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.
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements:
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.