Request for Applications “Secure Community: War Preparedness 2.0” (Ukraine)

Deadline: 16-Aug-2026

The Partnership for a Strong Ukraine (PFRU) Program has launched the “Secure Community: War Preparedness 2.0” Grant to strengthen emergency preparedness and crisis response capacity in Ukrainian communities affected by war. The grant supports practical training programmes covering first aid, mine awareness, drone threat recognition, psychological first aid, stress management, and training of local emergency response trainers.

Program Overview

The Secure Community: War Preparedness 2.0 Grant supports initiatives that improve the ability of Ukrainian communities to prepare for and respond to emergencies caused by the ongoing impacts of war.

The program focuses on building practical skills, strengthening local resilience, and improving cooperation between communities, local authorities, civil society organizations, and emergency response actors.

The initiative is part of the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine (PFRU) Program, a multi-year donor-supported programme implemented by Chemonics.

About the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Program

The Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Program supports efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against the impacts of Russian aggression.

The programme is funded by governments including:

• Canada.
• Estonia.
• Finland.
• Norway.
• Sweden.
• Switzerland.
• United Kingdom.

The programme works with:

• Ukrainian government institutions.
• Local communities.
• Civil society organizations.
• Media organizations.
• Private sector partners.

Its goal is to strengthen community resilience, improve crisis response capacity, and support long-term recovery and stability.

Grant Objectives

The Secure Community: War Preparedness 2.0 Grant aims to:

• Improve emergency preparedness at the community level.
• Strengthen crisis response skills.
• Provide practical safety training.
• Build local emergency response capacity.
• Support community resilience against modern warfare threats.
• Develop local trainers who can continue delivering preparedness education.

Key Focus Areas

The grant supports activities related to:

Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response

Projects should help communities:

• Understand emergency risks.
• Prepare response plans.
• Improve coordination during crises.
• Strengthen local response systems.

First Aid Training

Activities may include:

• Basic first aid skills.
• Emergency medical response.
• Practical response exercises.
• Community-level health preparedness.

Mine Awareness Education

Training may focus on:

• Identifying mine-related risks.
• Safe behaviour in contaminated areas.
• Community awareness activities.
• Reducing injuries caused by unexploded ordnance.

Drone Threat Recognition

The programme supports training on:

• Understanding drone-related risks.
• Recognising potential threats.
• Improving community awareness of modern warfare technologies.

Psychological First Aid and Stress Management

Activities may support:

• Psychological first aid skills.
• Stress reduction techniques.
• Mental resilience.
• Supporting people affected by crisis situations.

Training of Trainers (ToT) Component

A pilot Training of Trainers (ToT) course will be introduced to strengthen long-term local capacity.

The ToT component aims to:

• Train community members who can deliver future emergency preparedness education.
• Create local training resources.
• Reduce dependence on external support.
• Build sustainable community response systems.

The first aid ToT programme may be implemented in up to 20 communities.

Training Delivery Methods

Supported training activities may use:

• Face-to-face learning.
• Blended learning approaches.
• Online training formats.

The approach should ensure accessibility and practical application of skills.

Target Participants

Training participants will include:

• Local government employees.
• Emergency response specialists.
• Community representatives.

Participants will come from priority communities in the following regions:

• Chernihiv.
• Dnipropetrovsk.
• Kherson.
• Sumy.
• Zaporizhzhia.
• Kharkiv.
• Donetsk.

The final list of participating communities will be confirmed after selection of the grant recipient.

Why This Grant Matters

Communities affected by war face complex and evolving risks, including:

• Infrastructure damage.
• Emergency situations.
• Mine contamination.
• Psychological impacts.
• New security threats.

This grant supports communities by helping them:

• Respond faster during emergencies.
• Develop local expertise.
• Improve safety awareness.
• Strengthen cooperation between stakeholders.
• Build long-term resilience.

Who Is Eligible?

The opportunity is intended for organizations capable of delivering emergency preparedness and crisis response training in Ukraine.

Eligible applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience in community training.
• Capacity to manage grant activities.
• Knowledge of emergency preparedness or resilience building.
• Ability to work with local authorities and communities.
• Experience delivering educational or capacity-building programmes.

How the Grant Works

The selected grantee will be responsible for:

1. Designing emergency preparedness training activities.
2. Delivering practical learning sessions.
3. Supporting local government and emergency specialists.
4. Implementing first aid, mine awareness, and crisis response modules.
5. Supporting the Training of Trainers programme.
6. Monitoring training outcomes.
7. Strengthening local capacity for continued preparedness activities.

Grant Funding Information

The expected grant amount is:

• Up to £134,000
• Approximately UAH 8,100,000

Funding details:

• The final grant amount will depend on the proposed activities.
• The final value will be determined through negotiations.
• The awarded amount may be lower or higher than the estimated amount.

How to Apply

Applicants should:

1. Review the grant requirements.
2. Prepare a proposal explaining the emergency preparedness approach.
3. Describe planned training activities.
4. Demonstrate relevant organizational experience.
5. Provide implementation plans and expected outcomes.
6. Submit the application according to PFRU requirements.

Expected Outcomes

Successful projects are expected to achieve:

• Better emergency preparedness in Ukrainian communities.
• Increased knowledge of crisis response methods.
• More trained local emergency responders.
• Improved community safety awareness.
• Stronger psychological resilience.
• Sustainable local training capacity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Proposing activities without clear community impact.
• Lacking practical training methods.
• Ignoring local government cooperation.
• Failing to explain sustainability after project completion.
• Submitting unrealistic budgets or timelines.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by:

• Demonstrating previous emergency training experience.
• Providing practical and community-focused approaches.
• Explaining how training will continue after funding ends.
• Including experienced trainers and specialists.
• Showing coordination with local stakeholders.
• Highlighting measurable results.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Secure Community: War Preparedness 2.0 Grant?

It is a PFRU funding opportunity that supports emergency preparedness and crisis response training for Ukrainian communities affected by war.

Who funds the Partnership for a Strong Ukraine Program?

The programme is funded by the governments of Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

What activities does the grant support?

The grant supports first aid training, mine awareness, drone threat recognition, psychological first aid, stress management, emergency preparedness education, and training of trainers.

Who will participate in the training?

Participants include local government employees and emergency response specialists from selected Ukrainian communities.

Which regions are targeted?

The programme focuses on communities in Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions.

How much funding is available?

The anticipated grant amount is up to £134,000, approximately UAH 8,100,000.

What is the purpose of the Training of Trainers component?

The ToT component aims to create local trainers who can continue providing emergency preparedness education within their communities.

Conclusion

The Secure Community: War Preparedness 2.0 Grant strengthens Ukraine’s local resilience by improving emergency preparedness, crisis response skills, and community-based training capacity. Through practical education, local trainer development, and collaboration with authorities and civil society, the programme aims to help communities better respond to the challenges created by modern warfare.

For more information, visit Public Space.