On behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office and the European Union, the 3E4U programme supports the government of Ukraine in its efforts to align Ukrainian legislation with the acquis communautaire of the European Union, covered by the Fundamentals Cluster, with particular focus on Chapters Judiciary and Fundamental Rights(Chapter 23) and Justice, Freedom and Security (Chapter 24).

Active involvement of civil society is a cornerstone of effective Rule of Law reforms and a key requirement of the fundamentals of the EU. Therefore, 3E4U supports civil society initiatives to strengthen their role in policymaking and policy implementation processes, ensuring the effective implementation of reforms, supporting CSOs’ analytical capacity and deep civil society engagement in the processes of Ukraine’s EU integration in specific areas.

3E4U will provide financial support through dedicated grants to four Ukrainian CSOs which will be identified through a competitive selection process.

We look forward to receiving project proposals pertaining to Ukraine’s EU accession in the Judiciary, Human Rights, and Law Enforcement areas. We give preference to project proposals that primarily focus on expert and analytical work that would contribute to supporting Ukraine’s progress towards the EU in the above-mentioned areas. Proven experience in the field relevant to the project proposal is necessary. Grants will support content-related work only. Procurement of goods can only be subsidised to a very limited extent.

The applicant organisation must be duly registered under Ukrainian law, in particular in accordance with the law of Ukraine On Public Associations. Applicants should be able to fulfil an umbrella function with the opportunity to unite and ensure the engagement of the widest possible range of actors, ensuring broad representation of a wide variety of sectors, social groups, and geographical areas. CSOs that successfully pass selection conducted by the Selection Committee will be required to undergo a commercial and legal eligibility check to confirm their capacity to effectively implement the project.

As a result of the competition, project proposals from four organizations (two proposals related to Chapter 23 and two proposals related to Chapter 24) will be supported. Starting in late summer 2026, the projects need to be completed by the end of 2027.

The open call aims to select initiatives with a budget of up to 85,000 EUR each (disbursements will be made in euros).

Selection Process:

Among all applicants, four projects will be selected for funding by a selection commission, which will assess in detail the compliance of the projects with the specified criteria, as well as evaluate their capacity in the context of the selection criteria. The commission will include both Ukrainian and international representatives.

Criteria for selection:

Eligibility

Registered as non-governmental organization in accordance with Ukrainian legislation.

Proven experience in the areas of the Judiciary, Human Rights, Law Enforcement (depends on project proposal’s area).

Financial and administrative soundness proven by annual reports and/or financial audits. 

Evaluation criteria (0 - 10 points for each)

Objective: The proposed project contributes to the achievement of the objective of the call, namely making a positive contribution to Ukraine’s EU accession process in the Judiciary, Human Rights, and Law Enforcement areas.

Implementation strategy: The proposed project is outlined in sufficient detail; the approach is appropriate to the available resources and suitable to achieve the goals of the call.

Analytical focus: The project emphasizes high-quality analytical and expert work, including research, assessments, and evidence-based recommendations, etc.

Umbrella approach: The proposed project engages a broader number of CSOs through an umbrella approach.

Gender equality: The proposed project contributes to gender equality and women empowerment.

Sustainability: The project approach ensures the long-term anchoring of results. 

The attached project and budget proposals must be submitted to [email protected] by June 15 2026, 23:59 (Kyiv time). Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.

To submit your proposal, please, use the provided templates of project proposal and budget.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Please contact [email protected] should you require any additional information.