Briefly
Program description
The program is implemented by IREX with financial support from the US Department of State. The goal is to expand access for veterans, their family members, and families of fallen defenders to comprehensive services through mobile offices.
The project focuses on providing psychosocial support, legal counseling, and employment assistance directly in communities.
Special attention is paid to inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and compliance with "No one is forgotten" standards.
Main Information
Eligibility
Participation requirements
Under the programme, eligibility is limited to organizations that meet the following conditions:
- Official registration as a legal entity in Ukraine and compliance with applicable Ukrainian legislation.
- Only Ukrainian legal entities are eligible (organizations or individuals from the U.S. or other third countries are not eligible).
- Operational activity in Ukraine and non-profit status.
- Proposed activities must align with the UVRR objectives and principles, with clearly defined expected results and long-term impact.
- Confirmed partnership with relevant government authorities, local authorities, or other institutions (e.g., letters of support, memoranda of understanding, cooperation agreements).
- No affiliation with political parties or appointed/elected officials.
- Compliance requirements: the organization must not be suspended or declared ineligible and must adhere to U.S. government regulations on costs and procurement.
- RFA funds may not be used for payments or transfers to UNRWA.
- Applications must be submitted in Ukrainian or English.
- Project implementation timelines must not exceed the final date specified in the solicitation.
Eligible grantees
- Civil society organizations (CSOs), including NGOs, charitable organizations, and charitable foundations.
- Consortia of CSOs with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and budget allocations.
Financing
Funding under the programme
- Subject to availability of funds, IREX plans to award one grant with a total potential value of up to USD 400,000.
- The expected implementation period is 12 months, starting at the end of April – May 2026.
- IREX reserves the right to fund any or none of the submitted applications, adjust the number and size of grants and the duration, or make no award under this competition.
- One organization or consortium may submit one proposal only.
- Costs incurred prior to grant award are not allowable and will not be reimbursed.
- IREX will play an active role in grant implementation as specified in the subgrant agreement.
Restrictions on the use of funds
Grant funds may not be used for:
- procurement from vendors listed on the U.S. government consolidated exclusion list (SAM);
- purchases or activities not necessary for successful project implementation;
- prior obligations, bad debts, fines, or penalties;
- gambling activities;
- international travel;
- expenses directly or indirectly supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other defense forces;
- medicines, food products, humanitarian aid, or disposable goods;
- charitable activities or support to political parties;
- lobbying for religious activities;
- loans or alcoholic beverages;
- large capital equipment (including vehicles);
- construction or reconstruction;
- activities outside Ukraine;
- scientific research for special experimental purposes;
- purchase or lease of land or entire buildings;
- venture capital, commercial projects, or participation fees;
- individual scholarships, gifts, or prizes;
- any costs not allowable under 2 CFR 200 (Subpart E) and FAR 31.2.
Supported Activities
The programme supports activities implemented in up to 8 regions of Ukraine (excluding non-government-controlled areas), focusing on underserved and hard-to-reach communities.
Expected results include:
- delivery of more than 1,500 consultations to veterans through mobile support offices in 8 selected regions (and, where possible, to their family members);
- 85% client satisfaction with services provided by mobile offices;
- 50% of veterans reporting improved access to services due to mobile support;
- sustainability of integrated services ensured through formal cooperation with local authorities and diversified funding models.
Applicants may implement activities in one, several, or all 8 regions, depending on their operational capacity.
Indicative list of activities
- Provision of coordinated legal, psychosocial, employment-related, and social services to veterans and their families through mobile teams.
- Coordination of mobile teams with local and regional authorities and service providers to prioritise high-need regions and avoid duplication.
- Establishment or strengthening of referral pathways to ensure continuity of support after mobile visits.
- Systematic monitoring of service coverage and quality through feedback collection and evidence-based adaptation of service models.
- Advocacy and coordination measures aimed at transferring ownership of mobile service delivery to local authorities after project completion.
- Cooperation with local partners to ensure sustainability of mobile services beyond the grant period.
Applicants may propose additional activities aligned with the competition objectives. However, the purchase of vehicles (including cars for mobile teams) is not предусмотрed and will not be funded.
Roadmap
- 22.03.2026: Application deadline.
- 23.03.2026 - 10.04.2026: Technical evaluation and selection.
- 15.04.2026: Announcement of preliminary results.
- May 2026: Signing of grant agreements and start of implementation.
How to Apply
Application submission procedure
- The full RFA text and document package are available on the UVRR platform: “For Civil Society Organizations – IREX”.
- Completed applications must be submitted electronically to: tender-ua@irex.org.
- All documents must be attached to the email. Applications submitted via links to external file-sharing platforms (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, WeTransfer, etc.) will not be considered.
- Required email subject line: “UVRR RFA Mobile Support Services for Veterans”.
- Submission deadline: March 22, 2026, 23:59 (Kyiv time).
Late and incomplete applications
- Applications received after the deadline are generally not reviewed.
- IREX reserves the right to consider late applications in exceptional cases (if in IREX’s interest or if timely submissions have not yet been reviewed).
- Late or incomplete applications carry a significant risk of rejection.
Additional provisions
- Applicants must retain a copy of all submitted documents.
- Selected finalists must complete a due diligence questionnaire using the IREX template before the final award decision.
- Questions regarding the RFA must be submitted in writing no later than 10 days before the deadline to tender-ua@irex.org, using the specified subject line.
- The complete application package must be received no later than the official closing date of the competition.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications are assessed according to the following criteria:
Technical aspect – 25 points
- alignment with the UVRR programme objectives and competition priorities;
- relevance and soundness of the proposed approach;
- use of methodologies based on participant engagement and data.
Sustainability of results and exit strategy – 15 points.
Previous experience – 15 points
- achievements in similar projects;
- experience in veteran reintegration;
- access to the target audience.
Organisational capacity – 15 points
- accounting and procurement procedures;
- team expertise and experience.
Realism and cost-effectiveness – 20 points
- consistency of planned costs with activities;
- justification and explanation of expenses.
Scope of work – 10 points
- potential impact of proposed activities on veterans;
- practicality and feasibility of the approach.
IREX may request clarifications or conduct negotiations with applicants whose proposals demonstrate strong potential for funding. A recommendation does not guarantee an award. Applicants must demonstrate adequate management capacity and accountability systems.
Required Documents
Mandatory documents for participation
A complete application must include the following components:
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Project proposal (using the IREX template), including:
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information about the organization (maximum 3,000 characters including spaces);
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program description (maximum 1,000 characters including spaces);
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beneficiaries, results, and expected impact;
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work plan (narrative and/or table);
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communication plan;
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monitoring plan.
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CVs or short biographies of key project staff.
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Budget (using the template provided by IREX).
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Supporting documents, including:
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letters of support, memoranda, or partnership agreements (total volume not exceeding 20 pages).
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Documents required in case of a positive funding decision
If the application is approved, the following documents must be submitted to IREX in order to receive the subaward:
- Certificate of state registration of the NGO/CF;
- certificate confirming non-profit status;
- protocol or order appointing the director or authorized signatory of the subaward agreement;
- certificate of bank account details;
- copies of the organization’s internal policies (e.g., accounting and procurement policies);
- scanned copy of the organization’s charter.
FAQ
If an application is properly completed and submitted in accordance with the competition requirements, the applicant automatically receives a confirmation email acknowledging receipt.
Information about the launch of a new competition is announced:
- on the official Facebook page of the Veteran Reintegration Program;
- on the programme website in the news section;
- via email notifications sent to organizations.
To receive competition announcements by email, interested parties should contact contact.vrp@irex.org and include the subject line “Add to information database”
Updates / Announcements
The organizer will hold an information session for interested applicants on March 4, 2026, at 15:00 online. The meeting link will be published on the program website.
Reporting and Compliance
Reporting requirements are defined in the grant agreement, and reporting templates are provided to grantees.
They may include, but are not limited to:
- Periodic programmatic reports
Submitted during project implementation according to the schedule specified in the grant agreement. These reports describe progress, identified challenges, mitigation measures, and planned activities for the next period. - Final programmatic report
Includes a description of achieved objectives and tasks, key results, and lessons learned, including challenges and solutions encountered during implementation. - Financial reports
Submitted in accordance with the agreed schedule. The type and frequency depend on the grant type, project duration, and funding amount. A detailed final financial report is mandatory.
Disbursement of the final tranche of grant funds is contingent upon the receipt and approval by IREX/UVRR of the final programmatic and financial reports.
Legal Terms
Regulatory requirements and grant award conditions
- A recommendation or selection of an application does not guarantee funding.
- All applicants must demonstrate that they have, or can establish, adequate management capacity and accountability systems for the proper use of funds and resources.
Notification of results
- Successful applicants receive a Grant Award Letter, signed by IREX, requesting submission of a Due Diligence Questionnaire along with supporting documentation.
- The letter is addressed to the authorized representative indicated in the application.
- Applicants who are not selected receive written notification.
- IREX is not obliged to provide detailed feedback or explanations regarding its decisions.
Following issuance of the Grant Award Letter, final negotiations take place prior to signing the grant agreement.
Additional regulatory provisions
- Applicants must not be subject to U.S. or UN sanctions.
- The organizer reserves the right to reject any application that does not meet the requirements or contains inaccurate information.
- Receipt of funding requires signing the standard IREX grant agreement.