Сall for project proposals under Enabling Fund 2025-2026
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-26)

The British Embassy Kyiv invites proposals from non-profit organisations for project work under the Enabling Fund (EF) for the period from May 2025 to March 2026.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 17.00 (Kyiv time) on 21 March 2025.

The British Embassy Kyiv uses its Enabling Fund (EF) to complement work funded by the large-scale programmes in Ukraine via funding small-scale quick-win projects or aimed at leveraging bigger funding, at providing unique UK expertise in areas of top priority for Government of Ukraine or at obtaining insights into new areas of activity for future interventions. We will particularly welcome applications that show how they would contribute to the objectives of the 100 Year Partnership (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-ukraine-100-year-partnership-declaration/uk-ukraine-100-year-partnership-declaration), which seeks to deepen the relationship between Ukraine and the UK across all areas.

The programme will focus on the following areas:

Supporting pillars of the 100 Years Partnership not funded by other programmes, thus strengthening Ukraine’s national and regional democratic institutions, helping Ukraine carry out reforms to meet EU, IMF and NATO standards, supporting Ukraine’s innovative tech capabilities; this can include support to local Ukrainian media, media watchdogs and consortia working to service critical information needs in frontline communities and occupied Crimea and affected by USAID freeze; support to development of innovative academic, science and research courses and modules in Ukraine in partnership with UK, harnessing best UK experience in education and education management, economics, banking sector; support to local hromadas in designing e-toolkit for harmonising hromadas’ recovery plans with regional and national ones (all projects to meet GESI-D requirements)

Supporting vulnerable groups not covered by larger UK programmes, such as work on barrier-free Ukraine, protecting rights of persons with disabilities, LGBT people, work on protecting human rights in temporarily occupied territories including Crimea and on reintegration of de-occupied territories, including reintegration of children returned from Russia or temporarily occupied territories, ensuring cooperation between state institutions, civil society and international partners (all projects to meet GESI-D/E requirements)

NOTES:

Non-profit organisations are invited to bid. Successful projects should have sustainable outcomes and should clearly identify the change that will be brought about. All bids should make clear how they complement existing activities supported by other donors and international partners, and how work in the regions complements national level activity.

The minimum indicative funding for projects is £75,000 and maximum £100,000. This may be in addition to co-funding and self-funding contributions; indeed this will be considered a merit. Our funding is for the UK financial year April 2025-March 2026 only (projects must be implemented and all payments made by 15 March 2026). Where appropriate, bidders are encouraged to describe how their project could be further scaled-up if additional funding became available.

The British Embassy Kyiv will carry out due diligence of potential grantees, including seeking references, as part of the selection process.

Bidding is competitive and only selected projects will receive funding. The Embassy reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids without incurring any obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the grounds of such acceptance or rejection. Due to the volume of bids expected we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful bids. If bidders are not contacted by end April they have been unsuccessful in this bidding round.

Bidding process

Bidders should fill in the standard Project Proposal Form and include a breakdown of project costs in the Activity Based Budget (ABB). We will not consider proposals submitted in other formats. Budgets must be Activity Based Budgets (ABB), all costs should be indicative, in GBP (not Ukrainian Hryvna).

Successful bids must demonstrate Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Category D or E (please see description of all GESI Categories in Annex below), i.e. have a gender equality objective explicit in the project documentation and an explanation of a positive impact of the project on advancing gender equality. If the project is designed with the principal intention of advancing gender equality, it must have outcomes on gender equality and outputs that contribute to these outcomes.

All projects or activities must align with the Paris Agreement (https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement) on Climate Change and assess climate and environmental impact and risks, taking steps to ensure that no environmental harm is done and, where relevant, support adaptation.

Successful implementers should be able to receive project funding in GBP (UK pound sterling) and open a GBP bank account for the project.

Proposals should be sent to the British Embassy Kyiv at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) by 17.00 (Kyiv time) on 21 March 2025. In the subject line, please indicate the name of the bidder, the area (1 or 2), and the subtopic under which the project is submitted (e.g. [name of NGO]/area 1/Support to local hromadas). We aim to evaluate proposals by end-April. Approved projects will commence in May 2025.

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- fit to programme objectives – the extent to which the proposal addresses the issues
- quality of project – how well defined and relevant the outcome is and how outputs will deliver this change; ability to leverage bigger funding would be an advantage
- value for money – the value of the expected project outcomes, the level of funding requested and institutional contribution
- previous experience – evidence of the project team’s understanding the issue and of its regional activities, ability to manage and deliver a successful project, through work done to date in the area or in related fields
- gender-sensitive approach and alignment with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change - as indicated above; the proposals will be assessed by a mixed gender panel.
(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bed49772e83aab48866aac/ISF_Project_Proposal_Template_Part_A_xx-xxxx-xxxx.odt)

ISF_Project Proposal Template_Part A xx-xxxx-xxxx (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bed49772e83aab48866aac/ISF_Project_Proposal_Template_Part_A_xx-xxxx-xxxx.odt)

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ISF_Project_Activity-Based_Budget_Template 28-01-2025 w upd guidance (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bed4ab72e83aab48866aad/Copy_of_ISF_Project_Activity-Based_Budget_Template_28-01-2025_w_upd_guidance.ods)

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GESI Priorities (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bed4c4750837d7604dbb40/GESI_Priorities.png)

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