The grant competition aims to stimulate the long-term recovery and development of communities by supporting local initiatives that unite residents, strengthen local economies, ensure access to basic services, and create safe spaces for joint action. The competition is designed to enhance the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) not only to respond to the challenges of war but also to develop sustainable solutions that foster social cohesion.
Geographic scope of the competition: Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Projects may target a single community or a group of neighbouring communities.
The competition seeks to strengthen local CSOs in the five target oblasts by providing them with resources, knowledge, and support to restore social infrastructure, launch new services, and ensure active citizen participation in community life.
Organisations selected for funding will also receive:
- Opportunities for capacity development through organisational learning on priority topics, interregional exchange of experience, and participation in the Civil Society Development Forum.
- Communications and visibility support, including the production of high-quality communication materials and promotion of recovery stories for 20 selected organisations.
Grant Competition for CSOs "GROW: Grassroots Recovery, Opportunities for Wellbeing" has five key priorities:
PRIORITY 1. Intergenerational Interaction and Mutual Care
Goal: reduce social isolation and ensure access to care services for different age groups.
Examples of activities:
- Creating networks of mutual aid and care ("communities of care"), including childcare, support for elderly residents, assistance for people with limited mobility, and informal clubs for intergenerational interaction.
- Joint initiatives of youth and seniors: cultural events, small day-care groups, etc.
- Any other initiatives that contribute to achieving this goal.
PRIORITY 2. Basic and Mobile Community Services
Goal: make medical, social, and administrative services more accessible.
Examples of activities:
- Introducing stationary and mobile medical, educational, cultural, and social services, as well as "social taxi" services.
- Completing "frozen" facilities or carrying out minor repairs to restore services.
- Any other initiatives that contribute to achieving this goal.
PRIORITY 3. Economic Revitalisation and Integration of New Community Members
Goal: strengthen the local economy and create new jobs, drawing on the skills and entrepreneurial potential of IDPs and veterans.
Examples of activities:
- Establishing training and production spaces: craft hubs, workshops, and retraining centres.
- Implementing integration programmes for IDPs, veterans, and local residents to promote employment and economic activity.
- Creating social enterprises (sewing workshops, bakeries, service provision, etc.).
- Any other initiatives that contribute to achieving this goal.
PRIORITY 4. Safety
Goal: improve community safety and raise awareness of threats.
Examples of activities:
- Equipping and upgrading shelters and safe spaces.
- Developing alert systems and platforms for disseminating verified safety information.
- Designing and implementing digital tools for monitoring and alerts.
- Any other initiatives that contribute to achieving this goal.
PRIORITY 5. Spaces for Social Cohesion
Goal: provide safe places for communication, mutual support, and joint initiatives to strengthen trust and interaction in communities.
Examples of activities:
- Equipping or restoring community centres, hubs, libraries, and parks.
- Organising cultural, educational, and integration events.
- Creating coworking spaces or interest-based clubs for youth, veterans, IDPs, and residents.
- Establishing mobile or temporary meeting spaces in remote areas.
- Introducing tools for effective interaction among community stakeholders (residents, IDPs, local authorities, CSOs, businesses, etc.) to build synergy.
- Any other initiatives that contribute to achieving this goal.
Application deadline: 23 October 2025, 5:00 PM.
Information webinar: 13 October 2025, 2:00 PM on ISAR Ednannia's YouTube and Facebook platforms.
Approximate number of supported organisations: ~50.
Project duration: 4–6 months.
Estimated project start date: no earlier than one month after the application deadline.
Grant size: up to UAH 400,000.
Applicants determine the requested budget based on planned activities, measures, and project expenses.
For detailed conditions, please see the Invitation to the Grant Competition.
GROW: Grassroots Recovery, Opportunities for Wellbeing Grant Competition is conducted within the framework of the EU Unity4Community Project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, co-funded by the European Union and the Minderoo Foundation.
