1. Background

The present Call for Proposals (CfP) is administered by regional UNDP project “EU4Dialogue: Support to Conflict Transformation in the South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova” (EU4Dialogue).

The overall aim of the regional EU4Dialogue project, funded by the European Union is to contribute to building a durable foundation for conflict transformation in the Eastern Partnership region by creating better socio-economic conditions and improving human security for conflict-affected communities. The activities implemented in Ukraine in 2022-2023 are part of a reprogramming of the project to support crisis response in Ukraine.

EU4Dialogue project is being implemented through two main components:

1. a competitive grant scheme to support CSO initiatives aiming at responding to the needs of conflict-affected communities; and
2. procurement and supply of necessary equipment and consumables to support crisis response.

The number of displaced people in Ukraine is growing as the security situation across the country continues to worsen, with ongoing fighting and airstrikes forcing people to flee their homes. Recent humanitarian assessments indicate that over 12 million people have been displaced internally or crossing borders into neighboring countries as refugees or protection seekers, that 18 million individuals have been directly affected by the conflict, with 12 million people in direct need of humanitarian assistance.

Throughout the country, people volunteer their time and resources to protect and care for the most vulnerable, including the elderly, women and children. Civil society and volunteer groups in every region of Ukraine are providing humanitarian aid, psychosocial support and legal counselling, help with humanitarian relocation/evacuation and temporary housing. However, there is an immense need to support existing and emerging non-governmental actors and initiatives to remain relevant and provide resources where they are needed “here and now.”

Though this CfP, UNDP would like to engage l experienced and capable civil society organization/s or think tanks with the aim to provide necessary training, mentorship and supervision to the grass-root civil society organizations and volunteer groups to improve their overall capacity for aid and support provision.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE COMPETITION

The primary focus of this CfP is strengthening the programmatic and operational capacity of civil society organizations, volunteer groups and grass root initiatives to participate in decision-making, absorb development and humanitarian assistance. The successful proposal should include, but not limited to the following activities:

• Conduct evidence-based mapping of all active civil society initiatives on the oblast and city level while analyzing at least four oblasts of Ukraine with a focus on the areas with the densest populations of IDPs and greatest needs;
• Establishing partnership with SpivDiia hubs in the oblasts identified for the project implementation;
• Propose effective ways of coordination of civil society and volunteer initiatives in order to address social and human rights challenges caused by the war at the subnational level in Ukraine;
• Conduct a rapid analysis of the capacity development needs among civil society and volunteer groups;
• Based on the identified priorities, conduct targeted capacity development events in an offline and online format. The specific thematic focus should include at least programme and financial project management, human rights-based approach, fundraising and project proposal design, civil society advocacy and participation in decision making on a local level, communications, etc. It is envisioned that at least 25 capacity building events will be conducted within the project.
• Provide mentorship and peer counselling to the selected civil society organizations to promote better capacity for development and humanitarian aid absorption.

3. PARTICIPANTS OF THE COMPETITION:

Non-profit organizations, in particular charitable organizations, public associations (including civil society organizations and unions) that are officially registered in Ukraine for no less than two years. The applying organization should have proven experience in conducting targeted capacity building for civil society and volunteer groups. 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. Eligible organizations

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).

3.2. Geographic location:

UNDP will accept applications from all regions of Ukraine. The submitted proposal should focus on work in at least 4 oblasts of Ukraine. Application from civil society networks and consortiums is encouraged.

4. BUDGET AND ALLOWED EXPENSES:

Eligible costs must:

• be necessary for caring out project activities;
• comply with the principles of sound financial management, in particular value for and cost-effectiveness;
• be properly recorded, identifiable and 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 these 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.

6. FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION:

It is envisioned that the budget within project proposal should be within the following range USD 120,000.

The maximum timeframe for the project implementation is 7 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.).

7. PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:

Project proposals are submitted in Ukrainian and sent by e-mail to the addresses:  grants.ua@undp.org  and oksana.kosenko@undp.org specifying in the subject line, the title of the competition “Strengthening capacity of civil society organizations to participate in decision making, absorb development and humanitarian assistance". The deadline for submission is September 16, 2022.

Contact persons:

• Oksana Kosenko, Civil Society Project Coordinator “Civil society for enhanced democracy and human rights in Ukraine”, UNDP: oksana.kosenko@undp.org

8. SELECTION PROCESS

8.1. Assessment procedures

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

To ensure full transparency and equity of the process, UNDP forms a Grant Selection Committee (GSC) that will appraise the proposals that have made it through the first stage. 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 additional independent expert opinion during the selection process.

8.2. Criteria for the assessment of proposals

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

9. REPORTING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

9.1. 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.

9.2. Reporting

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

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

ANNEXES

Project proposal form (incl. Annex 5)

Budget Form