ESU is a 30-month (June 2022 – November 2024) project funded by the European Union that aims to strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of war-affected CSOs and civil society actors in Ukraine, including independent media and human rights defenders.

The project supports civil society affected by the war in Ukraine to continue their work through three main areas of action

• Emergency support for relocation, core costs, legal, psychosocial and anti-burnout activities etc.
• Capacity development training and grants, including online learning tools and team strategy retreats
• Advocacy activities including media campaigns, economic and social monitoring and activities combating disinformation and promoting inclusion of IDPs or refugees.

Thank you to the donor of this project

• The European Union

Thanks to our partners

• Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House
• Black Sea Trust
• East Europe Foundation
• Equal Rights & Independent Media (ERIM)
• Human Rights House Tbilisi

Thanks to project sub-grantees

• Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv
• Human Rights House Crimea
• Human Rights House Yerevan

Funding opportunities listed below are made available to Ukrainian civil society and independent media thanks to the funding of the European Union to the ESU project. These funding opportunities are offered by organisations participating in the implementation of the ESU regional project.

Urgent Support Programme – Human Rights House Crimea

Human Rights House Crimea’s Urgent Support Programme provides individual support to human rights defenders, activists, and their family members in the context of the on-going full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The types of support that potential beneficiaries may be eligible for include but is not limited to:

• Medical assistance related to injury or deterioration of health, received as a result of advocacy, journalism, activism or human rights activities.
• Psychological help (personal consultations).
• Assistance with emergency evacuation.
• Other (please enquire)

Applications in Ukrainian can be made here.

Support for Ukrainian Civil Society and independent media operating in Georgia – Human Rights House Tbilisi

Human Rights House Tbilisi has launched a call for applications for emergency support for individual civil society actors from Ukraine (activists, civil society representatives, journalists, cultural workers, academics, etc.). HRH Tbilisi also accepts applications from civil society actors from Russia and Belarus sheltering and residing currently in Georgia.

The support offered may cover costs and activities including (but not limited to):

• Relocation grants in Georgia (including travel, accommodation etc);
• Psychosocial/anti-burnout/anti-trauma support;
• Legal support.

Applications can be made here.

Support for HRDs & CSOs from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine operating in Armenia – Human Rights House Yerevan

Human Rights House Yerevan has launched a call for applications in the scope of a project for human rights defenders and human rights organisations who moved from Russia, Ukraine or Belarus to Armenia (operating in Armenia) and need assistance and support. The grants provided are:

• Emergency grants
• Capacity building grants
• Grants for advocacy campaigns

The project is aimed at providing assistance to human rights defenders, human rights organisations, journalists, and media organisations who have relocated to the Republic of Armenia as a result of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and require support in adapting to the new realities and organising their human rights activism in Armenia.

Applications can be made here.

Urgent Support Programme – Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv

Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv’s Urgent Support Programme provides individual support to human rights defenders, activists, and their family members in the context of the on-going full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The types of support that potential beneficiaries may be eligible for include but is not limited to:

• Information about centres and resources that can provide assistance
• Support to continue one’s work and activities
• Consultations on legal issues
• Information on potential evacuation abroad and within Ukraine
• Emotional support and psychological help for adults and/or children
• Temporary accommodation (up to five days) at Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv’s Lviv Hub, and at the resource centre in the village of Kolychivka, Chernihiv region

Applications in Ukrainian can be made here.

Emergency and Advocacy Grants -ERIM

ERIM aims to support CSOs, independent media, cultural workers, as well as individual representatives of these organisations and independent activists who have been affected by the full-scale Russian invasion. ERIM currently offers three opportunities for support:

1. Emergency support for civil society organisations
2. Emergency support for individual civil society actors
3. Advocacy activities

ERIM particularly welcomes applications from women, people with disabilities, ethnic minority groups or the LGBTQI+ community.

Find out more and apply in English and Ukrainian.

Stiykist’ Programme – East Europe Foundation

East Europe Foundation is implementing Stiykist’ Programme which runs from June 2022 to May 2023, and aims to strengthen CSOs, public activists, and media outlets in Ukraine affected by the war.

The Programme mainly targets the central regions of Ukraine, which have become a shelter for many internally displaced people and organisations.

Key areas of activity include:

• Grant component for civil society organisations and media outlets
• Strengthening resilience through educational initiatives

Find out more here.