Grant Opportunities for Coal Community Initiatives (Ukraine)

The East Europe Foundation has announced the second grant competition under the Regional Opportunities for Just Transition and Sustainable Development program to support the fair transformation of coal-dependent communities in Ukraine. The priority areas are renewable energy, energy efficiency, vocational education, professional retraining, environmental protection, sustainable land use, local economic development, small and medium-sized enterprises, water infrastructure, heating-system modernization, and community capacity development for a just transition. The ROOTS grant competition supports projects contributing to the just transition of Ukrainian coal communities. It aims to help participating communities improve energy resilience, support vulnerable populations, diversify their local economies and strengthen institutional capacity. A proposed project must contribute to just-transition objectives and be included in an approved Just Transition Action Plan or Program. Selected projects may receive grants ranging from UAH 3,000,000 to UAH 5,000,000. The competition expects to support up to six projects, each lasting between 6 and 12 months. Information about eligible expenses, excluded costs, co-financing and other financial conditions was not included in the provided source. Applicants should review the complete competition guidelines on the official grant portal. Projects must benefit one or more of the specified coal-transition communities. Eligible communities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast are: The competition also covers the Ladyzhyn territorial community in Vinnytsia Oblast.

Applications may be submitted by:

Applicants must operate within the competition’s geographical and institutional requirements.

Applications will not be considered from:

Organizations should confirm their legal status and nonprofit classification before beginning an application. A single applicant or group of applicants may submit only one application under the competition. Several eligible applicants may submit a joint proposal when the project is included in the relevant Just Transition Action Plan or Program. The joint application should clearly identify the responsibilities of each participating organization and explain how the partnership will support project delivery. The competition supports projects addressing one or more of the following priorities: Every proposed activity must support the wider objectives of a fair transition away from coal dependence. The proposed project must be included in a Just Transition Action Plan or Program. This is a defining eligibility condition rather than an optional preference. Applicants should verify the project’s inclusion before investing significant time in preparing the full application. The proposal should also explain how the project contributes to the plan’s objectives and produces measurable benefits for the target coal community. Coal-dependent communities may face employment losses, economic disruption, infrastructure challenges and increased vulnerability during the transition to more sustainable energy systems. The ROOTS program addresses these challenges by supporting projects that combine economic diversification, energy resilience, environmental protection, infrastructure development and human-capital investment. The competition may help participating communities create new economic opportunities while ensuring that vulnerable residents are not excluded from the transition process. Applicants should complete the following steps: The time zone for the deadline was not specified in the source, so applicants should verify it directly on the grant portal. An information session for prospective applicants is scheduled for 12 October 2026 at 11:00. Advance registration is required. The registration procedure was not included in the provided information and should be checked through the foundation’s official announcements or grant portal. Questions about the competition may be sent to support-gm@eef.org.ua.

The email subject line should include:

“Grants to Support Coal Communities, Phase II.” Applicants should use this contact to clarify eligibility, application requirements, project alignment or technical questions that are not answered in the official guidelines. The competition is administered by the East Europe Foundation under the ROOTS program. Applicants may request between UAH 3,000,000 and UAH 5,000,000. The competition expects to support up to six projects. Projects must have an implementation period of 6–12 months. Eligible applicants include local government bodies, municipal institutions and enterprises, regional development agencies, and civil society organizations holding eligible nonprofit status codes. Yes. Eligible organizations may submit a joint proposal when the project is included in the relevant Just Transition Action Plan or Program.

Applications must be submitted by 18: 00 on 28 October 2026. The source does not specify the time zone.

The ROOTS Phase II grant competition provides substantial funding for practical projects supporting the fair transformation of selected coal communities in Ukraine. Eligible organizations may request between UAH 3,000,000 and UAH 5,000,000 for projects lasting 6–12 months. Applicants must ensure that their proposed project is included in a Just Transition Action Plan or Program and must submit the application through the official grant portal by 28 October 2026. For more information, visit Public Space.