Strengthening Civil Society Engagement in Ukraine’s EU Integration Process

Deadline: 03-Feb-2026

The International Renaissance Foundation is offering grants to support civil society engagement in Ukraine’s path toward European Union accession. Eligible Ukrainian organizations can apply for funding between 500,000 and 1,800,000 hryvnias to conduct analysis, advocacy, stakeholder dialogues, training, and knowledge-sharing activities over a 12-month period starting March-April 2026.

Overview of the Competition

The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) is launching a competition to strengthen civil society’s role in Ukraine’s EU accession process. The program supports projects that provide independent analysis, policy monitoring, advocacy, training, and stakeholder engagement to advance EU-aligned reforms and build professional capacity among government, NGOs, and other actors.

Focus Areas

The competition prioritizes projects that:

• Conduct independent expert analysis and monitoring of national policies, legislation, institutions, and reforms for EU compliance

• Support advocacy and implementation of government EU-related plans

• Raise public awareness of EU accession and related reforms

• Build stakeholder consensus on regulatory and policy changes

• Increase professional competence of opinion leaders, NGOs, business and professional associations, state authorities, and local governments

• Analyze potential impacts of Ukraine’s accession and propose negotiation strategies

• Study experiences of other candidate countries to develop actionable recommendations for Ukraine

Eligible Activities

Eligible projects may include:

• Analyzing political documents, laws, and EU recommendations

• Identifying bottlenecks in reform implementation

• Promoting inclusive dialogue through hearings, consultations, and roundtables

• Conducting training programs and study visits for professionals and civil servants

• Facilitating international exchanges with experts and stakeholders in EU member states and candidate countries

Who is Eligible

Eligible applicants include:

• Public organizations, think tanks, unions, associations, societies, and other nonprofit or charitable organizations registered under Ukrainian law

• Organizations capable of providing expertise, conducting advocacy, organizing stakeholder dialogues, and delivering training or knowledge-sharing activities

Grant Details

• Total budget: 35,000,000 hryvnias

• Minimum grant: 500,000 hryvnias

• Optimal grant: 1,000,000 – 1,400,000 hryvnias

• Maximum grant: 1,800,000 hryvnias

• Project duration: Up to 12 months, estimated start March-April 2026

How to Apply

1. Confirm eligibility: Ensure your organization is registered under Ukrainian law and has relevant experience.

2. Define your project: Align with competition focus areas, clearly outlining objectives, methodology, and expected impact.

3. Engage stakeholders: Identify partners and participants, including civil society, state authorities, and professional associations.

4. Prepare project details: Include budget, timeline, deliverables, and indicators for effectiveness and sustainability.

5. Submit application: Follow IRF submission guidelines and provide supporting documentation of competence and partnerships.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Thematic compliance with competition objectives

• Logical structure and feasibility of the project

• Effectiveness and sustainability of proposed activities

• Support and engagement from partners

• Applicant competence and relevant experience

• Stakeholder awareness and engagement

• Reasonableness and transparency of the project budget

Common Tips and Pitfalls

• Clearly demonstrate how the project contributes to EU accession goals

• Include measurable outcomes and indicators of success

• Engage multiple stakeholders to strengthen credibility and impact

• Avoid unclear budgets or unrealistic timelines

• Ensure project activities are feasible within the 12-month timeframe

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply? Public organizations, think tanks, unions, associations, societies, and other nonprofit or charitable organizations registered under Ukrainian law.

2. What is the funding range? Grants range from 500,000 to 1,800,000 hryvnias, with optimal grants between 1,000,000 and 1,400,000.

3. How long can the project last? Up to 12 months, starting March-April 2026.

4. What types of activities are eligible? Policy analysis, advocacy, stakeholder dialogue, training, study visits, and knowledge-sharing activities.

5. Can international collaborations be included? Yes, projects facilitating exchanges with EU member states or candidate countries are encouraged.

6. How will applications be evaluated? Based on alignment with objectives, project structure, effectiveness, sustainability, partnerships, competence, stakeholder engagement, and budget reasonableness.

7. Is experience required? Yes, applicants must demonstrate competence and relevant experience in civil society engagement or EU-related policy work.

Conclusion

The IRF competition offers Ukrainian civil society organizations the opportunity to actively contribute to the country’s EU accession process through analysis, advocacy, training, and stakeholder engagement. Projects that combine expertise, inclusivity, and practical recommendations to support reforms and strengthen professional capacity are highly encouraged. Careful planning, strong partnerships, and clear alignment with EU accession priorities are essential for a successful application.

For more information, visit Public Space.