1. BACKGROUND 

The present Call for Proposals (CfP) is administered by the UNDP in Ukraine “Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine” Project (JSB FY2023), which is funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP Ukraine. 

The primary objective of the project is to contribute to bringing transformational recovery from widespread death, destruction, displacement, and suffering caused by the war in Ukraine and to promote Human Security in Ukraine by undertaking concerted immediate actions against interconnected and multidimensional threats that Ukraine is currently facing.  

To maximise positive results for transformational recovery, the project interventions will focus on the following 6 priority thematic areas:  

1) Infrastructure restoration: Critical infrastructures and facilities are restored to meet immediate needs to provide essential public services and establish enabling conditions for transformational recovery.   

2) Mine action & Victim Assistance: Capacities of mine action authorities and emergency service responders expanded to protect the civilian population from mine/explosive ordnances and secure a safe environment for people’s living and socio-economic activities. 

3) Debris removal and recycling: Debris, waste and environmentally hazardous materials cleared and dangerous damaged structures safely demolished for the swift reconstruction of housing and public socio-economic facilities.  

4) Economic revitalization:  The local economy is revitalized by strengthening and expanding the private sector in targeted sectors through immediate response solutions in developing capabilities, improving employability, and enhancing business-enabling conditions  

5) Government Recovery Coordination: Integrity and transparency of government mechanisms and processes for crisis management and recovery process strengthened at both national and local levels  

5) Access to justice and human rights: Capacities of national and local state and non-state actors enhanced to promote human rights and ensure access to justice for all people, with a focus on IDPs and vulnerable groups. 

To support the objective of government recovery coordination, it is crucial to reduce the corruption risks in recovery process and to enhance the anti-corruption capacities of key stakeholders, namely representatives of local communities. Today corruption is identified by citizens as the second biggest problem for Ukraine (after Russia's armed aggression), according to the latest sociological survey "Corruption in Ukraine 2023: understanding, perception, prevalence". Corruption undermines trust in the authorities, slows down socio-economic development and hinders the recovery processes.  

The recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine start at local level and directly depend on anti-corruption efforts of the local communities. Strengthening the anti-corruption capacities is essential for enabling communities to effectively address systemic issues that may hinder progress and development. 

UNDP has been a strategic partner of the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (hereafter referred to as the Ministry) and has been providing targeted support to develop effective mechanisms for enhancing transparency and accountability in the reconstruction process. 

In 2023-2024, UNDP in partnership with the Ministry supported 13 pilot authorities in enhancing the transparency and accountability of local self-government, and in 10 out of them - in developing local strategic policy frameworks in the areas of local recovery and development planning. The local anti-corruption programme has been adopted by the majority of the pilots, while in the remaining communities, the local recovery and development plan is currently under consideration by the city council and is expected to be adopted and enacted soon. 

As part of the project, an analysis and assessments of corruption risks were conducted, and anti-corruption programmes were developed for selected territorial communities. These anti-corruption programmes aim to increase investment attractiveness, ensure transparent governance, and boost citizens' trust in local self-government bodies. 

In continuation of the efforts in developing effective mechanisms to enhance transparency and accountability in the reconstruction process through capacity development activities on the use of transparent tools and mechanisms, through this CfP, UNDP in Ukraine aims to engage Grantee (Participant) in developing and enhancing anti-corruption skills^[1] of officials of local authorities, and community leaders, including youth and civil society organizations. The project aims to foster a culture of integrity in local communities through transparency and restoration of trust. 

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPETITION: 

This grant call aims to assist local authorities in enacting their local policy frameworks, strengthening the capacities of relevant local actors, raising public awareness, and promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in local recovery and development processes. Specifically, the grant programme will support the implementation of anti-corruption programmes in 13^[2] pilot communities. In addition, it will help actualize these programmes by: 

• Strengthening the capacity of relevant actors: Providing training and resources to local authorities, public officials, and community leaders to effectively implement and manage anti-corruption initiatives. 
• Raising public awareness: Educating the public on the importance of anti-corruption measures, fostering a culture of integrity, and encouraging citizen participation in governance. 
• Enhancing the role of civil society: Empowering civil society organizations to act as watchdogs, ensuring transparency and accountability in local democratic processes and recovery efforts. 

The proposed activities may focus on, but are not limited to, the following areas:  

• Development of Training Programmes: Create at least 2 specialized training programmes to strengthen the anti-corruption capacities of representatives of local communities. Ensure that the content of the programmes is informed by consultations with the respective communities and is reviewed and approved by UNDP. 
• Conducting Training Sessions: Organize and conduct training sessions for different demographic groups: civil representatives, local councilors, representatives of local communities, including young people, with subsequent revisions based on achieved results. 
• Provide targeted training sessions for leaders of the local communities: Organize and conduct training sessions for leaders of the local communities to enhance their anti-corruption knowledge and skills. 
• Development of Educational Materials: Create and distribute educational materials, such as guides, to help individuals (target groups specified in paragraph 1 “Background”) to develop anti-corruption skills. Ensure that these materials are accessible in various formats, including printed, digital, and multimedia, to reach a wide audience. 
• Research and Analysis: Support research and analysis on the anti-corruption efforts of representatives of local communities. Assess the current level of perception of the principle of integrity within the local communities, identify gaps, and evaluate the impact of various initiatives. Use the findings to identify best practices and initiatives to design future interventions. Ensure that the quality of the research is reviewed and approved by UNDP. 

All relevant events and activities will need to be completed by 1 February 2025, and the maximum co-funding from UNDP shall not exceed 50’000 USD. 

3. PARTICIPANTS OF THE COMPETITION: 

Non-profit organizations, in particular charitable organizations, and public associations (including civil society organizations and unions) that are officially registered in Ukraine for no less than three years and have experience in project implementation in the proposed priority area. The contest does not provide grants to profit organizations, political parties, state authorities, local governments, religious communities and private (physical) individuals and entrepreneurs. 

3.1. Specific requirements:   

Experience in implementing initiatives in one of the 13 pilot communities would be beneficial but not mandatory for organizations participating in the competition. In addition, the Participant shall meet the following specific requirements: 

•  demonstrate experience in the project implementation in the proposed priority area and in the proposed pilot community/communities and/or respective region/regions (Oblast/oblasts);  
• offer support in the proposed priority area to at least 3 communities; 
• provide support letters from local self-government bodies of the proposed pilot communities on the partnership, cooperation, support in the proposed priority area. 

3.2. Eligible organization 

The parameters that will determine whether an NGO is eligible to be considered for funding by UNDP will be based on the Capacity Assessment Checklist CACHE (Annex 5). 

3.3. Geographic location: 

UNDP will accept applications from all regions of Ukraine.   

4. BUDGET AND ALLOWED EXPENSES: 

Eligible costs must: 

• be necessary for carrying out project activities. 
• comply with the principles of sound financial management, in particular value for and cost-effectiveness. 
• be properly recorded, identifiable verifiable, and backed by original supporting documents. 

UNDP grant may only be used to cover the following costs: 

• Staff salaries and expert fees; 
• Purchase of consultative services provided that are essential for project goals and objectives; 
• Consumables and supplies, including minor personal protective equipment; 
• Printing and copying; 
• Utility services; 
• Renting, catering and other services envisaged by the project activities; 
• Travel costs (provided that travel complies with internal UNDP regulations). 

The following costs are ineligible:  

• Costs of project proposal preparation; 
• Debts reconciliation; 
• International travel; 
• Reimbursement of expenses related to exchange rate fluctuations; 
• Creation and registration of the organization; 
• Direct fiscal support to state authorities; 
• Political activity; 
• Religious propaganda; 
• Activities leading to direct or indirect discrimination of any social strata; 
• Projects aimed at gaining profit from activities; 
• Construction or repair work; 
• Purchase of vehicles and / or luxury goods and related services.

5. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION: 

The maximum timeframe for the project implementation is 5 months. 

The contribution from the implementing organization or from other sources will be considered and will be regarded as an advantage for the applicant. This contribution could be made both financially and in non- financial form (for example, remuneration of the personnel of the organization, provision of its office or equipment for project tasks, etc.). 

The grant tranches are paid by UNDP in advance, except for the last tranche. The last tranche, with a minimum amount of at least 10% of the total grant budget amount, should be covered by the CSOs' own funds. After successfully processing the final financial report, UNDP will compensate the eligible expenses incurred under the last tranche. 

6. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCEDURE: 

Concepts of the project proposals are submitted in Ukrainian and sent by e-mail to the address: grants.ua@undp.org specifying in the subject line, the title of the competition “Enhancing anti-corruption capacities of representatives of local communities during the transformational recovery period”. 

The contribution from the implementing organization or from other sources will be considered and will be regarded as an advantage for the applicant. This contribution could be made both financially and in non-financial form (for example, remuneration of the personnel of the organization, provision of its office or equipment for project tasks, etc.). 

All applications must arrive to UNDP no later than 23:59 on 9 August 2024. 

Contact persons in case of questions: 

• Daryna Yakymchuk, Capacity Development Officer, UNDP  daryna.yakymchuk@undp.org 

7. SELECTION PROCESS 

1. Assessment procedures 

UNDP specialists will review the submitted project proposals against the criteria for the assessment of proposals. UNDP can request additional information from the applicants at its own discretion.  

To ensure full transparency and equity in the process, UNDP forms a Grant Selection Committee (GSC) that will appraise the proposals that have met the contest requirements. GSC is a temporary authorized body that is responsible for considering, selecting and recommending proposals for funding. The Grant Selection Committee may decide to request an additional independent expert opinion during the selection process.  In addition, the Partner Capacity Assessment Tool (PCAT) and/or Partner Self-Assessment Form will be utilized to assess the capacity of the applicants, their potential to implement the grants proposed, included screening on anti-money laundering issues and PSEA capacity. Pre-selected applicants will also be obliged to provide the project team with certificates confirming PSEA Training completion (the link will be provided by UNDP) for all applicants’ staff. 

2. Criteria for the assessment of the proposal 

The proposals shall be assessed by the GSC in accordance to the following criteria: 

 8. REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION 

8.1. Monitoring and evaluation, frameworks for project implementation 

The Grantee is responsible for monitoring project implementation and evaluating its results. UNDP will monitor the project through Grantee reports, online consultations, site visits, meetings with project personnel and stakeholders, and participation in project events. 

8.2. Reporting 

The Grantee shall submit the following reports according to UNDP format: 

• Brief reports on demand occasionally requested by UNDP in cases when information on Programme implementation is required in between reporting periods; 
• Completion report, including a summary of activities and results as well as financial report for total duration of an agreement. 

Annexes  

Annex 1. Project proposal

Annex 2. Grant template

Notes:

^[1] Anti-corruption skills may cover the following activity, but not limited to, knowledge of anti-corruption legislation, ability effectively implement anti-corruption programmes, ability identify corruption risks and offences, ability to organize and conduct advocacy campaign.

^[2] Lutsk (Volynska Oblast), Khmelnytskyi (Kmelnytska Oblast), Kalush (Ivano-Frankivska Oblast), Bohodukhiv (Kharkiv Oblast), Valky (Kharkiv Oblast), Vyzhnytsia (Chernivtsi Oblast), Bila Tserkva (Kyiv Oblast), Kuyalnyk (Odesa Oblast), Novovolynsk (Volyn Olblast), Okhtyrka (Sumy Oblast), Pryluky (Chernihiv oblast), Khmeliv (Sumy Oblast), Chernechchyne (Dnipro Oblast).