RFAs: Scaling the Community Development Program (Ukraine)

Deadline: 20-Sep-2026

The School of Local Activism: Scaling the Community Development Program of the Cherkasy and Poltava Regions has opened applications for territorial communities seeking to strengthen their capacity for community engagement, public initiatives, and local development. The program focuses on communities in the Poltava region and the left-bank part of the Cherkasy region and aims to promote stronger cooperation among local governments, civil society organizations, and local businesses. Selected communities will receive practical training, individual mentoring, support for public initiatives, and opportunities to connect with other participating communities.

About the School of Local Activism

The School of Local Activism is a community development program designed to help territorial communities identify local challenges, engage residents, and develop practical public initiatives. The program combines training with hands-on community activities. Rather than focusing only on theoretical learning, participating communities will work directly on issues affecting their residents. The project is implemented by the Renaissance and Development Association with support from the Mnozhyna Foundation. Purpose of the Program The main purpose of the program is to strengthen the capacity of territorial communities to engage residents and develop initiatives that respond to local needs.

The program seeks to:

- Strengthen local community capacity. - Improve community engagement. - Encourage public initiatives. - Develop cooperation among different local sectors. - Help communities identify and address local problems. - Strengthen collaboration between local authorities, civil society, and businesses. - Provide practical support for community-led initiatives. - Create networking opportunities among participating communities. Who Will Benefit From the Program? The program is intended for territorial communities located in: - The Poltava region. - The left-bank part of the Cherkasy region. Eligible communities must have a population of up to 20,000 people. The program is particularly relevant for communities that are prepared to bring together representatives from different sectors and work collaboratively on local development challenges. Intersectoral Cooperation A major feature of the School of Local Activism is its emphasis on intersectoral cooperation. Participating communities are expected to build teams that can bring together different local stakeholders, including: - Local government representatives. - Civil society representatives. - Local businesses. - Other relevant community stakeholders. This approach is intended to encourage joint problem-solving and create stronger partnerships around community development. Four-Day Field Training Selected communities will form teams that participate in a comprehensive four-day field training session. The training is designed to provide practical knowledge and skills that communities can use to improve local engagement and develop public initiatives. Participants will learn through a hands-on approach and will subsequently apply the knowledge gained during activities in their own communities. Individual Mentoring Training will be complemented by ongoing individual mentoring. This provides participating communities with continued guidance as they work on their local challenges and initiatives. Mentoring can help community teams translate the knowledge gained during training into practical actions within their local context. Community Workshops Each selected community will organize two workshops within its locality. The workshops will provide opportunities to engage residents in identifying and discussing local challenges. Through these activities, community members can contribute their perspectives and help identify practical ways to address issues affecting their locality. Identifying Local Problems Applicants are required to identify 2–3 local problems or initiatives that they intend to address during the project. This requirement encourages communities to enter the program with a clear understanding of the issues they want to explore. The identified challenges should provide a meaningful basis for community engagement, discussion, and development of a public initiative. Support for Public Initiatives The program provides initial support for implementing each community’s selected public initiative. This allows participating communities to move beyond training and planning toward practical action. The public initiative should emerge from the community’s engagement and work on the local problems identified during the program. Networking Among Communities Another important component is networking among participating communities. The program will facilitate connections between partner communities, allowing participants to exchange experiences, ideas, approaches, and lessons learned. Such networking can help communities learn from one another and build relationships that may continue beyond the program. Who Can Apply? Eligible applicants are territorial communities that meet the program’s geographic and population requirements.

To qualify, a community must:

- Be located in the Poltava region or the left-bank part of the Cherkasy region. - Have a population of no more than 20,000 people. - Submit an official letter of support. - Demonstrate readiness to establish an intersectoral team. - Identify 2–3 local problems or initiatives to address through the project. Application Requirements Communities applying to the program must provide several key elements. Official Letter of Support Applicants must submit an official letter of support demonstrating the community’s commitment to participating in the program. Intersectoral Team Readiness Applicants must demonstrate their readiness to form an intersectoral team. The team should be capable of bringing together relevant local stakeholders and working collaboratively throughout the program. Local Problem