Mercy Corps, an international humanitarian organisation, in partnership with West Ukrainian Digital, is launching a new application process for financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses affected by the war, as well as to businesses relocated to Kyiv, Kyiv and Dnipro regions. The grants will be issued under an open programme to support Ukraine's economic resilience, the NGO said.

According to the report, the main condition for receiving assistance is the creation or preservation of at least three jobs for IDPs or war-affected people.

Priority will be given to those businesses that need funds to restore their operations. Participants will be selected on a competitive basis. The average amount of financial support for selected applicants is USD 20,000 in hryvnia equivalent at the current exchange rate of the National Bank of Ukraine, which is provided for the purchase of fixed assets.

Conditions of participation in the programme:

• official registration and absence of legal and regulatory obstacles to entrepreneurial activity in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation;
• creation or preservation of at least three jobs for IDPs or the affected population;
• investment of own funds up to 50% of the amount of financial assistance.

Participants will be selected on a competitive basis based on the following criteria

• clear justification of the need for financial assistance;
• compliance of the business idea with the terms and objectives of the support programme;
• viability of the business idea, which provides for an increase in profits as a result of implementation;
• realism of the business plan and a clear understanding of its implementation;
• relevant business experience;
• no comments on the applicant's business reputation.         

The international humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps, with financial support from Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), continues its Economic Resilience Support Programme for Ukraine.

The aim of this programme is to help the affected population and small and medium-sized businesses to restore business activity and overcome the consequences of the war.ㅤ

The programme is being implemented in Dnipropetrovska and Donetska oblasts in the area of support for microbusiness initiatives and in Kyiv, Kyiv and Dnipropetrovska oblasts in the area of support for small and medium-sized businesses affected by the war.

For more information on how to participate in the programme, please contact the partner organisation, NGO West Ukraine Digital, at +380 (97) 342 16 46    https://uerp.mercycorps.org/page/brYXAKWK