Support for women farmers

The international humanitarian organization Mercy Corps, with the support of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, is expanding the Ukraine Agricultural Support Program (UASP) by introducing a new component aimed at supporting women farmers. This component provides women with access to agricultural knowledge, advisory support, and financial capital to help increase productivity and income, as well as strengthen their resilience to current and future shocks. 

The program is being implemented in partnership with the following organizations:

• The Eastern Ukrainian Agricultural Advisory Service (Donetsk, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions); 
• Charitable organization Charitable Foundation “PERSHI” (Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad regions); 
• Charitable organization “LASKA” Charitable Foundation (Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa regions); 
• Charitable organization “PIDTRYMKA AGRO” Charitable Foundation (Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions).

The program invites local residents and internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the consequences of the war who meet the established requirements.

Applicants must:

1. Reside in the designated regions. Eligible participants must reside in the Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Cherkasy, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, or Kyiv regions.
   Participation is permitted only for individuals living in territories controlled by the Government of Ukraine, excluding areas where active hostilities are ongoing, as well as territories with restricted access or a high level of risk to life and economic activity.
2. Hold an appropriate status or demonstrate entrepreneurial intent. Applicants must either head a household or operate an existing agricultural business (sole proprietorship, farming enterprise, limited liability company, or private enterprise) with experience in agricultural production, or intend to start an agribusiness without prior experience.
3. Demonstrate strong motivation for learning. A high level of commitment to acquiring new knowledge and skills for business development is required.
4. Conduct or plan agricultural activities within the specified land size limit. Agricultural activities must be conducted or planned on a land plot not exceeding 150 hectares.

Funds are intended for starting or developing a business in agricultural production.

Financial assistance is provided on a competitive basis after successful training.

Financial assistance is provided on a competitive basis in the amount of USD 3,000 to USD 7,000 to start or develop your own business.

Funds are calculated in UAH equivalent at the current exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). 

The amount of assistance provided may be higher or lower depending on the business idea and needs.

The grant program предусматриє comprehensive educational and practical support for participants.

1. Delivery of a comprehensive training program in two areas:

• Entrepreneurship skills development. The program strengthens business management competencies — from foundational to advanced topics, depending on participants’ previous experience. It covers entrepreneurship fundamentals, business planning, accounting, marketing and branding, business registration procedures, and access to financing, among other subjects.
• Specialized agricultural training. Participants may select one of the following areas: vegetable production, berry farming, horticulture, beekeeping, poultry farming, cattle breeding, pig farming, rabbit farming, sheep farming, goat farming, and related fields.

The training program lasts 7 weeks. Sessions are conducted twice a week in an online format, allowing participants to study from any location. Access to recorded sessions is also provided. The curriculum is tailored to women with varying levels of education and experience and uses clear language along with visual learning materials.

2. Study visits to leading farms.

Participants who successfully complete the training and express interest may participate in study visits to advanced farming enterprises in their selected field to acquire practical skills. Transportation and related expenses for these visits are covered by the program.

• Until February 15, 2026: application submission.
• During the program: 7-week training course (twice a week online).
• After training: business idea competition, study trips, and funding provision.
• After funding: mentoring support.

1. Register on the main page https://uasp.mercycorps.org/.

2. Fill out the online form for the chosen field.

3. Pass the competitive selection for training.

The selection of participants is conducted on a competitive basis in accordance with the established program criteria.

The main evaluation criteria include:

1. Successful completion of the training program. Completion of the prescribed training is a mandatory prerequisite for receiving financial assistance.
2. Availability of a realistic and viable business idea. The submitted business idea must be economically justified, practically feasible, and demonstrate potential for sustainable development.
3. Readiness to start business activities. Applicants planning to launch a new activity must possess the minimum necessary resources required to initiate operations (including, for example, access to land, premises, water supply, and electricity).
4. Security risk assessment. Applications are additionally reviewed with consideration of security risks identified by Mercy Corps.

Priority during the competitive selection process is given to women who are engaged in farming activities in place of mobilized or deceased family members, as well as to women belonging to vulnerable groups (including internally displaced persons, women with disabilities, single mothers, representatives of national minorities, and mothers of multiple children, among others).

Application is possible only after registration on the main page of the website.