UNICEF Grants to Prevent Gender-Based Violence and Support Survivors in Ukraine

Deadline: 25-Feb-2026

UNICEF Ukraine is accepting grant applications to strengthen survivor-centered services, prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and empower adolescents in selected communities. The initiative prioritizes women-led consortia to deliver coordinated GBV response, child protection, and youth engagement across multiple oblasts, with an indicative budget of USD 800,000.

Overview of the Initiative

The UNICEF Ukraine initiative aims to improve protection, support, and empowerment for women, girls, and boys, particularly adolescents, in selected communities. The program focuses on survivor-centered GBV services, child protection, youth leadership, and communication for development. Activities are implemented in coordination with local authorities to ensure sustainable impact and measurable improvements in community safety and resilience.

Geographic Coverage and Consortium Structure

• Targeted Oblasts: Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolayiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odessa

• Consortium Structure: Partners must apply as consortia, each covering one geographic area:

  • Area 1: Kharkiv and Sumy

  • Area 2: Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia

  • Area 3: Odessa and Mykolayiv

  • Area 4: Lviv and Zakarpattia

• Each consortium is led by a GBV-specialized women-led organization as the main applicant and contractual counterpart to UNICEF, including two or more additional women-led organizations

Key Focus Areas

Survivor-Centered Services

• Strengthen GBV response systems and coordination with local authorities

• Ensure inclusive and accessible support for survivors, particularly adolescent girls

• Deliver community-driven prevention and protection activities

Youth Leadership and Participation

• Engage adolescents in decision-making, resilience-building, and empowerment activities

• Promote safe behaviors, mental wellbeing, and active community participation

Child Protection and GBV Prevention

• Implement child protection strategies in all selected hromadas

• Facilitate awareness campaigns and programs to shift harmful community attitudes and beliefs

Communication for Development

• Conduct initiatives to inform communities about GBV risks, safe practices, and available services

• Encourage behavioral change through locally relevant messaging

Funding and Implementation

• Indicative Budget: USD 800,000 for all activities, capacity building, and coordination

• Implementation Unit: Each consortium covers up to four UNICEF-selected hromadas

• Funding supports planning, capacity-building, service delivery, and multi-stakeholder coordination

Expected Outcomes

• Enhanced survivor-centered GBV response systems

• Safer and more supportive environments for women, girls, and boys

• Measurable shifts in community attitudes and beliefs perpetuating violence

• Empowered adolescents with improved resilience, leadership, and agency

• Strengthened collaboration between local authorities and civil society actors

Who Can Apply?

• Women-led civil society organizations with experience or presence in the designated oblasts

• Consortia must include two or more women-led organizations working together

• Applicants should have expertise in GBV, child protection, youth empowerment, or related fields

How to Apply

1. Form a consortium with at least two additional women-led organizations.

2. Identify the target oblast and hromadas for project implementation.

3. Develop a full package of activities covering survivor-centered services, youth empowerment, GBV prevention, and communication initiatives.

4. Submit a proposal including budget, implementation plan, consortium structure, and capacity statements.

5. Coordinate closely with local authorities to ensure alignment and sustainability.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting as a single organization rather than a consortium

• Choosing hromadas outside the designated areas

• Failing to demonstrate GBV specialization or women-led leadership

• Omitting coordination mechanisms with local authorities

• Providing unclear or incomplete budget and implementation plans

FAQs

1. Who can lead the consortium? A GBV-specialized women-led organization.

2. How many hromadas can a consortium cover? Up to four hromadas per consortium.

3. What is the total indicative budget? USD 800,000 for all consortia and activities.

4. Which oblasts are targeted? Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolayiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odessa.

5. Are adolescent-focused activities required? Yes, youth empowerment and leadership are central components.

6. Can a consortium include organizations not women-led? Only the lead must be women-led; consortium members should be women-led where possible.

7. What are the expected community outcomes? Stronger GBV response, safer environments, attitude change, and empowered adolescents.

Conclusion

The UNICEF Ukraine grant initiative provides an opportunity for women-led consortia to strengthen survivor-centered services, prevent gender-based violence, and empower adolescents in selected communities. By fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration, local capacity building, and community-driven prevention, the program aims to create safer, more resilient communities and measurable improvements in civic attitudes toward GBV and child protection.

For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.