Grant to Improve Employment Opportunities and Competitiveness of Vocational School Graduates (Ukraine)

Deadline: 05-Oct-2026

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ukraine is inviting eligible non-governmental organizations to apply for funding to develop and implement public-private partnership projects that improve employment prospects, skills, and competitiveness among vocational education graduates in the Mykolaiv region. Supported by the Government of Denmark, the initiative forms part of UNDP Ukraine’s regional recovery efforts supporting communities and people affected by the war. The programme focuses on reconstruction, return, and early recovery while strengthening the regional labor market and modernizing vocational education. A total of $148,000 in grant funding is available. The selected organization will implement a project lasting up to nine months, with activities expected to begin in November 2026 and conclude by July 2027.

About the UNDP Ukraine Vocational Education Initiative

The Mykolaiv region is working to recover from the impacts of the war while addressing labor-market challenges and supporting economic productivity. One of the key challenges is the mismatch between the skills of vocational education graduates and the requirements of employers. Strengthening connections between vocational education institutions and the private sector can help ensure that graduates acquire skills that are relevant to current and emerging employment opportunities. Through this call for proposals, UNDP aims to support public-private partnerships that modernize vocational education institutions, introduce innovative approaches, improve educational environments, and strengthen the image and competitiveness of vocational education graduates. Main Objective of the Grant The call aims to select one competent civil society organization at either the regional or national level to implement the proposed initiative in Mykolaiv region. The selected organization will be expected to create and develop at least seven public-private partnership initiatives within vocational education and training institutions. These initiatives should contribute to stronger connections between educational institutions, public authorities, and private-sector stakeholders. Key Areas of the Partnership Initiatives The public-private partnership projects should focus on improving vocational education and employment outcomes.

Priority areas include:

- Modernizing the educational environment. - Introducing innovative approaches to vocational education. - Creating new structures and partnerships. - Strengthening cooperation between vocational institutions and private-sector employers. - Improving the image of vocational education. - Increasing the competitiveness of vocational school graduates. - Supporting better alignment between graduate skills and employer needs. - Contributing to labor-market revitalization and economic recovery. Why Public-Private Partnerships Matter Public-private partnerships can help vocational education institutions respond more effectively to changing labor-market requirements. Employers can contribute knowledge about current and future skills needs, while vocational institutions can adapt learning environments and educational approaches accordingly. The initiative therefore seeks to establish practical partnerships that can contribute to: - More relevant vocational training. - Better connections between education and employment. - Innovation within vocational institutions. - Stronger employer engagement. - Improved graduate competitiveness. - Greater economic productivity. - More sustainable cooperation between educational and private-sector stakeholders. Expected Number of Initiatives The selected organization must create and develop at least seven public-private partnership initiatives in vocational education and training institutions across the Mykolaiv region. The initiatives should not simply focus on short-term activities. They are expected to introduce improvements to educational environments, partnerships, structures, and approaches that can strengthen vocational education and its connection with the labor market. Grant Funding Available The total funding available under the call is $148,000. The selected organization will receive funding to implement the approved project activities within the specified implementation period. The project duration can be up to nine months.

Activities are expected to:

- Start in November 2026. - Conclude by July 2027. Co-Financing Applicants that can provide co-financing of at least 10% of the total project budget may have an advantage. Organizations considering co-financing should clearly demonstrate how their contribution will complement the requested UNDP funding and support successful implementation of the project. Eligible Project Costs Grant funding can be used for costs directly connected to implementation of eligible project activities.

Eligible costs include:

- Staff and expert fees. - Goods and services required for project activities. - Consulting services. - Event services. - Printing. - Consumables. - Transportation. Applicants should ensure that proposed expenditures are necessary, reasonable, and directly related to the project’s objectives and activities. Budget Restrictions The call establishes limits for certain categories of expenditure. Administrative costs must not exceed 5% of the total project budget. Labor costs must not exceed 20% of the total budget. Applicants should therefore prepare their budgets carefully and ensure that the majority of requested funding is directed toward activities that directly contribute to the development and implementation of the public-private partnership initiatives. Ineligible Costs Certain expenditures cannot be supported under the grant.

Ineligible costs include:

- Costs associated with preparing the proposal. - Debt settlement. - International travel. - Profit-generating activities. - Purchase of vehicles. - Luxury items. Applicants should exclude these expenses from their proposed budget