STEPPE-UA: mini-grants of up to UAH 920,000 for civil society organisations in central and southern Ukraine to build capacity, supported by Sida, apply by 10 November

The Ukrainian non-governmental organisation Tenth of April has announced a mini-grant call under the project STEPPE-UA (Strengthening Tolerance, Empowerment, Participation and Pluralism Efforts in Ukraine). The initiative is implemented with the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The call aims to strengthen and unite civil society organisations operating at the community level, reinforce their organisational capacity, and support long-term sustainable development.

Selected organisations can receive up to UAH 920,000 per project, with final funding amounts determined by the project scale, justification, and demonstrated needs. The application deadline is 10 November 2026. Supported activities must take place within local communities across central and southern regions of Ukraine.

What is funded

Grants provide financing for initiatives that reinforce organisational development, civic participation, inclusion, partnership building, and advocacy. In the area of organisational capacity, funding supports managerial improvements, strategic planning, team and volunteer development, communications, resource mobilisation, and internal operational mechanisms.

The call also covers projects that facilitate local leadership and resident engagement in community decision-making, dialogue with local self-government, and grassroots community actions. In addition, the donor finances initiatives promoting social cohesion, tolerance, and access for women, youth, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups, alongside CSO networking and advocacy campaigns.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are civil society organisations registered in Ukraine as non-profit entities in accordance with applicable legislation. They must possess at least one year of documented operational activity prior to submitting an application, maintain direct engagement with local communities, and hold demonstrable experience in implementing community initiatives.

Priority will be given to organisations led by or actively engaging women, youth, internally displaced persons, and other underrepresented groups. The donor also prioritises entities that foster cooperation with local authorities, advance veteran social reintegration and access to civilian services, promote tolerance, and present a clear plan for institutional sustainability.

Conditions and requirements

Applicants must demonstrate adequate human resources, including a justified number of staff members and volunteers to execute the project scope. Organisations must have no tax arrears or mandatory payment debts, must not appear on sanctions lists, and must have clean records without documented involvement in corruption or fraud.

Practical tip. Review your internal regulatory framework before applying, as successful grantees are required to implement or adhere to robust internal policies, including a Code of Conduct, complaints mechanisms, PSEA, whistleblower protection, equal opportunities, and anti-corruption standards. Aligning your internal documents with these requirements in advance will validate your operational readiness during evaluation.

How to apply

Interested organisations must prepare and submit an initiative addressing the thematic priorities of the STEPPE-UA project by 10 November 2026. Each civil society organisation is permitted to submit only one project proposal under this competition, and successful applicants may receive only one mini-grant.

Grant financing is allocated solely for the execution of approved project activities within the confirmed budget framework. Grant recipients are strictly prohibited from transferring allocated project funds to third parties.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: dk.od.ua.