Deadline: 31-Aug-2026
The ISAR Unity grant supports civil society cooperation platforms in Ukraine that bring together NGOs and stakeholders to address community challenges and deliver practical solutions. It offers up to 1,000,000 UAH for initiatives focused on capacity building, recovery, and advocacy through collaboration, events, and training activities. Eligible applicants include registered Ukrainian civil society organizations with at least one year of relevant experience.
What is the ISAR Unity Civil Society Cooperation Platforms Grant?
The ISAR Unity Civil Society Cooperation Platforms Grant is a funding programme designed to strengthen collaboration among civil society organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in Ukraine.
It supports the creation of structured cooperation platforms that:
- Address urgent community issues
- Promote practical and measurable outcomes
- Strengthen regional and interregional cooperation
- Build long-term partnerships between stakeholders
A “platform” typically combines a major public event with a series of supporting activities.
Key Objectives of the Programme
The grant focuses on achieving real-world community impact through structured collaboration.
Core Objectives
- Strengthen civil society cooperation
- Improve community-level problem solving
- Support recovery and resilience initiatives
- Enhance advocacy and policy engagement
- Build institutional and organizational capacity
Focus Areas and Supported Activities
The programme supports a wide range of activities, including:
Collaboration Platforms
- Creation of CSO-led cooperation platforms
- Multi-stakeholder engagement initiatives
- Regional and interregional cooperation networks
Public Events and Forums
- Large-scale public forums and conferences
- Open community discussions
- Stakeholder engagement events
Capacity Building Activities
- Training sessions and workshops
- Practitioner meetings and thematic discussions
- Organizational development initiatives
- Experience-sharing activities among CSOs
Recovery-Oriented Platforms
- Community recovery planning initiatives
- Collaboration between CSOs, local government, and businesses
- Solutions for social services, healthcare, and education
- Employment and reintegration support for vulnerable groups
Advocacy Platforms
- Development of joint policy positions
- Advocacy campaigns
- Engagement with decision-making processes
- Local, regional, and national policy influence
Grant Details
- Maximum funding: Up to 1,000,000 UAH
- Funding type: Project-based grant
- Focus: Civil society collaboration and practical community impact
Programme Structure
Each cooperation platform may include:
- A main public event (forum, conference, or summit)
- Supporting workshops and meetings
- Training and capacity-building sessions
- Coordination and consultation meetings
- Advocacy or policy development activities
The combination of these activities must lead to tangible outcomes.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Civil society organizations registered in Ukraine
- Charitable organizations
- Public associations
- Associations of local government bodies
Additional Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be registered under Ukrainian law
- Be included in the official Non-Profit Register
- Have at least 1 year of experience in relevant thematic areas
- Demonstrate capacity to implement multi-activity projects
Who is NOT Eligible?
Not eligible:
- Unregistered organizations
- Entities without non-profit status
- Organizations without relevant experience
- For-profit companies (unless explicitly permitted under other rules)
Key Programme Priorities
The competition is structured around three major priorities:
1. CSO Capacity Building Platforms
Focus on:
- Strengthening organizational capacity
- Sharing best practices among CSOs
- Improving operational effectiveness
- Introducing new approaches to civil society work
2. Recovery Collaboration Platforms
Focus on:
- Community recovery and rebuilding
- Social services improvement
- Healthcare and education support
- Employment and social integration
- Partnerships between CSOs, government, and business
3. Advocacy Platforms
Focus on:
- Joint policy development
- Influencing public decision-making
- Building unified civil society positions
- Local and national advocacy campaigns
Why This Programme Matters
The ISAR Unity grant plays a key role in:
- Strengthening civil society cooperation in Ukraine
- Supporting community recovery efforts
- Improving coordination between stakeholders
- Enhancing advocacy and policy influence
- Building long-term institutional capacity
It shifts civil society work from isolated projects to coordinated, multi-stakeholder platforms with measurable outcomes.
How the Grant Works (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Identify Priority Area
- Choose capacity building, recovery, or advocacy focus
- Define key community issue
Step 2: Build Cooperation Platform
- Identify partner CSOs and stakeholders
- Design collaborative structure
Step 3: Design Activities
Include:
- Main public event
- Supporting workshops and meetings
- Training or consultation sessions
- Advocacy or coordination activities
Step 4: Prepare Application
- Project proposal and objectives
- Stakeholder mapping
- Budget plan (up to 1,000,000 UAH)
- Implementation timeline
Step 5: Submit Application
- Submit through official ISAR Unity process
- Ensure eligibility compliance
Step 6: Evaluation Process
Applications are assessed based on:
- Relevance to priority areas
- Strength of cooperation platform
- Expected practical impact
- Organizational capacity
- Sustainability of outcomes
Step 7: Implementation
- Launch cooperation platform
- Conduct events and activities
- Deliver measurable community outcomes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating project as a single event only
- Weak stakeholder collaboration structure
- Lack of measurable outcomes
- Ignoring recovery or advocacy focus requirements
- Insufficient experience in relevant thematic areas
- Poorly defined platform design
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly define the “cooperation platform” structure
- Include diverse stakeholders (CSOs, government, business)
- Focus on practical, measurable results
- Combine events with long-term collaboration activities
- Align with recovery or policy impact goals
- Show sustainability beyond project funding
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the maximum grant amount?
Up to 1,000,000 UAH.
2. Who can apply?
Registered Ukrainian CSOs, charitable organizations, and associations of local government bodies.
3. What is the main purpose of the program?
To create cooperation platforms that solve community issues through collaboration.
4. How much experience is required?
At least 1 year of experience in relevant thematic areas.
5. What types of activities are supported?
Events, training, advocacy, recovery initiatives, and capacity building.
6. Is this only for events?
No, it includes events plus structured long-term collaboration activities.
7. What are the key priorities?
Capacity building, recovery platforms, and advocacy platforms.
Conclusion
The ISAR Unity Civil Society Cooperation Platforms Grant is a strategic funding initiative that strengthens collaboration among civil society organizations in Ukraine. By supporting structured platforms with up to 1,000,000 UAH, it enables stakeholders to address community challenges, improve recovery efforts, and influence policy through coordinated, practical, and impactful actions.
For more information, visit ISAR Unity.