CFAs: Strengthening Local Youth Policy and Youth Participation in Community Recovery (Ukraine)

Deadline: 15-Jun-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is inviting applications from eligible Ukrainian civil society organizations to strengthen local youth policy, institutionalize youth participation, and support community recovery through evidence-based youth engagement systems. With a maximum budget of USD 120,000 and a project duration of up to 12 months, the initiative aims to create sustainable mechanisms that integrate young people into local governance, decision-making, and recovery planning processes across selected regions of Ukraine.

Program Overview

The UNDP Youth Policy and Community Recovery Initiative is designed to strengthen youth participation in local governance and community recovery efforts while improving the quality and effectiveness of youth policy implementation in Ukraine.

The initiative promotes a systematic and evidence-based approach to youth development by supporting sustainable structures that enable meaningful youth engagement. Rather than relying on occasional or short-term activities, the program seeks to institutionalize youth participation and establish long-term mechanisms that empower young people to contribute to community development, local governance, and recovery processes.

The project aligns with Ukraine’s national youth policy priorities outlined in the State Targeted Social Program “Youth of Ukraine: Generation of Resilience — 2030” and supports collaboration among youth, local authorities, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders.

Focus Areas

The initiative supports activities related to:

• Youth policy development and implementation.
• Evidence-based youth engagement.
• Youth participation in decision-making.
• Community recovery and resilience.
• Local governance and civic participation.
• Youth inclusion and social cohesion.
• Youth needs assessment and research.
• Community development.
• Youth leadership and empowerment.
• Institutionalization of youth participation mechanisms.
• Youth work ecosystem development.
• Stakeholder collaboration and partnerships.
• Local recovery planning.
• Civic engagement and democratic participation.
• Long-term youth engagement strategies.

Projects should contribute to stronger and more inclusive systems that support meaningful youth participation.

Funding Information

Key funding details include:

• Maximum grant amount: USD 120,000.
• Funding type: Grant.
• Project duration: Up to 12 months.
• Expected project start date: July 2026.
• Geographic focus: Ukraine.
• Eligible regions:
  • Dnipropetrovsk Region.
  • Zaporizhia Region.
  • Kharkiv Region.

The Selection Committee may adjust the final budget depending on the proposed activities and implementation approach.

Program Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Strengthen local youth policy implementation.
• Improve understanding of youth needs and priorities.
• Develop evidence-based approaches to youth work.
• Institutionalize youth participation mechanisms.
• Increase youth involvement in decision-making processes.
• Support community recovery and resilience efforts.
• Strengthen cooperation between youth and local authorities.
• Build sustainable youth engagement ecosystems.
• Promote social inclusion and belonging.
• Enhance the consistency and quality of youth policy delivery.

The program seeks to ensure that youth voices are systematically incorporated into local development and recovery initiatives.

Strategic Context

The initiative supports Ukraine’s broader efforts to strengthen resilience, recovery, and community development in regions affected by ongoing social and economic challenges.

Through structured youth engagement systems, communities can:

• Better understand youth priorities.
• Improve public participation processes.
• Strengthen local governance.
• Increase social cohesion.
• Build long-term resilience.
• Support recovery planning that reflects diverse community needs.

The program recognizes young people as key stakeholders in shaping the future of their communities.

Key Priority Areas

Evidence-Based Youth Policy

Projects should strengthen the evidence base for youth policy by:

• Conducting youth needs assessments.
• Collecting and analyzing youth-related data.
• Identifying barriers to participation.
• Assessing local youth priorities.
• Developing policy recommendations.
• Supporting informed decision-making.

Evidence-based approaches help ensure that youth policies respond to actual community needs.

Institutionalized Youth Participation

The initiative seeks to move beyond occasional consultation activities by creating sustainable participation mechanisms.

Potential activities include:

• Youth advisory councils.
• Youth participation platforms.
• Local consultation mechanisms.
• Community dialogue initiatives.
• Participatory planning processes.
• Youth representation structures.

These mechanisms should support ongoing engagement rather than one-time participation events.

Community Recovery and Development

Projects may support:

• Youth involvement in recovery planning.
• Community resilience initiatives.
• Recovery-focused consultation processes.
• Youth-led community development activities.
• Civic participation programs.
• Collaborative local governance initiatives.

Young people should be recognized as active contributors to community recovery and future development.

Youth Work Ecosystem Development

Activities may focus on:

• Strengthening local youth organizations.
• Building youth worker capacity.
• Developing support networks.
• Improving youth services.
• Enhancing stakeholder collaboration.
• Promoting sustainable youth engagement systems.

The goal is to create long-term infrastructure that supports youth participation and inclusion.

Role of the Selected Organization

The selected grantee will serve as both:

Methodological Partner

Responsibilities may include:

• Providing technical expertise.
• Developing implementation methodologies.
• Supporting evidence-based approaches.
• Designing participation mechanisms.
• Contributing to policy development processes.

Operational Partner

Responsibilities may include:

• Coordinating project implementation.
• Managing project activities.
• Facilitating stakeholder engagement.
• Organizing events and consultations.
• Monitoring project progress.
• Managing reporting requirements.

The organization will work closely with UNDP to adapt activities to different community contexts and capacities.

Expected Outcomes

The initiative seeks to achieve outcomes such as:

• Improved youth policy implementation.
• Increased youth participation in governance.
• Stronger youth engagement structures.
• Better understanding of youth needs.
• Enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.
• Increased youth involvement in recovery planning.
• Sustainable local youth work ecosystems.
• Greater social inclusion and belonging.
• Stronger community resilience.

Projects should demonstrate clear pathways toward these outcomes.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must be:

• Public organizations.
• Charitable organizations.
• Non-profit organizations.

Organizations must be:

• Officially registered legal entities.
• Operating in government-controlled territories of Ukraine.
• Active in one or more eligible target regions.

Applicants should have demonstrated experience in youth development, community engagement, or civil society programming.

Geographic Eligibility

Organizations must operate within one or more of the following regions:

• Dnipropetrovsk Region.
• Zaporizhia Region.
• Kharkiv Region.

Activities should be implemented within government-controlled territories.

Organizational Requirements

Applicants must:

• Hold official non-profit status.
• Have at least three years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrate expertise in civil society or community development.
• Employ qualified project personnel.
• Have the operational capacity to implement regional-level projects.
• Maintain appropriate financial management systems.

Organizations should demonstrate a strong track record of successful project delivery.

Experience Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• At least three years of relevant experience.
• Successful implementation of at least two regional-level projects.
• Proper project reporting and accountability practices.
• Experience managing partnerships and stakeholder engagement.

Relevant experience in youth participation, community development, governance, or resilience programming is particularly valuable.

Staffing Requirements

Applicants must have access to qualified personnel, including:

• Project Manager.
• Financial Specialist or Accountant.
• Technical experts relevant to project implementation.
• Additional specialists as required by proposed activities.

Strong project management and financial oversight capacity are essential.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to organizations that have:

• Experience working with international organizations.
• Expertise in youth policy and governance.
• Strong regional networks.
• Experience in recovery and resilience programming.
• Established relationships with local authorities.
• Proven stakeholder engagement capabilities.

These factors may strengthen an application’s competitiveness.

How to Apply

• Review the program objectives and eligibility requirements.
• Confirm organizational registration and non-profit status.
• Verify eligibility within the target regions.
• Assess organizational experience and project implementation capacity.
• Develop a project concept aligned with youth participation and recovery objectives.
• Design evidence-based and sustainable engagement mechanisms.
• Prepare a detailed implementation plan and budget.
• Identify qualified project personnel.
• Compile documentation demonstrating past project experience.
• Submit a complete application according to UNDP requirements.

Strong proposals will demonstrate sustainability, stakeholder collaboration, and measurable outcomes.

Why This Initiative Matters

Young people play a critical role in shaping resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. However, youth participation often remains limited to short-term consultations or isolated activities that do not provide meaningful influence over decision-making processes.

This initiative seeks to change that by creating lasting systems that embed youth participation within local governance and recovery structures. By strengthening youth policy implementation, building institutional mechanisms, and supporting evidence-based approaches, the program contributes to stronger communities and more responsive local governance.

The initiative also supports long-term resilience by ensuring that young people are active partners in recovery, development, and community transformation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing one-time youth engagement activities without sustainability.
• Weak evidence-based approaches.
• Limited stakeholder involvement.
• Insufficient youth participation mechanisms.
• Lack of measurable outcomes.
• Inadequate staffing capacity.
• Weak financial management systems.
• Failure to demonstrate regional project experience.
• Limited alignment with local recovery priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of this UNDP initiative?

The initiative supports stronger youth policy implementation and institutionalized youth participation in local governance and community recovery processes in Ukraine.

How much funding is available?

Projects may receive funding of up to USD 120,000, subject to review and adjustment by the Selection Committee.

How long can projects last?

Projects may be implemented for up to 12 months.

Which regions are eligible?

Organizations operating in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine are eligible.

Who can apply?

Registered public organizations, charitable organizations, and non-profit organizations operating in eligible regions may apply.

Is prior project experience required?

Yes. Applicants must have at least three years of relevant experience and demonstrate successful implementation of at least two regional-level projects.

Is experience with international organizations beneficial?

Yes. Previous cooperation with international organizations is considered an advantage during the evaluation process.

Conclusion

The UNDP Youth Policy and Community Recovery Initiative provides an important opportunity for Ukrainian civil society organizations to strengthen youth participation, improve local governance, and contribute to long-term community resilience. With funding of up to USD 120,000 and a focus on evidence-based youth policy, institutionalized engagement, and recovery planning, the program supports the development of sustainable systems that empower young people to play an active role in shaping the future of their communities

For more information, visit Public Space.