Fostering the Resilience of Ukrainian Civil Society and Independent Media

Call for Project Proposals

Program Description

In response to the security challenges and humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (BST) is launching a new call for project proposals for civil society organizations (CSOs) and media organizations from Ukraine.

1. Emergency projects: $10,000–16,000; duration 3–9 months

Under this thematic area, priority will be given to proposals that cover the immediate needs of the civic activists and media professionals, as well as their families:

  • Access to social, legal, and mental health services;
  • Immediate/temporary relocation support inside Ukraine or to a neighboring country (for example, Moldova, Romania, Poland, and other countries welcoming refugees), including transportation costs, temporary accommodation, and personal protective equipment (PPE);
2. Recovery and capacity building for CSOs: grants of maximum $25,000; duration 3–9 months.

Under this thematic area, priority will be given to proposals addressing the immediate needs of CSOs to enable them to resume their activities and continue offering support to their beneficiaries. The following indicative actions are eligible under this thematic area (non-exhaustive list):

  • Digitalization support such as replacing and/or purchasing new equipment, recovering and/or developing systems for storage and protection of data;
  • Access to mental health services and healing activities for staff and volunteers;
  • Legal assistance for those going through abusive situations, including human trafficking and bribery, among others.
  • Institutional support to cover the salaries of the core team, rental costs for the office (temporary relocation or permanent office), utilities, communication;
  • Emergency preparation through trainings on data security, first aid, and survival in war/conflict zones;
  • Capacity-building and equipment that can help to avert digital and physical assaults on Ukraine-based and exiled civil society and media organizations.
3. Media support: grants of maximum $25,000; duration 3–9 months.

Under this thematic area, priority will be given to proposals that support the media’s key role in informing their audiences. The following indicative actions are eligible under this thematic area (non-exhaustive list):

  • Core support for immediate needs such as salaries, costs for temporary relocations (rent, utilities), communication, and equipment including laptops, cameras, microphones, etc.;
  • Support for media content creators to diversify sources and formats of accurate information through on-the-ground reporting and fact-checking;
  • Monitoring and exposing malign actors, their narratives, and dissemination patterns;
  • Content creation to reach diverse and new audiences;
  • Development of policy recommendations to limit the impact of false news;
  • Access to wellbeing services for journalists, including psychological support, coaching, and trauma healing;
  • Personal safety/survival trainings for journalists in war/conflict zones.

Eligibility

Projects should be initiated by CSOs and independent media legally registered, based, relocated to and/or working from Ukraine and neighboring countries. The involvement of additional local partners is allowed and welcomed. The proposals cannot cover costs related to food, construction/renovations, or clothing.

Application

Proposals will be received and evaluated on an ongoing basis, with deadlines on the 15th and the 30th of each month.  Project proposals must be sent to [email protected]. In order to submit a project proposal, organizations must complete the forms attached, in English or Ukrainian.

Submission in other languages spoken in Ukraine is accepted by request. Only proposals submitted using these forms will be taken into consideration.