RFAs: Empowering Local Communities for Recovery and Resilience (Ukraine)

Deadline: 03-Apr-2026

The International Renaissance Foundation, in partnership with the Eastern Europe Foundation and supported by Norad and Sida, has launched the three-year Impulse Project to strengthen Ukrainian civil society organizations (CSOs) in recovery, inclusiveness, and democratic governance. The Small Grants Competition supports initiatives promoting gender equality, environmental sustainability, and community recovery in the regions most affected by hostilities, providing funding, training, and network opportunities.

Overview of the Project

Impulse is designed to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ukraine to contribute to inclusive community recovery and democratic governance reform. The project has two interrelated goals:

1. Engage CSOs from conflict-affected regions in recovery planning processes, ensuring alignment with sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, and transparent governance.

2. Strengthen CSO organizational capacity through small grants, training, and partnerships.

Key focus areas include:

• Raising community awareness of inclusive, environmentally conscious, and people-centered recovery solutions

• Actively involving residents in planning and advocacy

• Building local or regional community networks

• Analyzing community challenges and providing actionable recommendations

• Strengthening strategic planning and institutional capacity of CSOs

• Encouraging collaboration with civil society partners, public authorities, and educational institutions

Funding and Duration

• Budget per project: 1,000,000–1,500,000 UAH

• Project duration: Up to 12 months

• Funding focus: Local and regional initiatives promoting recovery, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and inclusiveness

Who is Eligible?

Eligible participants include:

• Local and regional public organizations, public unions, charitable foundations, and self-organization bodies

• Organizations with at least one year of operational experience

• Teams physically located in Ukraine; relocated organizations may apply if they maintain engagement with home communities

• Projects actively engaging veterans, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups

Eligible regions include:
Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Cherkasy

How to Apply

1. Prepare Proposal: Include project description, budget, timeline, and evidence of organizational experience

2. Submit Application: Ensure alignment with project goals: recovery, inclusiveness, gender equality, and environmental sustainability

3. Evaluation: Applications are assessed on feasibility, expected impact, organizational capacity, and alignment with project objectives

4. Implementation: Selected CSOs receive grants, mandatory training, and access to networking and knowledge platforms

Training and Capacity-Building

Winners of the competition will participate in a mandatory training program, which includes:

• Management, financial, and communication skills development

• Seminars on gender approaches, environmental standards, sustainable development, and transparency

• Access to the Zrozmilo! Educational Online Platform

• Participation in regional networks, community engagement forums, sustainability discussions, and development activities

Expected Outcomes

Funded projects are expected to:

• Strengthen CSO capacity and governance

• Increase community engagement in recovery and planning

• Promote gender equality and inclusiveness

• Encourage environmentally sustainable practices

• Build partnerships and networks for long-term community impact

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting incomplete or late applications

• Lack of evidence of organizational activity or community engagement

• Misaligned project goals or unrealistic budgets

• Teams not based in Ukraine or unable to participate in training and program activities

• Projects not addressing recovery, inclusiveness, gender equality, or environmental sustainability

FAQs

1. Who can apply for the Impulse Small Grants Competition?
Local or regional public organizations, public unions, charitable foundations, and self-organization bodies with at least one year of experience, located in Ukraine.

2. What is the project budget and duration?
Budgets range from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 UAH, with projects running for up to 12 months.

3. Are relocated organizations eligible?
Yes, provided they maintain active engagement with their home communities.

4. Which regions are eligible?
Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Cherkasy.

5. What types of activities are supported?
Community recovery initiatives, gender equality promotion, environmental sustainability, advocacy, strategic planning, and capacity-building for CSOs.

6. What training will winners receive?
Mandatory training includes management, finance, communication, gender and environmental seminars, and access to online educational platforms and regional networking opportunities.

7. What is the main goal of the project?
To strengthen Ukrainian CSOs’ capacity to contribute to inclusive community recovery, resilience, and democratic governance reforms in conflict-affected regions.

Conclusion

The Impulse Project offers Ukrainian civil society organizations an opportunity to strengthen institutional capacity, expand networks, and drive community recovery. Through targeted grants, training, and knowledge sharing, participating CSOs will contribute to inclusive, gender-sensitive, and environmentally sustainable recovery efforts, building resilient communities for the future.

For more information, visit IRF.