“Strengthening Ukrainian Voices for International Support for Ukraine” Call for proposals 

The two-year heroic resistance of Ukrainians in the face of full-scale Russian aggression has demonstrated our resilience as a nation, where an active civil society and volunteer movement play a crucial role. This struggle for freedom and human values resonated with European societies, showing unprecedented compassion and solidarity with Ukrainians.

This emotional backdrop made it possible to take several historic political decisions at the EU level: to accept millions of Ukrainian refugees, provide multibillion-dollar financial and military assistance to Ukraine, restrict EU trade with Russia, open the internal market to Ukrainian goods, and start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

However, two years after the outbreak of a full-scale war, it is an increasing challenge for Ukraine to maintain international attention and empathy. Therefore, Ukrainian civil society must keep and develop communication with other European societies so that fatigue from the long war, other international conflicts, domestic socioeconomic problems, or political changes do not lead to decreased support for Ukraine in the EU. Moreover, this communication should appeal not only to emotions but also to rational, pragmatic arguments as to why more significant support and integration of Ukraine are in the self-interest of European societies.

In 2023, the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF) launched the project “European Renaissance of Ukraine: A Civil Society for Resilience and Recovery Initiative” with financial support from the EU. This project aims to strengthen the contribution of Ukrainian civil society to the political dialogue on EU integration and Ukraine’s recovery.

The call for proposals “Strengthening Ukrainian Voices for International Support for Ukraine” will support projects that will, in particular, disseminate Ukrainian stories of national resistance to Russian aggression, debunk Russian disinformation, raise basic knowledge about Ukraine, its history, and culture as part of the European community, and raise awareness of the potential benefits of Ukraine’s integration for the future of the EU itself. Preference will be given to projects implemented in partnership and cooperation with European colleagues.

The call aims to strengthen Ukrainian voices in shaping the agenda of the European discussion on Ukraine to increase international support for Ukraine.

Participants 

NGOs, unions, associations, societies, and other associations registered in accordance with Ukrainian law as non-profit or charitable organizations.

Possible forms of activity

Projects may include outreach activities for the international audience, preparation of analytical documents, articles, content for social networks, public events, discussions, etc.

Priorities

• support for foreign language versions (in English and other European languages) of independent Ukrainian media and special projects, reports, and analytical materials about events in Ukraine for the European audience, prepared in cooperation with European media
• creation and distribution of content in various forms (e.g., videos, materials for social networks, virtual exhibitions, online courses, etc. 😉
• organizing and/or participating in significant public events and media appearances with European partners to promote international support for Ukraine.

Requirements for project proposals

• The objectives and expected results of the project must be in line with the priorities of the call;
• An understanding of their foreign audience and how to promote content for these audiences;
• The project activities are not limited to a one-time event but are part of the organization’s systematic work;
• The maximum project implementation period is six months. The planned start date for project implementation is May 2024.

Criteria for selecting the winners of the call

• Substantive compliance of the project proposal with the terms of the call;
• Adequate level of expertise in the proposed topic and relevant successful experience of previous activities (e.g., experience in producing quality content and its effective dissemination to an international audience);
• Logical project design (clear and realistic action plan) and performance (expected practical and achievable results, including audience engagement);
• Sustainability of the project after its implementation;
• Organizational and financial capacity of the organization (experience in successful project implementation and reporting);
• Adequacy of the budget, its compliance with the content of the project and the terms of the call for proposals;
• The involvement of partner organizations from other European countries will be an advantage, especially if we are talking about already successfully tested partnerships.

Procedure for Submitting Project Proposals

Deadline for submitting project proposals: March 19, 2024

Announcement of the results by April 22, 2024.

The maximum grant amount is UAH 1,200,0000.

The optimal grant amount is UAH 800,000.

The total budget of the call for proposals is UAH 12,000,000.

The estimated deadline for providing financial support to the call winners is three weeks after the results are announced.

Project proposals(application form with annexes) should be registered on the IRF website using the “Electronic Call For Proposals” service. All documents must be attached to the project proposal in .doc, .docs, .xls, .xlsx, or .pdf format. The maximum size of each application cannot exceed 8 Mb.

Project proposals registered on the IRF website after 15:00 on March 19, 2024 (Kyiv time) will not be considered.

Project proposals submitted other than the above will not be considered.

Eligible expenses are those from the project budget that are:

• are necessary for the implementation of project activities;
• will be incurred during the project implementation period;
• comply with the principles of practicality and cost-effectiveness, including the principles of “best value for money” and cost-effectiveness;
• can be appropriately documented, justified, understood, and supported by appropriate financial and accounting documentation.

Expenditures of the project budget related to

• preparation of a project proposal for participation in the call;
• establishment and registration of an organization;
• payment of debts;
• reimbursement of costs associated with currency fluctuations;
• providing direct fiscal support to public authorities;
• political activity or religious propaganda;
• activities that lead to direct or indirect discrimination of any social groups;
• projects aimed at generating profit from activities;
• construction or repair work;
• procurement of humanitarian aid and/or military equipment;
• purchase of vehicles and/or luxury goods and related services;
• providing financial assistance to third organizations (re-granting).

Please note!

• The organization submitting the project proposal to the IRF must provide a link to publicly available reports on its activities related to the collection of charitable donations and volunteer assistance;
• The grant recipient will submit reports in the format specified by the IRF;
• The grantee will be responsible for compliance with the communication policy and branding of projects supported by the European Union;
• Grant recipients may be invited to participate in grantee meetings and other IRF events to establish networking and strengthen the organizational capacity of partners;
• The results of the call will be announced publicly and in a separate letter to the organization;
• The same organization cannot apply for support in the total amount of more than EUR 60,000 during the implementation of the European Renaissance of Ukraine project in 2023-2024.
• The final decision on the project proposal is not subject to revision; the reasons for refusing to support the project proposal are not reported.

Consultations on the preparation of project proposals are provided by someone other than the phone.

Contacts

Olha Kvashuk, Europe and the World Program Manager, kvashuk@irf.ua

Liudmyla Hryhorieva, Social Capital Program Assistant, hryhorieva@irf.ua