PFRU “Youth Voices: Place, Memory and Identity”: grants of up to UAH 4.1 million for cultural and media projects with young people aged 12–18, apply by 20 November

The Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), implemented by Chemonics and funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, has launched the call ‘Youth Voices: Place, Memory and Identity’ (RfA 018-12). The programme aims to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian communities and government institutions in the context of Russian aggression by supporting civil society, media, and local initiatives.

The initiative supports up to three youth-led or youth-engaged cultural and media projects. Selected organisations can receive up to UAH 4,100,000 (equivalent to GBP 70,000) per project, with the overall call budget reaching up to UAH 12,300,000 (equivalent to GBP 210,000). Applications must be submitted by 20 November 2026, 23:59 Kyiv time.

What is funded

The call funds cultural and media projects in which young people aged 12 to 18 work alongside professional mentors. Participants will explore places, local history, collective memory, and related identities to produce original digital or cultural products. Supported activities can cover topics such as local neighbourhoods, displacement experiences, the heritage of temporarily occupied territories, and links between local and national identities.

Project methodologies must incorporate participant engagement, a research component, professional mentoring, content creation, and public presentation. Eligible formats include audio walks, podcasts, Reels or Shorts series, video productions, digital storytelling, guidebooks, Minecraft models of local places, or other cultural and media tools proposed by youth participants.

Who can apply

The call is aimed at non-governmental organisations with non-profit status. Applicants must demonstrate institutional capacity to guide adolescent groups through research, mentoring, and media production stages while ensuring proper child-centred engagement.

Each applicant organisation may submit no more than one application. PFRU awards grants under UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Standard Terms and Conditions and the Chemonics Supplier Code of Conduct, requiring compliant governance and accountability.

Conditions and requirements

Supported projects can last up to 6 months, and all grant activities and final reporting must be completed by 30 June 2027. Funding is disbursed as cost-reimbursement or milestone-based grants, both of which require rigorous financial and narrative reporting.

The call does not dictate a minimum or maximum number of youth participants, but applicants must justify their cohort size against their chosen methodology and depth of engagement. PFRU reserves the right to negotiate and adjust proposed budgets based on project scope.

Practical tip. Avoid trying to address every thematic topic listed in the guidelines; evaluators prefer coherent, organic concepts where the subject matter directly reflects the authentic interests and local experiences of the young participants.

How to apply

Applicants must complete the designated online Google Form and submit an application package via email to the donor address with the reference ‘RfA 018-12_Young Voices: Place, Memory and Identity’. The required documents include the Grant Proposal Form (Annex A), Budget (Annex B), Applicant Self-Assessment Form (Annex C) accompanied by the organisation charter, a recent USREOU extract, and non-profit status confirmation, as well as a Risk Matrix (Annex D).

PFRU will host a pre-application information workshop via Microsoft Teams on 5 November 2026 at 14:00 Kyiv time. Potential applicants may submit clarifying questions via email until 13 November 2026 at 23:59 Kyiv time, and final proposals are due by 20 November 2026 at 23:59 Kyiv time.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: pfru.org.ua.