“DOVIRA” Project: grants to support veteran businesses in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts

The Czech humanitarian organization People in Need, with financial backing from the United States government, is accepting applications under the DOVIRA project. The initiative provides microgrant funding to support micro and small businesses led by veterans or their families operating in southern Ukraine.

Selected applicants can receive up to 216,000 UAH to restore, expand, or develop an existing enterprise. The initiative focuses on targeted communities within the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions to strengthen the economic self-reliance of war-affected populations.

The application window is open until October 15, 2026. Given that the total pool of grants is limited, applicants are advised to submit their business plans and documentation in a timely manner.

What is funded

The program allocates grants of up to 216,000 UAH per enterprise to support and scale existing micro and small businesses. The precise amount of financial assistance is calculated individually based on the applicant’s business proposal and submitted budget plan.

Grant funding is intended to facilitate the launch of new commercial initiatives, business development, operational restoration, and overall economic stability of enterprises active in target territories. The primary objective is to enhance the financial resilience of veteran families and local communities affected by the war.

Who can apply

Eligibility is open to registered microenterprises (up to 10 employees and annual turnover up to 2 million EUR) and small enterprises (up to 50 employees and annual turnover up to 10 million EUR). The businesses may function as individual entrepreneurs or legal entities of any legal ownership structure.

The enterprises must be headed by military veterans discharged from service after February 24, 2022, holding official Combatant or War Disability status. Family members of eligible veterans (spouses, adult children over 18, and parents) as well as family members of deceased or missing Ukrainian defenders are also eligible to apply.

Conditions and requirements

The call enforces strict geographical criteria with exclusions for areas with active hostilities or heightened operational risks. Eligible territories include Mykolaiv oblast (excluding Ochakiv and Kutsurub territorial communities, and the villages of Lymany and Lupareve in Halytsynove community) and select territorial communities in Kherson oblast: Muzykivka (specifically Muzykivka, Zahorianivka, Miroshnykivka, and Skhidne), Kochubeivka, Velyka Oleksandrivka, Vysokopillia, and Kalynivske.

Applicants must present comprehensive supporting records verifying military discharge post-February 24, 2022, military registration documents, veteran IDs, or verified family relationship certificates such as marriage, birth, or adoption rulings. In addition, entrepreneurs must demonstrate willingness to undergo training and complete all required financial reporting.

Practical tip. Ensure all military discharge orders, combatant certificates, and family status records are verified and completely aligned with your civil registration papers before applying. Because grant disbursements to individual entrepreneurs are paid to physical person accounts for tax compliance, you must verify your banking details early to avoid disbursement delays.

How to apply

Applicants must submit an application packet that includes an operational business description, an itemized financial plan, and all required verification documentation confirming eligibility and veteran status.

Disbursements are transferred either directly to a legal entity account or to a natural person account, because according to Ukrainian tax legislation, grant funds received by individual entrepreneurs are treated and taxed as personal income. Complete submission instructions are managed directly via People in Need project procedures.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: ukraine.peopleinneed.net.