Civil society organizations, media can receive up to EUR 18,000 in grant support under new EU–IER project Resilience and Engagement
A three-year project titled "Resilience and Engagement for Ukraine" (REU), aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) during wartime and advancing reforms on the path to the EU, has been launched in Ukraine, the organizers announced during the official presentation of the initiative held at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Monday.
The project is being implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) with financial support from the European Union. Its total budget amounts to EUR 1.549 million, of which EUR 1.5 million is the EU's contribution. The initiative will run for 36 months, from December 2025 through the end of November 2028.
"The EU stands by Ukraine because we know that a democratic and resilient Ukraine is one that belongs in the European family. This project is an investment in the country's resilience, recovery, and European future, where civil society organizations are not merely beneficiaries of aid but partners in building a free and just state," said Asier Santillán Luzuriaga, Head of the "Good Governance and Rule of Law" Section at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, during the presentation.
According to IER Executive Director Oksana Kuziakiv, the grant component of the project includes four competitive tracks. The largest volume of support is foreseen under the "Resilience through Partnership" track, where CSOs, think tanks, media, and academic institutions can receive 18 grants of up to EUR 18,000 each, with implementation periods of up to 12 months. The first call under this track will be announced on April 24, 2026, and will be held in three waves throughout 2026–2027.
For the veteran community, a separate competition titled "Reintegration, Education, and Support for Veterans at the Community Level" will provide 12 grants of up to EUR 15,000 each for projects lasting up to 10 months. The first stage of this track will begin on May 3, 2026.
A distinct focus is placed on youth initiatives through the "Learn, Act and Rebuild" competition, which will launch on May 6 and foresees eight grants of up to EUR 10,000 each.
In addition, a "Space for Growth" program will operate to support non-formal education for children in nine regions most affected by the war, where 10 small grants of up to EUR 5,000 will be provided.
As Deputy Project Manager Tetiana Blyzniuk reported, the review of applications for participation in the competitions will last one and a half months, with an additional 10 to 14 days required to sign contracts with the winners.
It is expected that more than 25 organizations will receive support, producing at least 160 analytical outputs and holding 36 public events to monitor European integration processes. The project's geographic coverage spans all government-controlled territory of Ukraine, including rural and frontline communities.