Even during the war, Ukrainian entrepreneurs continue to work, opening new businesses and paying taxes.
It is for such enterprising Ukrainians that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced the launch of a new grant program.
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Its participants can receive grants of up to 7 thousand euros for microbusinesses and up to 20 thousand euros for small enterprises in the hryvnia equivalent.
“This aid is intended to stimulate the economy, restore production, and create new jobs in wartime conditions,” the organization’s website says.
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The main criteria for participation in the grant program:
Geographic location: Enterprises must be located in Kyiv, Chernihiv, or Sumy regions (including regional centers).
Registration and ownership: The enterprise must be registered in Ukraine and owned by citizens of Ukraine. Registration must be completed no less than 1 year prior to the date of application.
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Job creation: A prerequisite is the willingness to create new jobs thanks to grant funds:
- Microenterprises (up to 10 employed people) must create at least 1 new job.
- Small businesses (10 or more employed people) must create at least 3 new jobs.
Priority will be given to the following categories of applicants whose activities are of particular importance during the period of martial law:
- Businesses that have been damaged, destroyed, or displaced as a result of the war.
- Businesses led by veterans, women, or youth.
- Enterprises whose activities are focused on supporting vulnerable segments of the population.
- Businesses located in rural areas.
Who will not be funded:
- Grants will not be provided to enterprises whose activities are related to the following sectors:
- Production or trade in weapons and ammunition.
- Production or trade in alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, radioactive materials.
- Production, trade or use of unbound asbestos fibers.
- Production or trade in pharmaceuticals, pesticides/herbicides that are subject to international restrictions.
- Medical facilities and pharmacies.
- Luxury items and gambling equipment.
How to get help
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The process of participating in the grant program involves several sequential steps. To receive assistance, you must carefully read the requirements and submit your application on time.
Step 1: Submit an application
To participate in the competition, you must contact the International Organization for Migration by filling out the application form electronically. The online form is available at this link.
Step 2: Getting to know the details
All details regarding requirements, grant distribution, and selection criteria are posted on the official IOM website.
Step 3: Submission deadline and selection stages
Applications are considered on a rolling basis until January 31, 2026, or until the funds allocated to the program are exhausted. This means that the program may close earlier, so do not delay.
The selection process consists of four main stages:
- First stage (Initial selection): Verification of submitted applications for compliance with all basic requirements specified above.
- Second stage (Final selection): Candidates who successfully pass the initial selection are invited to prepare and present their business plan online to the selection committee.
- Third stage (Grant allocation): Signing of contracts and direct allocation of grant funds, as well as the start of implementation monitoring.
- Fourth stage: Grant reporting and evaluation of results.
Program organizers plan to review applications submitted in the previous month during the first two weeks of the following month.
What can grant funds be spent on:
- This support is targeted and can be used for business recovery and development in the following areas (all activities must be planned for a period of up to 4 months):
- Purchase of necessary specialized equipment, tools for production, processing or other activities of the company.
- Repair and furnishing of premises, including the purchase of furniture or shelving.
- Purchase of raw materials for the production process (up to 50% of the total grant amount can be spent).
- It is important to remember that grant recipients are solely responsible for paying all taxes and fees that may be associated with receiving funds.
For all questions regarding participation in the IOM grant program, please contact us by email. e-mail for inquiries: [email protected]
The subject of the email must include “SME_2025”.
We would like to remind you that Caritas Ukraine also provides cash grants without reporting requirements or restrictions on the use of funds. The main conditions for participation in it are the presence of local markets, the possibility of cashless payments or cash withdrawals.
