Deadline: 04-Jun-2026
The “Children First. Protection of Ukraine’s Future” initiative is a grant programme focused on strengthening accountability for crimes against Ukrainian children and supporting their safe return from temporarily occupied territories or deportation. Funded by the Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, it supports legal, technical, and humanitarian interventions that protect children affected by conflict in Ukraine.
Programme Overview
This initiative is designed to improve both justice mechanisms and practical protection systems for Ukrainian children impacted by forced displacement, deportation, and conflict-related violations.
It supports organisations working on documentation, tracing, verification, and direct assistance for affected children and their families.
Key Objectives and Focus Areas
The programme focuses on:
- Strengthening legal accountability for crimes against Ukrainian children
- Documenting and verifying crimes and violations
- Improving data processing, tracing, and victim identification systems
- Supporting the safe return of children from deportation or occupied territories
- Enhancing institutional capacity for investigation and evidence management
- Facilitating submission of verified information to Ukrainian and international bodies
- Improving coordination mechanisms for child protection efforts
- Supporting enforcement of sanctions related to child rights violations
Humanitarian and Protection Support Activities
Eligible practical interventions include:
- Identification and tracing of displaced or deported children
- Technical assistance for case management and documentation
- Emergency psychosocial support for children and guardians
- Temporary accommodation and safe shelter arrangements
- Medical and psychological care services
- Assistance with legal documentation and identity recovery
- Transportation support for return and reunification processes
- Ongoing case monitoring and supervision
These activities aim to ensure safe recovery and reintegration of affected children.
Funding Details
- Grant size: EUR 30,000 to EUR 100,000
- Implementation period: 6 to 12 months
- Financing type: Project grants, with possible lump-sum components for return-related activities
- Funding source: Fund for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid
Eligible Applicants
Eligible organisations include:
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Research institutions
- Academic institutions
- Organisations registered in Ukraine or EU Member States
Eligibility requirements:
- Minimum 1 year of experience working with vulnerable groups
- Direct implementation capacity required (no intermediary organisations allowed)
- Proven ability to manage protection, legal, or humanitarian projects
Eligible Project Approaches
Projects may:
- Focus on a single thematic area (e.g., documentation or return support)
- Combine multiple thematic areas (e.g., legal accountability + humanitarian support)
- Integrate data systems, legal processes, and child protection services
- Strengthen cross-border or institutional coordination mechanisms
Programme Priorities
The initiative prioritises:
- Child protection in conflict and post-conflict settings
- Accountability for war-related crimes against children
- Strengthening legal and investigative systems
- Safe return and reunification of children with families
- Improvement of data systems and victim identification processes
- Coordination between national and international institutions
- Rapid humanitarian response and psychosocial support
Why This Programme Matters
This initiative is critical because it:
- Addresses serious violations against children in conflict settings
- Strengthens legal accountability and justice mechanisms
- Supports safe return and family reunification processes
- Improves international coordination on child protection
- Enhances data-driven identification and tracing systems
- Provides essential humanitarian and psychosocial support
- Builds institutional capacity for long-term protection systems
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applications may be weaker if they:
- Do not demonstrate relevant experience with vulnerable children
- Lack clear methodology for tracing or documentation activities
- Ignore legal accountability or evidence requirements
- Fail to include coordination with relevant institutions
- Provide unclear return or protection mechanisms
- Do not meet eligibility requirements (registration or experience)
- Present overly broad or unfocused project designs
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly define your child protection and accountability approach
- Include strong systems for data verification and documentation
- Demonstrate experience working with conflict-affected populations
- Provide detailed return and reintegration strategies
- Show coordination with legal or humanitarian institutions
- Include psychosocial support and safeguarding measures
- Ensure realistic timelines and clear deliverables
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for this grant?
NGOs, research institutions, and academic institutions registered in Ukraine or EU Member States.
What is the funding range?
EUR 30,000 to EUR 100,000 per project.
What is the project duration?
Between 6 and 12 months.
What is the main goal of the programme?
To strengthen accountability and support the safe return of Ukrainian children affected by conflict and deportation.
Are return-related activities funded?
Yes, including transport, documentation, and psychosocial support.
Is implementation by intermediaries allowed?
No, selected organisations must implement projects directly.
What types of activities are supported?
Legal accountability, child tracing, documentation, psychosocial care, and return facilitation.
Conclusion
The “Children First. Protection of Ukraine’s Future” programme is a targeted humanitarian and justice-focused initiative aimed at protecting Ukrainian children affected by war-related violations. By combining legal accountability with practical return and care mechanisms, it strengthens both protection systems and recovery pathways for vulnerable children and their families.
For more information, visit Central Project Management Agency.
