Small Grants for Education and Youth-Led Livelihood Initiatives in Vulnerable Communities

Deadline: 16-Jun-25

The Finnish Church Aid is announcing a call for applications to empower local community and non-governmental organizations by providing financial support for educational and life-saving initiatives.

The support also includes purchasing necessary materials, and capacity-building activities for youth and young people in vulnerable situations, so that they can become economically independent and contribute positively to social cohesion, enabling them to successfully transition to a sustainable lifestyle in Ukraine.

Objective

The purpose of this call for applications is to empower local CSOs/NGOs by providing financial support for educational and livelihood initiatives, procurement of necessary materials, and capacity strengthening activities for youth and young adults in vulnerable situations to become economically self-reliant and contribute positively to social cohesion, enabling them to transition successfully into sustainable livelihoods in Ukraine.

Funding Information

FCA will provide funding of up to 200,000 EUR for the selected partner.
Duration: up to 12 months.

Expected Outcomes

Community Development: Strengthened livelihood initiatives will contribute to the development of small local communities by enhancing educational opportunities and supporting sustainable economic activities.
Youth and Children Empowerment: Children and youth will benefit from targeted capacity-building activities and livelihood initiatives, fostering their participation in areas such as basic agriculture, creative arts and crafts, and technical skill-building.
Increased Self-Employment Opportunities: The program is expected to generate growing opportunities for selfemployment within target communities, promoting economic self-reliance among young people.
Knowledge Transfer: Practical knowledge and skills will be transferred to children and youth, supporting long-term resilience and their ability to contribute meaningfully to community life.
Reduced Vulnerability: By strengthening local capacities and expanding livelihood options, the program aims to reduce the vulnerability of target groups to the ongoing impacts of war and diminishing labor market opportunities.

Eligible Activities

Collaboration between schools, CSOs, NGOs, and local governments: Strengthen collaboration among schools, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and local governments to create a network that supports inclusive and socially cohesive communities.
Inclusivity and social cohesion – Student-led activities for social cohesion: Encourage and empower students to lead activities that enhance social cohesion, thereby building a sense of community and collective responsibility.
Inclusive environments with resources for students with disabilities: Develop and maintain inclusive learning environments equipped with resources and support services for students with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities.
Capacity building: which leads to the basic agricultural activities, creative work and crafts, technical knowledge and skills.

Ineligible Activities

The following types of activities are not eligible for support:
- Applications requesting individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, or congresses.
- Initiatives involving credit or loan schemes.
- Payments for debts or provisions for losses.
- Applications primarily focused on the procurement of land, buildings, equipment, or vehicles.
- Activities that discriminate against individuals or groups based on gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), or ethnic origin.

Geographical Focus

Under this call, FCA anticipates supporting activities in Poltava and Chernigiv regions.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for partnership, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements:
  - Legal Status: An Applicant should be a non-governmental organization (NGO) or civil society organization (CSO) that is legally registered, formally constituted, and recognized by the appropriate Ukrainian authorities.
  - Regulatory Compliance: An Applicant should be in good standing and fully compliant with all applicable civil and fiscal regulations.
  - Organizational Age: An Applicant must have been in continuous operation for at least 18 months prior to the application.
- Organizational Capacity:
  - Accounting Capacity: An Applicant should employ a full-time project manager and accountant to manage the organization’s financial records and reporting.
  - Programmatic Activity: An Applicant should be actively implementing program activities at the time of application.
  - Sector Focus: An Applicant should operate within the humanitarian and/or development sector, with relevant experience and operational presence.
- Management and Internal Controls:
  - Demonstrate Sound Management: An Applicant should have well-established financial, administrative, and technical policies and procedures.
  - Maintain Internal Controls: An Applicant should operate a system of internal controls that safeguard assets, prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, and support the effective implementation of program goals and objectives.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated against the criteria below:
- Alignment with Program Goals: Does the proposed activity align with the goals of the program (e.g., improving education, promoting sustainable livelihoods)?
- Targeted Outcomes: Are the anticipated outcomes clear and relevant to the needs of the target community (e.g., educational opportunities, self-reliance, resilience)?
- Organizational Capacity: Does the applicant demonstrate sufficient capacity (e.g., experience, staffing, past performance) to implement the proposed project?
- Long-Term Impact: Does the application consider the long-term sustainability of the initiative and its impact on the community beyond the project period?
- Proven experience in cooperation with local authorities: if any (Letters of Appreciation, Awarding Letters).

For more information, visit Public Space.