Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF4): grants of EUR 500,000 to 4 million for Ukraine’s reconstruction in partnership with Dutch companies

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has announced the fourth round of the Ukraine Partnership Facility (UPF4). The facility finances projects aimed at the sustainable reconstruction and economic recovery of Ukraine, with a total allocation of EUR 26.5 million for the round. Funding is provided as non-repayable subsidies covering up to 90% of eligible project costs.

Individual grant amounts range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 4,000,000 per project. The initiative targets joint partnerships composed of businesses and civil society organisations from the Netherlands and Ukraine. The application process requires submitting a mandatory quick scan by 3 December 2026, followed by the final subsidy application window in spring 2027.

Focus sectors and eligible activities

The programme supports initiatives that address local recovery needs and deliver tangible benefits to the wider community rather than a single enterprise. Eligible initiatives must focus on at least one of four priority sectors: healthcare, water, sustainable energy, or agriculture and agrifood. Projects should assist in rebuilding damaged infrastructure, creating local employment, or improving living conditions, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations such as women, youth, and war veterans.

In agriculture and agrifood, supported interventions include rebuilding storage, cooling, irrigation, and logistics assets, as well as restoring demined agricultural land. Sustainable energy projects must focus on decentralised energy generation, energy efficiency, energy storage, or renewable solutions, especially those providing independent power to public infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. Healthcare initiatives may expand medical capacity and mental health support aligned with World Health Organization standards, while water projects target drinking water supplies and treatment plants.

The grant call explicitly excludes emergency humanitarian assistance, standalone feasibility studies, pilot schemes, and experimental technologies. Furthermore, projects that are suitable for full commercial financing or that generate direct commercial profit mark-ups within the grant budget are not eligible for funding.

Consortium requirements

Applications must be submitted by partnerships consisting of 2 to 6 businesses and civil society organisations. Each consortium must include at least one business registered in the Netherlands and at least one organisation registered in Ukraine. Every participating entity must have an active and clearly defined role in project implementation.

The lead applicant must be a business or civil society organisation established in the Netherlands. To qualify, the lead partner must employ at least 3 full-time equivalents (FTEs) on a salaried basis and demonstrate at least 2 years of operational experience in Ukraine over the past 10 years. Staff experience acquired at other entities may be credited if the organisation itself lacks the required institutional track record.

All consortium partners, both Dutch and Ukrainian, must have been established prior to 15 August 2024. Partners contributing financial resources must provide verification of their ability to cover their designated portion of co-financing.

Funding conditions and compliance

Grant allocations range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 4,000,000, covering a maximum of 90% of total eligible expenses. The partnership is obligated to provide at least 10% in co-financing from internal reserves or third-party sources, excluding funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Approved projects must commence within 2 months of the award date and have an operational duration between 6 months and 4 years.

Applicants must adhere strictly to international Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and OECD guidelines. Dutch enterprises are required to complete an RBC self-assessment during the application stage to prove environmental and social risk compliance. Consortia must perform environmental and social risk analyses and report on mitigation measures throughout implementation.

All participating entities must comply with prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) requirements. Applicants must maintain institutional integrity policies and established reporting mechanisms for misconduct or abuse of power.

Application procedure

The application process consists of two sequential phases administered through the RVO portal. Consortia must first complete a mandatory quick scan, open from 23 October 2026 until 3 December 2026 at 17:00 CET. Only partnerships that complete this screening phase will be permitted to submit a full subsidy application between 4 March 2027 and 8 April 2027 at 17:00 Dutch time.

Practical tip. Verify your lead partner’s staffing and historical operational presence in Ukraine well ahead of the quick scan deadline. Because the Dutch lead applicant must demonstrate at least 3 salaried FTEs and 2 years of documented work in Ukraine within the past decade, confirming these credentials early prevents consortium disqualification before drafting the technical proposal.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: english.rvo.nl.