UNDP and Denmark are announcing a grant to develop social adaptation services for veterans in communities in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.

1. INFORMATION ABOUT UNDP IN UKRAINE

This call for proposals is being held within the framework of the international technical assistance project “Enhancing Citizen Participation to Improve Community Security, Strengthen Social Bonds and Enhance Stability in War-Affected Territories in Ukraine” with the support of the Government of Denmark.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, address exclusion and build resilience to support progress in these countries. As the development agency of the UN system, UNDP plays a crucial role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The war in Ukraine has already resulted in massive human losses, unprecedented displacement of people both within the country and to neighboring countries, and catastrophic destruction of infrastructure. Eighteen years of Ukraine’s socio-economic achievements are at risk. UNDP’s primary objective is to preserve development gains as much as possible and to put Ukraine back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals as soon as possible.

UNDP supports the Government, civil society and the people of Ukraine in implementing democratic policies and practices to accelerate progress towards sustainable human development. In accordance with the country programming document for 2025–2029, UNDP in Ukraine supports the Government in planning national priorities, in particular with an emphasis on recovery and reform development, through three program portfolios: 1) promoting democratic governance and an inclusive social environment; 2) supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth and recovery; 3) promoting sustainable transformation in the environment and energy sectors. The program is complemented by the R4 territorial approach, which increases the effectiveness of recovery, reconstruction and reform at the local level. It ensures the allocation of resources according to local needs, promotes community development, and guarantees inclusiveness and involvement of community residents in recovery processes, supporting decentralization.

In this context, UNDP in Ukraine invites non-governmental organizations to submit project proposals aimed at piloting a social service for social adaptation of veterans and their family members in communities of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv regions (in territories controlled by the Government of Ukraine).

2. PURPOSE OF THE COMPETITION

The main goal of this call for applications is to select public organizations that will contribute to the development of the ecosystem of (re)integration of veterans and veterans into the community, support for their family members by implementing a social service for social adaptation of war veterans and their family members in response to the request of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine in accordance with the State Standard.

Up to 5 organizations will be selected based on the results of the competition, one organization in each of the target regions. It is expected that the selected organizations will communicate on an ongoing basis with the responsible representatives of the United Nations Development Program and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine at each stage of the project implementation.

This project is aimed at (re)integration of veterans and veterans into the community, support for their family members by developing the capacity of public organizations to provide a social service for social adaptation of war veterans and their family members. Therefore, selected public organizations, in cooperation with responsible authorities and local governments, municipal institutions, public organizations and the private sector, will propose solutions that will comply with the State Standard for Social Services for Social Adaptation of War Veterans and Their Family Members in order to achieve the following goals:

 

• The first stage is the development and implementation of a social rehabilitation program in a recreational facility;
• The second stage is the organization of a system of individual social adaptation of veterans and their family members in the community at their place of residence.

The first stage is a social recovery program in a recreational facility:

The project proposal submitted for the competition must include a list of activities in accordance with the State Service Standard, including:

– development of a transparent and justified (based on clearly defined criteria) system for selecting participants to participate in the program, as well as selection of participants;

– identification of the needs of participants in the social recovery program (including the needs of family members) and drawing up a recovery plan;

– development of an appropriate recovery program – mandatory and variable – taking into account the identified needs of the group; a program designed for 1 week (7 days) for a group of 33-35 people (10-12 families with 3 or more people, or 15-17 families with 2 people, including families with children, with the recommended age of children being over 3 years old). In order to create a comfortable environment for participants during their participation in the recovery program, it is recommended (but not an exception) to form groups of families of similar categories/types;

– involvement of qualified specialists/staff in the multidisciplinary team for the provision of services;

– identification of a recreational facility on the basis of which the implementation of the social rehabilitation program is planned, taking into account the requirements for safety, quality of services, barrier-free access, as well as the “price-quality” ratio;

– implementation of the social rehabilitation program;

– provision of a system for monitoring and assessing the quality of service provision at the first stage

The second stage – individual social adaptation in the community at the place of residence

It is expected that the project proposal will include second-stage measures that will effectively complement (and not duplicate) the services and forms of work already operating in a specific community. Therefore, the project proposal should be developed in cooperation with municipal social institutions, veteran development centers, veteran hubs, other organizations and institutions, and specialists working in the support system for veterans and their family members. These measures may include, but are not limited to, the following measures:

– needs assessment, assistance in analyzing the life situation;

– drawing up an individual social adaptation plan, assistance in its implementation, support for the veteran and family based on case management;

– organization of individual, family and group counseling, psychological and social guidance;

– training and development of communicative and social skills, abilities, social competence;

– assistance in creating / strengthening / restoring family and socially useful relationships;

– correction of psychological state and behavior in everyday life;

– organization and support of self-help and mutual aid groups, including on the principle of “peer-to-peer”;

– organization of seminars on topical issues, holding thematic group events, including master classes, lectures, art therapy events, trainings, etc.;

– assistance in organizing meaningful family leisure;

– promotion of professional identification and employment / self-employment, development of leadership potential.

With this indicative list, applicants can propose their vision based on the resources, needs and capacities of a specific community, region, as well as the target group of veterans and their family members.

The project proposal should propose a comprehensive implementation of the service in cooperation with other organizations and institutions that form a support system for veterans in the community and region, in order to ensure the sustainability of the project, taking into account the principles of accessibility, inclusiveness, transparency and effective use of funds.

More detailed quantitative indicators of expected results will be developed together with the selected organization.

3. REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS AND COMPETITION TERRITORY

3.1. Public or charitable organizations submitting project proposals for this competition must meet the following mandatory requirements:

• be officially registered with the status of a legal entity in the territory of Ukraine. Preference will be given to organizations registered in the region of project implementation (Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy or Kharkiv regions);
• have the status of a non-profit or charitable organization (non-profit codes 0032, 0034, 0036, 0038, 0039 or 0048);
• be included in the Register of Providers and Recipients of Social Services, confirmed by an extract from the Register;
• have work experience of at least one year in accordance with the subject of the competition (in the field of work with veterans and their family members, work on restoring the mental health of veterans and their family members, providing psychosocial support to veterans and their family members, etc.) and preferably have work experience of at least two years in the public sector, in particular in the social field;
• have proven experience in implementing at least one international technical assistance project and reporting on it;
• have appropriate specialists and project staff for its implementation (project manager, financial specialist/accountant and other specialists according to the needs of the project). In case the involvement of specialists is envisaged only if the project proposal is supported, the descriptive application should contain key requirements that will be imposed on each of the specialists envisaged by the project (profile education, work experience, etc.);
• have confirmed organizational and financial support (official letters, memorandums of cooperation, etc.) from the structural unit for social protection of the population, the regional state administration and/or the regional center of social services of the region in which the project is planned to be implemented, and preferably confirmed organizational and financial support (official letters, memorandums of cooperation, etc.) from the relevant structural unit(s) for social protection of the population and/or for the implementation of veteran policy of the local government of those territorial communities whose representatives will participate in the project, especially in terms of implementing the second stage – individual social adaptation in the community at the place of residence.

3.2. The personnel involved in the project must meet the following requirements:

• the project team should consist of at least: a project manager (responsible for the overall coordination of the project implementation and submission of relevant reports to the United Nations Development Programme), an accountant (responsible for maintaining accounting and financial reporting), and persons directly involved in the project implementation, including a multidisciplinary team – a group of three to five specialists who directly plan and implement the activities that constitute the content of the social service for the implementation of the social rehabilitation program, which may include a social worker, a practical psychologist, a social educator, a correctional educator, a teacher, a doctor or nurse (medical brother), a rehabilitation specialist, a social worker and other specialists depending on the needs of the recipients of the social service;
• higher education in pedagogy, sociology, economics, public administration, social sciences or other relevant areas for the project manager, higher education for other team members in accordance with the position and profile of the work performed;
• work experience in the public sector for at least three years, in the field of social services – at least two years (for the project manager), confirmed practical experience working with veterans will be a significant advantage;
• language skills – fluent Ukrainian;
• the accountant must have higher education (related to accounting) or work experience in the field of accounting for at least two years;
• willingness to implement all rules and regulations of cooperation proposed by international partners;
• willingness and ability to cooperate with local governments.

3.3. Competition implementation territories, registration requirements and experience of organizations:

The project, which will be implemented with the funds of this grant competition, is planned to be implemented in the territory and/or for participants from the target regions and communities, namely: Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions. In the absence of objective circumstances, the possibility of implementing the first stage – a social recovery program in a recreational facility in the territory of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, consider the possibility of implementing this stage on the basis of recreational facilities in other regions of Ukraine, provided that safety requirements are met, the recreational facility meets the requirements, and the grant funds are used effectively and rationally.

Only public organizations that carry out their activities in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions, respectively, and have confirmed by appropriate letters of support their willingness and ability to cooperate with structural units on social protection of the population of regional state administrations and/or regional centers of social services in the relevant regions, as well as preferably with the relevant structural unit(s) on social protection of the population and/or on the implementation of veteran policy of the local government of those territorial communities whose representatives will participate in the project, especially in the implementation of the second stage – individual social adaptation in the community at the place of residence, are allowed to participate.

3.4. The parameters that will determine whether an NGO can receive UNDP funding will be based on the CACHE Capacity Assessment Checklist

Proposals from organizations that do not meet the above requirements will not be considered. Applications submitted by individuals, commercial organizations, government agencies and organizations, local governments, trade unions, political parties, and religious organizations will not be considered.

4. BUDGET AND ALLOWED EXPENSES

Eligible costs must:

• be necessary for the implementation of the project activity;
• be used exclusively for the costs of activities within the framework of this project;
• comply with the principles of sound financial management, in particular cost-effectiveness and economic feasibility;
• be properly documented, identified and verified, and supported by original supporting documents.

Funds provided within the framework of the competition may be used exclusively for the payment of:

• labor of the organization’s staff and engaged experts;
• goods and services necessary for the implementation of the project activity;
• communication and information services;
• consulting services necessary for the achievement of the project objectives;
• rental of premises (for training, group work, etc.), event maintenance, and other services provided for by the project activity;
• printing, typographical and copying services;
• consumables and stationery;
• transport and other costs related to the project activity.

Mandatory costs:

• Payment for the services of the project manager and financial specialist/accountant (or provision for these services as own contribution or financing from other sources);

Ineligible costs:

• costs for preparing the project proposal;
• debt settlement;
• international travel;
• reimbursement of costs related to exchange rate fluctuations;
• establishment and registration of an organization;
• direct fiscal support of state bodies;
• political or military activities;
• religious propaganda;
• activities leading to direct or indirect discrimination against any social groups;
• projects aimed at generating profit from the activity;
• purchase of vehicles and/or luxury goods and related services.

Administrative costs of the financial proposal cannot exceed 5% of the total cost of the project proposal. Costs for the labor of the project team cannot exceed 20% of the total cost of the project proposal.

5. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION TERMS

Budget: The maximum budget of the project proposal should not exceed $30,000.00.

Duration: This call for proposals provides support for a project with a duration of up to 6 months. The planned start of the project implementation is May 2025.

Geography of activity: The project to be financed under this call will be implemented in the communities of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv regions.

Project proposals that provide for co-financing (at least 10% of the total project budget) will have an additional advantage. Co-financing means the presence of a source of financing other than that provided by UNDP in Ukraine. The organization’s own financial contribution must be confirmed by relevant accounting documents at the stage of submitting financial reports for the project. Tangible assets available in the organization (including office premises and office equipment) are not considered as co-financing.

The grantee organization will receive an advance payment for planned activities under the terms of the grant agreement. This amount will be determined individually depending on the total grant amount, type of activity, etc. Subsequent tranches will be paid after UNDP receives and approves the organization’s interim reports. The amount of the advance payment and subsequent payments will be specified in the grant agreement. Grant tranches are paid to UNDP in advance, except for the last tranche. The last tranche, the minimum amount of which is not less than 10% of the total grant budget, must be covered by the CSO’s own funds. Upon successful acceptance of the financial report, UNDP will reimburse the eligible costs incurred for the last tranche.

Note: The final tranche of 10% will be paid to the grantee organization after 100% implementation of the project reporting, including confirmation of all financial transactions.

6. PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING PROJECT PROPOSALS AND RECEIVING CONSULTATIONS IN THE PREPARATION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

The application package consists of the following mandatory components:

1) A complete application form (completed in MS Word format), which describes the organizational plan and project implementation plan (*.docx/*.doc) (Appendix 1);

2) A financial proposal (proposed budget in Excel format), drawn up in US dollars and calculated according to the UN exchange rate as of April 1, 2025 (41.7 hryvnias/dollar) (Appendix 2);

3) Scanned copies of the following documents (*.PDF or *.JPG):

• certificate of registration or extract;
• certificate from the tax inspectorate on the organization’s entry into the Register of Non-Profit Organizations with the non-profit code;
• certificate of having a bank account in hryvnia (for the purposes of the project, a separate bank account in the national currency, not involved in other activities, should be used);
• extract from the Register of Providers and Recipients of Social Services.

4) all documents confirming compliance with the technical criteria specified in sections 3.1 and 3.2 of this announcement;

5) completed CACHE potential assessment checklist and supporting documents to it (Annex 3);

6) self-assessment form on prevention and counteraction to legalization (laundering) of proceeds (Annex 4).

7) CVs of involved personnel and experts

8) letters of support from partner institutions (if any). In case of co-financing, the amount of co-financing must be indicated in the letter of support.

Organizations submitting project proposals should submit a complete application package (items 1–8) to grants.ua@undp.org with the subject line:

UN_2025_10_VET: Developing the capacity of public organizations to provide social services for the social adaptation of war veterans and their family members in communities of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv regions.

The full application package must be submitted by 12:00 on April 21, 2025. The application package (items 1-8) must be sent in one email in an archive (*.rar), the size of which should not exceed 25 Mb.

The received project proposals will be checked for compliance with the competition requirements, and those that meet the requirements will be submitted for consideration by the competition committee.

Project proposals received after the deadline specified in the announcement for any reason will not be considered.

For answers to questions that may arise during the preparation of project proposals for this call, please send them in writing to grants.ua@undp.org with the subject line “UN_2025_10_VET: Request for Information“. Responses will be provided within 1-2 business days. All requests must be submitted no later than 48 hours before the closing date of the call.

7. EVALUATION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS

7.1. The evaluation of project proposals takes place in several stages.

Stage 1: Review of submitted project proposals by the competition committee. At this stage, submitted project proposals are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria, and project proposals that score less than 70 points out of the total number of points will be rejected. Proposals that require revision in accordance with the recommendations of the competition committee will be returned for revision with the establishment of deadlines for submitting an updated proposal.

Stage 2: Final approval of the winning project proposals recommended by the competition committee for support.

The competition committee will consist of representatives of UNDP in Ukraine in accordance with their key areas of work and the experts involved. At the same time, the competition committee has the right to seek independent expert opinion during the selection of project proposals or the opinion of local authorities in the territory of which the project is planned to operate.

7.2. Project evaluation criteria:

	Generalized form for evaluating the technical proposal	Maximum score
1.	Compliance with the topics and priorities of the competition (the submitted application complies with the topics and priorities – 20 points; the application partially complies with the topics and priorities – 10 points; the application does not comply with the topics and priorities of the competition – 0 points)	20
2.	Consistency of the project’s goal, objectives, and methods of implementation (the goal, objectives, and methods of implementation of the project are fully consistent with each other – 10 points, partially consistent – 5 points, not consistent – 0 points)	10
3.	Specificity, attainability and effectiveness of the activities planned by the project (Measures planned by the project are specific – 5 points, achievable – 5 points, and effective – 10 points, activities do not meet the listed conditions – 0 points)	20
4.	Experience of the applicant organization in the issues provided for in the project proposal (the applicant’s competence is confirmed by experience in implementing projects that meet the competition’s areas – 20 points, the organization has experience in implementing projects, but in related areas – 10 points; the organization has no experience or its previous projects do not meet the competition’s areas – 0 points)	20
5.	Reasonableness of planned costs and required resources in relation to expected results (the financial proposal is reasonable and complies with the “highest quality for the lowest price” approach – 20 points, the financial proposal requires revision and/or cost reduction – 10 points, the financial proposal is not reasonable – 0 points)	20
6.	Level of competence (profile education, work experience) of project personnel (involved personnel has the appropriate level of competence – 10 points, partially the required level of competence – 5 points, does not have the required level of competence – 0 points)	10
	Total score	100
	Notes

Please note!

• Materials submitted for the competition will not be returned or reviewed.
• Participants will be notified of the results of the competition by email.
• The final decision on the project or application is not subject to review.
• The reasons for rejection or support of the project will not be communicated.

8. REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF GRANT PROJECTS

8.1.Monitoring and Evaluation:

The grantee is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the project and evaluating its results. UNDP in Ukraine will monitor the implementation of the grant project through reports from the grantee, meetings with project staff, their partners and beneficiaries, as well as through participation in project activities.

8.2. Reporting:

The grantee will submit reports in the format specified by UNDP in Ukraine:

• interim reports, which include a description of activities and results against agreed monitoring indicators and a financial component (to be specified in the relevant grant agreement);
• short reports on request, which may be requested from time to time by UNDP when information on the grant project is needed between regular reports;
• a final report, which will include a description of activities and results, as well as a financial report for the entire period of the grant agreement.

Activities under the grant agreement must be carried out in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures. The instructions for the implementation of grant projects can be found at this link.

To ensure compliance with UNDP’s zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), the grantee’s project team must undergo PSEA training and provide UNDP with certificates confirming completion of such training, as well as complete a PSEA self-assessment form (links to the training and the self-assessment form will be provided by UNDP).

 

Source: https://gurt.org.ua/