EYF: Special call for pilot activities in support of young people from Ukraine
Overview
Following the decision of the Council of Europe’s Joint Council of Youth on 12 October 2022, the European Youth Foundation (EYF) has launched a special call to support young people from Ukraine. This initiative responds to the current needs expressed by the Ukrainian authorities and stakeholders in the field of youth. Furthermore, in May 2023, the Programming Committee on Youth decided to continue the call and allow for applications to be submitted both for pilot activity grants and for international activity grants. The special call includes two types of grants available:
Starting from end of October 2024, the EYF waived the obligation for applicant organisations to ensure co-funding for their proposals for international activity grants. No co-funding is needed when applying for an international activity grant within the special call in support of young people from Ukraine.
Projects can be submitted at any time until the funds are exhausted. The special call is open.
Special call Ukraine: pilot activities
The purpose of this initiative is to support young people from Ukraine affected by the war through civil society and youth work interventions, within the framework of the values of the Council of Europe. Project applications can include activities such as peer to peer learning and support, trainings and workshops, information and counselling, awareness raising and capacity building for young people, youth workers and youth leaders, meetings of young people from Ukraine, analysis, research and other actions that are based on the principles and practice of youth work. Activities may have a local, regional or national scope, and can also include activities in a local cross-border context. Activities may be implemented in person, online and in hybrid formats.
Project applications will be assessed based on the EYF criteria for pilot projects. A successful project will:
- be a youth activity prepared, run and managed by a local, regional or national non-governmental youth organisation and involving young people from Ukraine.
- be an activity that supports young people from Ukraine affected by the war in their daily life, rights, and to navigate their challenges and access their rights.
- be an activity related to a local need and that brings an added value to the lives of young people from Ukraine.
- follow the basic principles of youth work, in particular the promotion of intercultural dialogue and understanding and the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy.
- be in line with the values of the Council of Europe and its priorities in the field of youth.
Projects must have a start date at least 6 weeks after the submission date. The maximum project duration is one year.
Projects that support the war effort are not eligible for this special call. The grant cannot not be used for purchasing and/or promoting goods or services for humanitarian and/or military-related actions.
Financial conditions
The EYF can provide a grant of a maximum amount of €15 000 to cover the costs of a pilot activity. However, you may apply for smaller projects, for any amount below €15 000. The EYF grant is transferred in two instalments: a first instalment of 80% after the signature of the grant agreement with the successful grantee organisation; a second transfer of the balance (20%) upon receipt and approval by the EYF of the final project reports (narrative and financial) due within 2 months following the project end date.
The EYF grant can cover real project costs such as accommodation and meals, travel costs, fees for trainers or other experts, interpretation, translation, rental of equipment, rental of venues, communication, up to 7% of the awarded grant for administrative costs (office rent, insurance, electricity, water and heating) and up to 10% of the awarded grant for staff for project coordination.
For the purpose of this call, for NGO grantees based in Ukraine, the financial report may be submitted electronically to the EYF. For all other obligations of the grantee, the EYF regulations apply.
Special call Ukraine: international activities
The purpose of this initiative is to support young people from Ukraine affected by the war through civil society and youth work interventions, within the framework of the Council of Europe’s values of human rights, democracy and rule of law.
For the European Youth Foundation, an ‘international activity’ is an international meeting of young people or youth leaders in Europe which contribute to the work of the Council of Europe’s youth sector in addressing priority themes in a spirit of European youth cooperation. International activity projects may include events such as training courses, seminars, camps, conferences, networking and partnership building meetings. This is not an exhaustive list.
For this special call, project applications will be assessed based on the EYF criteria for international activity projects. A successful project will:
- be in line with the values of the Council of Europe and its priorities in the field of youth.
- be a gathering of young people or youth leaders that involves directly young people from Ukraine or international multipliers working directly with young people from Ukraine.
- be a project that includes a one-off youth gathering, preferably with some follow up actions, and that will have direct impact on young people from Ukraine affected in their daily life by the war, and which will support them to access their rights and navigate multiple challenges faced.
- be attended, in balanced numbers, by participants coming from at least 7 Council of Europe's member states or signatory states of the European Cultural Convention. Attendance and involvement of representatives of youth organisations from Ukraine is essential.
- respond to the needs of young people, and participants are at the centre of the activity, with non-formal educational approaches included. In this case, the needs and rights of young people from Ukraine should be clearly highlighted in the application.
- have a core project team where people of at least 4 nationalities are represented (this includes the trainers, facilitators, project coordinator, etc.). Involvement of people from Ukraine in the core project team is particularly encouraged.
- have at least 75 % of participants under 30 years old.
- follow the basic principles of youth work, in particular the promotion of intercultural dialogue and understanding, and the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy.
- have in place measures to ensure gender equality and inclusive practices both in the planning and running of the international activity.
Projects must start at least 6 weeks after the submission date.
When applying, the organisation must indicate the full project duration, including any preparatory, follow-up and evaluation activities. Please note that the full project duration is the period within which the project costs incur.
Projects that support the war effort are not eligible for this special call. The EYF grant cannot not be used for purchasing and/or promoting goods or services for humanitarian and/or military-related actions.
Financial conditions
The maximum grant allocated is €25 000.The EYF will cover up to two-thirds of the total real costs of the activity. Youth NGOs need to find additional resources to cover the remaining one-third of the total cost.
The EYF grant can cover real project costs such as accommodation and meals, travel costs, fees for trainers or other experts, interpretation, translation, rental of equipment, rental of venues, communication. The project can also include up to 7% administrative costs of the grant awarded for office rent, electricity, water and heating, and insurance, and up to 10% for staff costs for project coordination.
The EYF grant is transferred in two instalments: a first instalment of 80% after the signature of the grant agreement with the successful grantee organisation; a second transfer of the balance (20%) upon receipt and approval by the EYF of the final project reports (narrative and financial) due within 2 months following the project end date.
Co-financing is required to cover at least 1/3 of the project budget
The budget can include volunteer time recognition as co-funding, up to 15% of the total budget.
The narrative report of the project needs to be filled in online in the EYF granting system. The financial report must be sent to the EYF in paper copies or on a USB stick. For NGO grantees based in Ukraine, the financial report may also be submitted electronically to the EYF.
Who can apply
Youth organisations can submit applications only if they are registered with the EYF.
International activity grants are accessible to youth organisations registered with the EYF as:
- national youth NGOs (in cooperation with three national organisations from different countries or with one international youth organisation or network),
- regional networks of youth NGOs,
- international networks of youth NGOs,
- international non-governmental youth organisations.
The instructions and criteria for registration can be found here.