Deadline: 21-Jul-2026
The Partnership for Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) invites community project teams from eight priority regions of Ukraine to join the School for Communities – “Culture in Recovery” Wave-2. The initiative will select 10 teams working on recovery or reconstruction projects and help them apply culturally sensitive approaches to community resilience, infrastructure restoration, and local development.
Overview
The School for Communities – “Culture in Recovery” is an initiative under the Partnership for Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) Program.
The program is implemented by Chemonics and supported by international donors. It promotes culture as a key driver of national renewal, community recovery, resilience, and reconstruction.
The initiative works with communities to integrate local identity, cultural context, and social meaning into recovery projects.
Key Details
- Program: School for Communities – “Culture in Recovery” Wave-2
- Implementer: Chemonics
- Program framework: Partnership for Resilient Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Selected teams: 10
- Eligible regions: 8 priority PFRU regions
- Workshop date: July 14, 2026
- Workshop time: 15:00 Kyiv time
- Workshop platform: Teams
- Project focus: Recovery, reconstruction, modernization, and social infrastructure
Priority Regions
Eligible project teams must be from communities located in one of the following PFRU priority regions:
- Chernihiv
- Kherson
- Dnipropetrovsk
- Kharkiv
- Mykolaiv
- Odesa
- Sumy
- Zaporizhia
Focus Areas and Priorities
The initiative focuses on culturally sensitive recovery and reconstruction.
Key priorities include:
- Local identity in recovery planning
- Local context and community resilience
- Culturally sensitive reconstruction
- Community-led recovery projects
- Cultural impact assessment
- Sustainable cultural influence in policy
- Cultural integration in infrastructure projects
- Recovery of schools, hospitals, shelters, and social infrastructure
- Community capacity building
- Strategic recovery planning
Priority Project Areas
The program prioritizes recovery projects involving social infrastructure.
Examples include:
- Reconstruction of schools
- Modernization of hospitals
- Restoration of shelters
- Improvement of social infrastructure facilities
- Community recovery facilities
- Infrastructure projects with cultural and social impact
Projects may be either under implementation or at the preparation stage.
Key Concepts Explained
What is Culturally Sensitive Recovery?
Culturally sensitive recovery means designing reconstruction and recovery projects in a way that respects local identity, history, values, community memory, and social context.
It ensures that recovery projects are not only functional but also meaningful and relevant to the people who use them.
What is Local Identity?
Local identity refers to the unique cultural, historical, social, and community characteristics that define a place and its people.
In recovery projects, local identity helps communities rebuild in ways that reflect who they are and what they value.
What is Cultural Impact?
Cultural impact refers to how a project affects local identity, community memory, public space, social cohesion, traditions, and the way people relate to their environment.
What is Community Resilience?
Community resilience is the ability of a community to recover, adapt, and shape its future after crisis, conflict, or disruption.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants are community project teams from the eight priority PFRU regions of Ukraine.
Teams must:
- Be located in an eligible priority region.
- Work on an existing recovery project.
- Have a project under implementation or at the preparation stage.
- Include at least two team members directly involved in project development and decision-making.
- Include relevant experts such as project specialists, architects, concept authors, or implementation professionals.
Team Composition Requirements
Each selected team must include at least two people who are directly involved in the project.
Eligible team members may include:
- Project implementation specialists
- Architects
- Concept authors
- Community development experts
- Infrastructure project specialists
- Decision-makers involved in project design or implementation
- Other key experts relevant to the recovery project
Required Application Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Online application form
- Completed application form
- CVs of all project participants
- Participant names matching Ukrainian passport details
- Risk matrix
- Relevant project documentation
Additional Supporting Materials
Applicants may also provide:
- Confirmation of funding sources
- Evidence that the project is included in community development strategies
- Letters of support from administrations
- Results of public consultations
- Strategic session outcomes
- Target audience survey results
- Memorandums with public sector representatives
- Project implementation plans
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Regional Eligibility
Check that the community is located in one of the eight priority PFRU regions.
Step 2: Confirm Project Readiness
Ensure the project is already under implementation or at the preparation stage.
Step 3: Build the Project Team
Form a team with at least two members directly involved in project development and decision-making.
Step 4: Prepare Required Documents
Collect the application form, CVs, risk matrix, and project documentation.
Step 5: Gather Supporting Evidence
Add documents that show project relevance, funding sources, community support, public consultation, or strategic alignment.
Step 6: Attend the Pre-Application Workshop
Join the pre-application workshop on July 14, 2026, at 15:00 Kyiv time through Teams to understand competition requirements and application guidance.
Step 7: Submit the Application
Submit the online application and all required documents according to PFRU instructions.
Why It Matters
The initiative helps communities rebuild in ways that reflect local identity and long-term resilience.
It matters because it supports:
- Community-led recovery
- Better reconstruction planning
- Stronger local identity
- Cultural inclusion in infrastructure projects
- More sustainable public facilities
- Improved community resilience
- Recovery projects that reflect local needs and context
- Collaboration between communities, civil society, state institutions, media, and the private sector
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying from a non-priority region
- Submitting a project that is not yet defined
- Applying without at least two core team members
- Leaving out CVs of project participants
- Providing names that do not match Ukrainian passport details
- Forgetting the risk matrix
- Submitting weak or incomplete project documentation
- Ignoring cultural impact or local identity in the project concept
- Missing evidence of community consultation or strategic relevance
- Failing to attend or review guidance from the pre-application workshop
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly explain the recovery project and its current stage.
- Show how local identity and culture are connected to the project.
- Demonstrate how the project strengthens community resilience.
- Include strong documentation and evidence of readiness.
- Provide clear roles for each team member.
- Add public consultation results where available.
- Include letters of support or strategic documents.
- Explain how cultural influence will remain sustainable after the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the School for Communities “Culture in Recovery” Wave-2?
It is a PFRU initiative that supports community project teams in Ukraine to use culturally sensitive approaches in recovery and reconstruction projects.
Who can apply?
Community project teams from Chernihiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhia regions may apply.
How many teams will be selected?
PFRU will select 10 teams to participate.
What types of projects are eligible?
Eligible projects should be existing recovery projects under implementation or preparation, especially those involving schools, hospitals, shelters, or other social infrastructure facilities.
What documents are required?
Applicants must submit an online application form, application form, CVs of all project participants, a risk matrix, and relevant project documentation.
When is the pre-application workshop?
The workshop will take place on July 14, 2026, at 15:00 Kyiv time through the Teams platform.
What is the purpose of the initiative?
The initiative helps communities integrate local identity, cultural context, and cultural impact into recovery projects to strengthen resilience and sustainable reconstruction.
Conclusion
The PFRU School for Communities – “Culture in Recovery” Wave-2 supports Ukrainian community project teams working on recovery and reconstruction projects in priority regions. By helping teams apply culturally sensitive approaches, the initiative strengthens local identity, community resilience, and the long-term impact of social infrastructure recovery.
For more information, visit Public Space.