Despite immense challenges, Ukraine continues on the path towards EU membership and building a strong and resilient society. Through the SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme, Swedish actors, including academia, government, business, culture, and civil society, can apply for funding to cooperate with partners in Ukraine to contribute to the country’s reconstruction.
A long history of enabling cooperation
SI has a long history of cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine, including scholarships, leadership programs, and the funding of projects. The cooperation has often taken place in a Baltic Sea regional context or with countries within the EU’s Eastern Partnership. Now SI is launching a programme for bilateral cooperation with Ukraine on a scale that is unique in the agency’s history.
Projects that are awarded funding are expected to contribute to strengthened capacity for actors or increased competence for individuals in areas such as economic development and entrepreneurship, human rights, and democratic development in Ukraine.
– The call for proposals is broad thematically. It can range from projects regarding culture and creative industries to strengthening human rights in Ukraine, says Markus Boman, programme manager for SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme.
SI’s mission
SI has extensive experience, good knowledge of, and strong networks in Ukraine and has therefore, together with FBA and Sida, received financing by the government to enable the reconstruction of the country. This is done through Sweden’s strategy for reconstruction and reform cooperation with Ukraine for the years 2023–2027.
Who can apply
SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme has an annual funding of approximately SEK 45 million. The call is open to Swedish actors (legal entities) such as educational institutions and research institutes, non-governmental organisations and foundations, municipalities, regions, county administrative boards, government agencies, and companies.
Different types of grants
There are three different types of grants to apply for:
- Project preparation is a smaller grant to initiate cooperations between Sweden and Ukraine
- Cooperation projects include larger grants aimed to contribute to strengthened capacity with actors in Ukraine who can drive change work and contribute to the country’s reconstruction and reforms for EU integration
- Training programmes to strengthen a group of participants competence and capacity to advocate for reforms and development that will contribute to Ukraine’s EU integration.
For more information on the different grants and the countries that can be included in the programme – read more on the Swedish Institute’s programme website.
About the call and information seminars
The call for the SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme closes on May 15. During the call, SI will organise a number of online information seminars aimed at those planning to apply for funding within the call. Dates for these seminars will be published on the programmes website.