About the grant competition

To promote the role of youth in the recovery of Ukraine, in 2025, UNDP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Youth Center, plans to implement a programme in close cooperation with local CSOs and local self-government bodies. This includes organizing 15 youth exchanges across various oblasts of Ukraine, with the ultimate goal of renovating 15 youth spaces/centers as well as strengthening the social fabric of the country by providing an opportunity for participants to explore the diverse cultures of different regions of Ukraine. 

An important aspect of the implementation of VidNOVA:UA 2025 is the preparation of the programme for a full transition to the state-lead administration by the state institutions "All-Ukrainian Youth Center" and Ukrainian Youth Foundation.

Objectives of the competition

LOT 1 

The primary focus of Lot 1 is to select a CSO that will provide coordination support to successfully conduct 15 youth exchanges, and ensure methodological support and training of youth centers’ / CSOs’ staff including: 

• Identify and propose a coordination team which should consist of a director, an operation manager (AUYC-based), a manager of restoration works, a manager of the education component, a participants manager (AUYC-based), an SMM-manager (AUYC-based), a PR-manager (AUYC-based), a finance manager, a financial consultant for regional teams. IMPORTANT! Due to the future transition of the programme under the state administration, four positions in the coordination team are envisioned for specialists from the state institution All-Ukrainian Youth Center. All positions of the coordination team (incl. AUYC-based) should be reflected in the budget with the involvement of personnel for the full period of project implementation.
• Participate in the process of selecting youth centers and youth CSOs which will apply for Lot 2 of this competition which will include the assessment of proposed sites for restoration of civil infrastructure objects;
• Ensure the update of the methodology to include the reflection of previous iterations of the programme, to compile the best working techniques and formats of non-formal education within the programme, and to prepare it for autonomous use by interested institutions and CSOs in the future.
• Create the database of the participants of the VidNOVA:UA programme over the 2022-2024 years, including regional hub teams, participants, partners of the programme in order to add this information to the comprehensive mapping of the impact of the programme over the years.
• In partnership with UNDP team and All-Ukrainian Youth Center conduct training sessions for youth centers and/or youth CSOs on the updated methodology and logistical specifics of the exchanges (2 rounds of 4-day training sessions for up to 15 teams of 3 people with travel cost, accommodation and meals covered by organizers - MYS, AUYC, UNDP). The programme of the training sessions will focus on the development of civic competencies, financial management, volunteering and the values of social cohesion.
• Select the Ambassadors of VidNOVA:UA  2025 – up to 15 alumni of VidNOVA:UA 2022-2024, who will participate in promoting the programme at the local level, join one youth exchange as a participant to ensure the exchange of institutional memory with new participants. Lot 1 ensures the development of standardised terms of reference for the Ambassadors and support their smooth integration into the operational workflow of the youth exchanges.
• Ensure the work of the central office of national programme of inclusion of young people into recovery processes “VidNOVA:UA”, with the aim to coordinate work of regional hubs with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and All-Ukrainian Youth Centre ensuring communication about the project within the society;
• Conduct a communication campaign to attract the young participants to participate in the programme including establishing partnership with universities, professional technical schools, local self-government bodies to promote the programme through their channels as well as to widely promote the programme results;
• Support the local teams with developing the programmes of exchanges in their communities with a focus on promotion of intercultural learning and social cohesion in addition to manual work on the restoration of youth centres;
• Support youth centers and youth organisations in conducting one or two 5-day youth exchanges in oblasts identified by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including overseeing the organization of logistics such as accommodation, travel, and food for the participants;
• Establish a robust system of monitoring of programme implementation including ensuring that all of the planned activities are properly implemented, and new participants are given priority over the one’s who have already participated in the programme;
• Conduct a series of surveys among participants of the exchanges and local teams (before and after the exchanges) and conduct analysis of the programme effectiveness and results.

LOT 2

The primary focus of Lot 2 is to select youth centres and/or youth CSOs to act as implementing regional partner for organizing youth exchanges within the framework of the National Youth Exchange Programme “VidNOVA:UA”, namely:

• Based on the received methodology and training, finalise the curricula/schedule for exchanges (educational part, including civic competencies, financial management, volunteering and the values of social cohesion);
• Maintain contact and coordinate with local authorities on the organization of works on the restoration of civil infrastructure objects: CSO submits an application in partnership with the local government body that owns the facility identified for restoration;
• Identify and propose an implementation team which should consist of a coordinator, a finance manager, a manager of restoration works, a manager of the education component,  and the manager of a communication component of the programme;
• Formulate the brief description of the cultural and historic significance of the community (or communities) in the region, where the organisation is planning to conduct a youth exchange, in order to prepare a comprehensive cultural programme for the exchange;
• Identify the object for the restoration within “VidNOVA:UA” programme at the concept submission stage according to the following criteria:
• It is required that the communal property (the premises are owned by the community) selected for the restoration wasn't part of VidNOVA:UA programme 2022-2024;
• A letter of support for the project implementation from the local authority is mandatory;
• In the letter of support from local authorities as the property owner must commit to sustain the operations of the restored premises and make it available for youth work or community activities for the period of at least 5 years; 
• In case of private ownership of the premises suggested for restoration, the owner must commit to making the restored premises available for youth work or community activities for at least 5 years.
• Support the coordinating organisation (Lot 1) in selecting participants for a youth  exchange, as well as support the communication campaign on local level to attract the young men and women to participate in the programme;
• In partnership with local authorities, “VidNOVA:UA” coordinating organisation and All-Ukrainian Youth Center, conduct one or two youth exchanges during the July-September 2025 (not earlier or later): one organization can conduct a maximum of two 5-day exchanges in two different communities within one oblast; 
• Ensure timely reporting to the central coordinating office (to coordinating organisation) and efficient outreach campaigns on the local level before, during and after the exchange;

Participate in the experience exchange activities, organised by coordinating organisation (Lot 1), to share knowledge and lessons learned with other CSOs on planning and implementing youth exchanges.

Participants of the competition

LOT 1: Non-profit youth organizations and/or organizations working with youth, in particular charitable organizations, public associations (including civil society organizations and unions) that are officially registered in Ukraine for no less than three years. The applying must have proven experience in implementing national level projects preferably with and for young people. The contest does not provide grants to for-profit organizations, political parties, state authorities, local governments, state and municipal enterprises religious communities and private (physical) individuals and entrepreneurs.

LOT 2: Non-profit youth organizations and organizations working with youth, including charitable organizations, public associations (including civil society organizations and unions) that are officially registered in Ukraine. The contest does not provide grants to profit organizations, political parties, state authorities, local governments, state and municipal enterprises religious communities and private (physical) individuals and entrepreneurs.

Additionally, to be eligible for this competition, NGOs must not have participated in the VidNOVA:UA programme more than twice between 2022 and 2024. 

Financial conditions

The maximum budget of the project proposal under the Lot 1 should not exceed 60’000 USD, and under the Lot 2 should not exceed 20’000 USD per exchange. The available amount for construction materials under the Lot 2 should not exceed 6’000 USD.

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 grantee organization will receive an advance payment for the planned activities under the grant agreement. The amount of advance and subsequent payments will be specified in the grant agreement. 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.

Nota bene! The final tranche of 10% will be disbursed to the grantee organization upon 100% completion of project reporting, including confirmation of all financial transactions. 

Both Lots must submit their applications together with a letter of guarantee indicating their willingness and ability to cover 10% of the grant budget amount (Lot 1 – 6’000 USD, Lot 2 - 2’000 USD). Upon review and approval of the final financial report, UNDP will reimburse the eligible expenses incurred under the last tranche.