The objective of the program is to support activities of Polish non-governmental organizations carried out in cooperation with their Ukrainian partners in Ukraine as well as those that are taking care of refugees from Ukraine in Poland. The grants can also be used for supporting coordination of Polish NGOs’ activities for Ukraine, including refugees in Poland (also in cooperation with other institutions, primarily local governments).

The “Support for Ukraine” Program is an extension of a special initiative launched within the “Region in Transition” (RITA) Program – a PAFF undertaking managed by the Education for Democracy Foundation. At the beginning of March 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the immediate relief actions by Polish NGOs, the fast intervention “Ukrainian path” was launched under the grant competition carried out within “Region in Transition”. The “RITA” Program’s organizational and financial resources available at that moment were earmarked for this new, extraordinary purpose. As soon as the separate “Support for Ukraine” Program was created, the “Ukrainian path” became a part of it, as previously announced.

422 NGOs submitted their applications to the call for proposals of intervention projects which lasted until March 15. On the basis of assessment by independent experts and the decision made by the Grant Committee, grants will go to 59 nongovernmental organizations in 14 provinces. Most of them operate in small towns and villages. 15 projects will be directly implemented in Ukraine.

Polish organizations will receive grants for activities related to the protection of life and health of the civilian population in Ukraine by supporting evacuation, both internal and abroad, supplying medical products and means of personal protection for civilians, physicians, relief workers, and journalists; equipping and adjusting locations to the war situation (e.g. purchase of camp beds, blankets, telecommunications equipment, generators, etc.) as well as activities supporting refugees in Poland, including securing accommodation, board and transportation, as well as psychological, legal and information support.

The “Support for Ukraine” program will also offer funding in an open grant competition for long term projects, that is for activities to be carried out over a longer period of time and of a systemic nature, aimed at, for example, supporting children’s and young people’s education in Poland, adapting war refugees from Ukraine to the conditions on the Polish job market, and counteracting discriminating practices against them.

The open call for longer-term projects was announced at the end of April by the Education for Democracy Foundation.