Deadline: 14-Jun-2026
The “Ability to Impact-2” initiative is designed to strengthen Ukrainian civil society by supporting organizations that promote human rights, democratic values, and inclusive governance. It focuses on improving the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to respond effectively to social, political, and humanitarian challenges during ongoing conflict conditions in Ukraine.
The program provides financial support along with training, networking, and analytical assistance to help organizations improve their advocacy impact and operational resilience.
Key Focus Areas
The competition supports projects working in the following areas:
- Human rights promotion and protection
- Equal rights and non-discrimination
- Protection of vulnerable groups
- Democratic development and civic engagement
- Women’s rights and gender equality
- LGBTQ rights and inclusion
- Anti-corruption initiatives and transparency
- Investigative journalism and accountability reporting
- Civic education at regional and national levels
- Development of regional human rights networks
- Advocacy on public policy and governance reforms
Program Objectives and Support Structure
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen the organizational capacity of Ukrainian CSOs
- Improve advocacy skills and policy influence
- Support sustainable human rights and democracy initiatives
- Expand regional cooperation and networking among CSOs
- Enhance resilience of civil society under wartime conditions
Support provided under the program includes:
- Small grants for project implementation
- Training and capacity-building sessions
- Analytical and technical support
- Networking opportunities across regions and sectors
Grant Information
- Grant amount (LOT 1): NOK 70,000
- Grant amount (LOT 2): NOK 150,000
- Project duration: Up to 9 months
- Thematic requirement: Each project must address only one thematic area
Expected Impact
The program aims to:
- Strengthen Ukrainian civil society as a driver of democratic change
- Improve human rights protection mechanisms
- Enhance accountability and transparency in governance
- Support vulnerable communities during wartime
- Build sustainable advocacy and policy influence capacity
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Charitable organizations and foundations
- Charitable institutions
- Public organizations and associations
- Unions of public organizations
- Higher education institutions registered as legal entities in Ukraine
- Organizations listed in the official Ukrainian non-profit registry
Ineligible Applicants
The following are not eligible:
- Business entities and commercial organizations
- Individual entrepreneurs
- State authorities and local governments
- Municipal institutions
- Political parties
- Religious organizations
- Organizations in bankruptcy or dissolution
- Organizations registered in temporarily occupied territories or located on active contact lines
Conclusion
The “Ability to Impact-2” Small Grants Competition is a targeted funding initiative designed to strengthen Ukrainian civil society organizations working on human rights and democratic governance. By combining financial support with training and networking, the program aims to enhance advocacy capacity, promote inclusion, and reinforce democratic resilience in Ukraine during ongoing conflict conditions.
For more information, visit Kyiv Human Rights Hub.