The applications can be submitted through the State Agrarian Registry until 24 January 2025.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launches a new call for applications for the third grant cycle within the investment matching grant programme funded by the European Union in Ukraine. The programme is designed to support Ukraine’s agricultural sector, promoting its competitiveness, sustainability and resilience by tackling both urgent financial challenges and setting the foundation for strategic, long-term and green growth.
“Agriculture plays critical role in ensuring Ukraine’s recovery and sustainable development during these challenging times,” said Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. “We are grateful to FAO and the European Union for this support that equips our farmers with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to overcome immediate obstacles, modernize production, and build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.”
Within this EU-funded programme, since 2023, FAO has already allocated USD 2.8 million – equivalent to EUR 2.67 – to 237 Ukrainian agricultural producers from Lvivska, Zakarpatska, Ivano-Frankivska and Chernivetska oblasts. This funding has improved farmers’ access to funding and technical support, enabling them to invest in critical tools, green technologies, and infrastructure to sustain and enhance their operations.
The grants awarded so far are supporting the development of specialized agricultural value chains, tailored to the strengths and traditions of each region as well to requirements for improved food safety and greener production. Some of these products hold Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) statuses, reflecting their unique cultural and economic significance.
“Through this matching grant mechanism based on EU approach to state support, we particularly aim to support small and family farms that also contribute to Ukraine’s broader economic stability,” said Christian Ben Hell, the Sector Manager for Agriculture at the EU Delegation to Ukraine. “Providing direct grant assistance to farmers enables them to enhance their production and processing practices, ultimately improving the quality and marketability of key agricultural products within the targeted value chains.”
The programme also offers grantees a comprehensive support package that extends beyond financial assistance, including expert consultations, technical advice and training. FAO has already organized 60 dynamic training courses across a wide range of topics, from finance and marketing to sensory analysis of products, empowering participants with diverse and practical expertise. Training sessions will continue to be a key component in the third grant cycle, ensuring continued support for grantees.
Under the terms of the programme, participants are required to make their own investment contribution, which share will depend on the chosen value chain. Grants will be disbursed in Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) at the United Nations exchange rate within two grant windows:
- up to UAH 416 500 (USD 10 000) for small individual agricultural producers;
- up to UAH 1 041 250 (USD 25 000) for agricultural micro and small enterprises, agricultural cooperatives and associations of GI producers.
“The third grant cycle will expand its geographical coverage to include selected raions in Dnipropetrovska oblast, alongside Lvivska, Zakarpatska, Ivano-Frankivska, and Chernivetska oblasts. It will also include support for non-wood forest products for the first time, targeting sectors with significant potential for sustainable growth and development,” said Hanna Antonyuk, Project Manager.
In Lvivska oblast, support will focus on berries, vegetables, aquaculture, dairy, and non-wood forest products. Zakarpatska oblast will include Zakarpattia honey (PGI), Zakarpattia wine, and traditional Hutsul cheeses such as cow bryndza and sheep bryndzia (PDO), along with aquaculture, berries, vegetables, and non-wood forest products. Producers in Ivano-Frankivska and Chernivetska oblasts can benefit from investments in berries, vegetables, non-wood forest products, aquaculture, the Hutsul cow bryndza and sheep bryndzia (PDO). In Dnipropetrovska oblast, the focus will be on berries, vegetables, aquaculture and dairy.
Agricultural producers involved in these value chains are encouraged to apply to the programme through the State Agrarian Registry before 24 January 2024. On 17 December, from 10:00 to 12:00, FAO will host a webinar dedicated to the launch of the third grant cycle. To register for the webinar and subscribe to receive important updates about the third cycle, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4faVsR0.
The webinar will be hold in Ukrainian.
Link to join the webinar: https://fao.zoom.us/j/94649156206
Passcode: FAOUKRAINE
Useful materials:
- Instructions for registration in the SAR
- Instructions on how to log in to the SAR and edit your personal data
Contact information:
- SAR contact center: +38 044 339 9215; support@dar.gov.ua
- FAO hotline: +38 099 090 7582; +38 068 318 0943; UA-Feedback@fao.org
Contact for media
Viktoriia Mykhalchuk
FAO Ukraine Communications Coordinator
(+38) 098 605 5061