The Polaris Programme "Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine" announces an open call "Grant Support for Swedish–Ukrainian Partnerships" for hromadas that have established or are planning to establish cooperation with Swedish municipalities. The competition is carried out by the Cities4Cities initiative which is implementing the "International Municipal Cooperation" sphere of the Polaris Programme.
The grant support targets hromadas in Ukraine that already have or are planning to establish partnerships with Swedish municipalities to support such partnerships by providing material and technical assistance for joint initiatives within specific focus areas.
The maximum grant amount per application is EUR 10,000. Ten to fifteen municipal pairs are expected to be selected.
The deadline for applying is September 7, 2025.
An information session on the application process and other related questions will be held on June 24, 2025, at 11:00 Kyiv time (10:00 Swedish time). Registration is available via the following link.
Who can apply
Ukrainian hromadas that cooperate with Swedish municipalities are invited to participate. The cooperation must be confirmed by at least one of the following criteria:
- A bilateral cooperation agreement;
- A description of ongoing joint initiatives,
- A letter of support from the Swedish municipality confirming its involvement in the initiatives proposed in the application.
The application must be submitted by the Ukrainian hromada and developed in partnership with the Swedish municipality. Both parties agree on the specific resources needed and how they will contribute to the development of joint activities. This should be a joint initiative where Swedish partners can complement material support with expertise, training, or exchanges.
The competition covers the following thematic areas:
- Education and youth engagement
- Energy saving and environmental protection
- Inclusivity and accessibility
- Integration of socially vulnerable groups (rehabilitation, work with internally displaced persons)
- Resilience
- Local economic development
Frequently Asked Questions about the competition “Grant support for Swedish–Ukrainian partnerships”
1. Can we apply if we don’t yet have a Swedish partner?
No. A pre-established partnership is a requirement for applying. The partner must be ready to take an active role in implementing the planned activities.
The application is submitted by the Ukrainian hromada, in coordination with the Swedish municipality.
2. Can we submit several applications for different projects?
Only one application may be submitted per partnership. If your hromada has multiple partners, each partnership may submit a separate application.
3. What should we pay particular attention to?
Any material resources (equipment, machinery, etc.) must directly strengthen cooperation with your Swedish municipality. It should not simply be “what we need”, but rather something that can be jointly implemented and used with the partner, or with their active involvement.
The Swedish partner must be deeply engaged in the project’s implementation: providing relevant expertise, participating in planning and execution, and actively interacting with the hromada throughout the entire project period.
4. What does “relevant expertise” of the partner mean?
It means the municipality has experience in the field you intend to strengthen together. For example, if the project concerns energy efficiency, the Swedish partner should have expertise in this area and be ready to share practices, resources, and knowledge.
5. Can we use the grant for something our hromada needs, even if the partner municipality is not directly involved?
No. The key requirement of the competition is the active involvement of the Swedish municipality in project implementation. This is not just support for your hromada – it is support for a joint initiative. If the partner is not involved in delivery, such an application will not meet the competition’s requirements.
6. How can we prove that the partner will indeed be involved?
The application must clearly describe:
- the partner’s role at each stage of the project (from planning to implementation);
- the expertise they will provide;
- how they will cooperate with your hromada;
- the availability of letters of confirmation or documents showing the partner’s commitment and readiness to participate.
7. We want to purchase equipment for a veterans’ support centre in our hromada. Is this eligible?
Only if the equipment is directly linked to activities with the partner – for example, if the Swedish side conducts trainings, helps you introduce new inclusion standards, or takes part in training staff.
8. We plan to create a learning space. Can we purchase furniture and equipment for it?
Yes, but only if:
- activities with the participation of the Swedish partner (such as joint trainings, workshops, or exchange programmes) will take place in this space;
- the partner has relevant experience in the field you are developing and is ready to implement it together with you.
9. Can schools, kindergartens, sports clubs, or NGOs apply?
No. Only hromadas – local self-government bodies with an established partnership with a Swedish municipality – are eligible applicants.
However, material resources can be used to support cooperation between:
- schools and kindergartens,
- sports clubs,
- NGOs,
- other institutions operating within the hromada.
In such cases:
- the hromada is the main applicant and recipient of the material resources;
- the resources are registered on the hromada’s balance sheet;
- the hromada is responsible for their use, intended purpose, and long-term integration into joint activities with the Swedish partner;
- coordination of cooperation with the relevant institutions is also carried out through the hromada.
Competition Stages
Application submission – by September 7, 2025, inclusive
Hromadas, together with their Swedish partners, fill out the application form in English via the link, which includes:
- Describing the content and format of the cooperation;
- Agreeing on the specific material resources needed;
- Outlining the implementation plan for joint activities involving the use of the requested material resources;
- Defining the expected impact of their use.
Evaluation of applications based on the following criteria:
- Impact on the hromada;
- Impact on international cooperation and quality of partnership;
- Relevance and justification of the requested resources.
*Priority will be given to hromadas that have been more affected by Russian aggression.
Announcement of winners – on October 1, 2025
Support
A Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed with the Ukrainian communities selected through the competitive process. The partner hromada commits to submitting an interim report (approximately 3–4 months after receiving the resources/equipment) and a final report on the implementation of the application (approximately in May 2026). These reports will detail the use of the provided equipment and its impact on the development of the hromada’s capacity, international cooperation, and the quality of partnership with the Swedish municipality.
Comprehensive support for partner hromadas will last 6–12 months.
- Grant funding provides material support only (equipment, machinery, resources).
- The Polaris Programme will handle the procurement of the necessary equipment.
- This is not a project grant and does not cover operational or organisational costs.
- Within one application, the hromada must clearly specify one priority resource or set of resources* (preferably able to be procured in a single transaction; in exceptional cases – up to 2–3 items).
*The Polaris Programme reserves the right to adjust the list of resources if procurement of certain items proves impossible within the grant implementation period. Any changes will be made in a way that preserves the overall logic, objectives, and expected outcomes of the planned activities.
Contacts
If you have any questions about the competition, please contact the Cities4Cities initiative at:
Examples of Possible Projects Within the Competition
To better understand the content and requirements of the application, below are illustrative project ideas that correspond to the competition’s priority areas and demonstrate the logic of joint initiatives between Ukrainian and Swedish partners.
1. Energy Efficiency and Environment
Project: Solar Energy for the Hromada
Equipment: Solar panels for installation at a school or ASC (Administrative Services Centre)
Joint activities: Development of a joint energy efficiency strategy; consultations and trainings from Swedish partners on energy management; study visits.
Project: Eco-Education for Schools
Equipment: Sensor-based trash bins, educational stands, energy consumption meters
Joint activities: Seminars on eco-design by Swedish experts; school campaigns on energy saving.
2. Inclusivity and Accessibility
Project: Inclusive Hromada
Equipment: Portable ramps, sensory panels, induction loops for institutions
Joint activities: Joint creation of an inclusive community plan; staff trainings by Swedish specialists.
3. Education and Youth Engagement
Project: Speaking Club at School
Equipment: Interactive whiteboard, laptop, projector
Joint activities: Language clubs run by volunteers from the Swedish community; joint online meetings of students.
Project: School Sports as a Partnership Space
Equipment: Team sports equipment (balls, uniforms, nets)
Joint activities: Online exercise sessions, joint competitions, exchanges of coaches and students, and summer camps in the future.
Project: Bike to School Challenge
Equipment: Bicycles, helmets, bike racks
Joint activities: Remote bike races (“100 km together”); joint online lessons on road safety.
4. Local Economic Development
Project: Support Centre for Women’s/Veterans’ Entrepreneurship
Equipment: Laptops or computers with business planning and design software; multimedia equipment for trainings (projector, screen, speakers, microphone)
Joint activities: Joint online trainings with Swedish experts on women’s entrepreneurship; exchange of successful women’s business case studies; involvement of Swedish women entrepreneurs to mentor Ukrainian participants.
Note: These are only guidelines – each application should reflect the real needs of your hromada and the potential for cooperation with the Swedish partner
