that cannot be supported by the Foundation is provided in the project budget template and can be found in the separate tab titled “Instructions for Completing the Budget”;
- the availability of co-financing is not a requirement and does not affect the evaluation of the application;
- applicants will be informed of the review results through the Grant Portal (in the applicant’s personal account) and by email;
- the decision of the конкурс commission is final and not subject to revision;
- the East Europe Foundation reserves the right not to comment on the results of the application review.