Apply Now: Access to Justice for War Crime Victims Grant (Ukraine)

Deadline: 31-Jul-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the Government of Japan, has launched a Call for Proposals to strengthen access to justice and human rights protection for victims and survivors of war crimes in Ukraine. The initiative supports civil society organizations working to improve investigations, survivor support services, institutional capacity, and justice systems during Ukraine’s recovery.

About the UNDP Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals is part of UNDP’s broader recovery efforts to support Ukraine’s justice sector and strengthen the protection of victims and survivors affected by the ongoing conflict.

Supported by the Government of Japan, the initiative focuses on improving institutional capacity, expanding survivor services, and promoting a justice system that is survivor-centred, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed.

The programme seeks projects that complement the work of national justice and law enforcement institutions while contributing to long-term institutional improvements.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen access to justice for victims and survivors of war crimes.
• Improve the capacity of justice institutions to investigate and document war crimes.
• Enhance human rights protection mechanisms.
• Promote survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches.
• Strengthen gender-responsive justice services.
• Improve referral pathways for survivors.
• Expand safe reporting mechanisms.
• Support Ukraine’s long-term recovery and justice reform.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should address one or more of the following priorities:

1. Strengthening Justice Institutions

Projects may focus on:

• War crimes investigations
• Evidence documentation
• Technical capacity development
• Operational capacity strengthening
• Institutional coordination
• Justice sector support

2. Institutional Learning and Capacity Building

Projects should promote:

• Survivor-centred approaches
• Gender-responsive programming
• Trauma-informed practices
• Professional training
• Sustainable institutional learning systems
• Capacity development for justice professionals

3. Survivor Referral and Protection Mechanisms

Eligible activities include:

• Safe reporting mechanisms
• Referral pathway development
• Legal assistance
• Psychological support
• Specialized survivor services
• Coordination among service providers
• Victim protection initiatives

Funding Information

• Maximum grant amount: USD 60,000
• Funding supports projects that strengthen justice systems and survivor protection in Ukraine.
• Projects should complement national justice and law enforcement efforts.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Public organizations
• Charitable organizations
• Associations of civil society organizations

Applicants must:

• Be officially registered in Ukraine.
• Have at least one year of operational experience.
• Demonstrate experience relevant to the programme objectives.

Preferred Experience

Organizations with experience in the following areas are encouraged to apply:

• Supporting victims and survivors of war crimes
• Human rights protection
• Access to justice
• Legal aid services
• Psychological support
• Specialized survivor assistance
• Referral pathway development
• Professional training and capacity building
• Gender-responsive programming
• Survivor-centred programming

Previous experience managing and reporting on donor-funded projects is considered an advantage.

Expected Project Outcomes

Selected projects are expected to:

• Improve institutional capacity for investigating war crimes.
• Strengthen documentation of international crimes.
• Expand access to justice for victims.
• Improve survivor referral systems.
• Increase access to legal and psychosocial services.
• Promote trauma-informed service delivery.
• Strengthen collaboration between civil society and justice institutions.
• Support sustainable improvements in Ukraine’s justice and human rights systems.

Why This Programme Matters

Ukraine continues to face significant challenges in responding to war crimes while ensuring that victims and survivors receive justice and appropriate support.

This UNDP initiative helps to:

• Strengthen national justice institutions.
• Improve accountability for war crimes.
• Protect survivors’ rights.
• Expand access to legal and psychological services.
• Promote gender-sensitive and trauma-informed justice.
• Build long-term institutional resilience during Ukraine’s recovery.

How the Programme Works

Successful organizations will:

1. Receive grant funding of up to USD 60,000.
2. Implement projects aligned with the programme priorities.
3. Work alongside justice and law enforcement institutions.
4. Deliver survivor-centred services and capacity-building activities.
5. Strengthen institutional systems and referral mechanisms.
6. Contribute to sustainable improvements in access to justice and human rights protection.

How to Apply

Organizations should follow these steps:

1. Confirm eligibility and registration status in Ukraine.
2. Review the programme objectives and priority focus areas.
3. Develop a project proposal aligned with the call.
4. Demonstrate relevant organizational experience.
5. Prepare all required supporting documentation.
6. Submit the proposal according to the UNDP application guidelines before the deadline.

Application Tips

• Clearly explain how the project improves access to justice.
• Demonstrate experience supporting war crime victims or survivors.
• Include survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches.
• Show strong coordination with justice institutions.
• Present measurable outcomes and sustainability plans.
• Highlight previous donor-funded project experience where applicable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting projects unrelated to the programme priorities.
• Failing to demonstrate organizational experience.
• Omitting survivor-centred or gender-responsive approaches.
• Providing unclear implementation plans.
• Submitting incomplete documentation.
• Not explaining coordination with national justice institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for this UNDP Call for Proposals?

Officially registered Ukrainian NGOs, charitable organizations, public organizations, and associations of civil society organizations with at least one year of operational experience.

How much funding is available?

Each selected project may receive up to USD 60,000.

What types of projects are supported?

Projects that strengthen access to justice, improve war crime investigations, expand survivor services, strengthen referral systems, and build institutional capacity.

Is previous donor-funded project experience required?

It is not mandatory, but previous experience implementing and reporting on donor-funded projects is considered an advantage.

Can projects include psychological and legal support services?

Yes. Legal assistance, psychological services, specialized survivor support, and referral mechanisms are among the eligible focus areas.

What approaches are encouraged in project design?

Projects should integrate survivor-centred, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed approaches throughout implementation.

What is the overall goal of the programme?

The programme aims to strengthen Ukraine’s justice system, improve accountability for war crimes, protect victims and survivors, and support long-term recovery through stronger institutions and human rights protection.

Conclusion

The UNDP Call for Proposals to Strengthen Access to Justice and Human Rights Protection for War Crime Victims in Ukraine provides an important funding opportunity for Ukrainian civil society organizations working to improve justice, accountability, and survivor support. With grants of up to USD 60,000, the programme promotes stronger justice institutions, survivor-centred services, and sustainable human rights protection as part of Ukraine’s ongoing recovery and resilience efforts.

For more information, visit UNDP.