Livelihood assistance for vulnerable households affected by war

Support is provided to the most vulnerable conflict-affected households for self-reliant food production aimed at stabilizing household food security. The grant is disbursed as a lump-sum payment intended to cover the purchase of items required for one selected agricultural activity only.

Applications are open for:

• Zaporizhzhia district of Zaporizhzhia oblast;
• Izium, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv oblast;
• Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk oblast.

Target audience: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or locals with low income affected by the military conflict in Ukraine who possess at least one of the following supporting documents:

• IDP certificate (displaced for more than 6 months);
• Medical certificate confirming injury or psychological trauma resulting from military hostilities (signed and stamped by a physician);
• Official confirmation of the loss of a household member due to military hostilities;
• War-related disability certificate;
• Act on damaged or destroyed property;
• Confirmation of residence in a settlement included in the "List of territories where hostilities are (were) conducted" (as of the date of application review).

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following vulnerability criteria:

• Households with 3 or more children under 18 years of age;
• Households with pregnant women and children under 2 years of age;
• Single-headed households with children under 18 years of age;
• Households with members having special health needs (people with Category 1 or 2 disabilities, severe or chronic illnesses, or requiring expensive medical treatment and care);
• Elderly-headed households (60+), including single elderly individuals;
• Households where all adult members aged 18–49 are unemployed;
• Households that include war veterans who have completed military service;
• Young households (headed by parents/caregivers aged 24 and under inclusive);
• Households with at least one unemployed family member aged 50–59.

All vulnerabilities must be supported by official documentation.

During the application review process, priority will be given to households living in rural areas that employ negative coping strategies to survive or manage the lack of income and food.

Supported agricultural activities (only ONE activity may be supported):

• Crop production in open soil or greenhouses — 16,600 UAH
• Egg and meat production (poultry, pigs, rabbits, nutria, etc.) — 12,780 UAH
• Dairy production (cows, goats, sheep) — 17,381 UAH

Eligible expenditure categories:

• Purchase of seeds and seedlings (potatoes, tomatoes, beets, cabbage, onions, garlic, herbs, etc.);
• Purchase of basic manual land cultivation tools;
• Purchase of small tunnel greenhouses and fertilizers;
• Purchase of drip irrigation kits or materials for gardens/greenhouses;
• Purchase of feed, feeders, drinkers, and veterinary supplies for productive livestock (pigs, broiler chickens, cows, etc.).

Ineligible expenses:

Cash support CANNOT be used to purchase production assets associated with heightened storage or operational risks (chemicals, fuel materials, etc.), or for debt repayment, housing rent/repairs, tax payments, or other non-agricultural fees.

This type of assistance is accessible no more than once every 6 months. If a household has previously received similar support from the Estonian Refugee Council or another humanitarian organization, at least 6 months must have elapsed since the disbursement date.

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Support is provided to vulnerable, conflict-affected households for self-reliant food production to stabilize household food security. Financial assistance is disbursed as a lump-sum payment intended to comprehensively cover expenses across multiple small-scale farm activities simultaneously—such as vegetable planting and harvesting alongside poultry or livestock keeping.

Applications are open for:

• Zaporizhzhia district of Zaporizhzhia oblast;
• Izium, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv oblast;
• Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk oblast;
• Velykooleksandrivska hromafa, Beryslav district of Kherson oblast.

Target audience: Internally Displaced Households or low-income locals affected by the military conflict in Ukraine who possess at least one of the following supporting documents:

• IDP certificate (displaced for more than 6 months);
• Medical certificate confirming injury or psychological trauma resulting from military hostilities (signed and stamped by a physician);
• Official confirmation of the loss of a household member due to military hostilities;
• War-related disability certificate;
• Act on damaged or destroyed property;
• Confirmation of residence in a settlement included in the "List of territories where hostilities are (were) conducted" (as of the date of application review).

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following vulnerability criteria:

• Households with 3 or more children under 18 years of age;
• Households with pregnant women and children under 2 years of age;
• Single-headed households with children under 18 years of age;
• Households with members having special health needs (people with Category 1 or 2 disabilities, severe or chronic illnesses, or requiring expensive medical treatment and care);
• Elderly-headed households (60+), including single elderly individuals;
• Households where all adult members aged 18–49 are unemployed;
• Households that include war veterans who have completed military service;
• Young households (headed by parents/caregivers aged 24 and under inclusive);
• Households with at least one unemployed family member aged 50–59.

All vulnerabilities must be supported by official documentation.

During the application review process, priority will be given to households living in rural areas that employ negative coping strategies to survive or manage the lack of income and food.

Supported agricultural activities under this program:

• Livestock / Poultry keeping
• Crop production

The grant amount is 32,495 UAH.

This is a combined household support package designed to simultaneously cover crop farming and livestock/poultry keeping, or the maintenance of two or more animal species to meet family food security needs.

Eligible expenditure categories:

• Seeds, seedlings, drip irrigation systems, and the purchase of poultry or livestock, feed, drinkers, and feeders;
• Purchase and installation of greenhouses and veterinary supplies for poultry/livestock;
• Purchase of two types of animals (poultry + livestock / 2 types of livestock), feeders, drinkers, and feed.

Ineligible expenses:

Cash support CANNOT be used to purchase production assets associated with heightened storage or operational risks (chemicals, fuel materials, etc.), or for debt repayment, housing rent/repairs, tax payments, or other non-agricultural fees.

This type of assistance is accessible no more than once every 6 months. If a household has previously received similar support from the Estonian Refugee Council or another humanitarian organization, at least 6 months must have elapsed since the disbursement date.

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This program supports launching or resuming self-employment activities aimed at selling products or delivering various types of services to the community. Financial support is directed to vulnerable households affected by the armed conflict in Ukraine.

Applications are open for:

• Zaporizhzhia district of Zaporizhzhia oblast;
• Izium, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv oblast;
• Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk oblast;
• Velykooleksandrivska hromafa, Beryslav district of Kherson oblast.

Target audience: Socio-economically vulnerable Internally Displaced Households or low-income local residents affected by the military conflict in Ukraine who possess at least one of the following supporting documents:

• IDP certificate (displaced for more than 6 months);
• Medical certificate confirming injury or psychological trauma resulting from military hostilities (signed and stamped by a physician);
• Official confirmation of the loss of a household member due to military hostilities;
• War-related disability certificate;
• Act on damaged or destroyed property;
• Confirmation of residence in a settlement included in the "List of territories where hostilities are (were) conducted" (as of the date of application review).

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following vulnerability criteria:

• Households with 3 or more children under 18 years of age;
• Households with pregnant women and children under 2 years of age;
• Single-headed households with children under 18 years of age;
• Households with members having special health needs (people with Category 1 or 2 disabilities, severe or chronic illnesses, or requiring expensive medical treatment and care);
• Elderly-headed households (60+), including single elderly individuals;
• Households where all adult members aged 18–49 are unemployed;
• Households that include war veterans who have completed military service;
• Young households (headed by parents/caregivers aged 24 and under inclusive);
• Households with at least one unemployed family member aged 50–59.

All vulnerabilities must be supported by official documentation.

Supported activities under this program:

• Poultry farming (egg and/or meat production) — 31,000 UAH
• Cattle breeding (dairy production) — 43,000 UAH
• Greenhouse farming — 43,000 UAH
• Pig farming (meat production) — 32,000 UAH
• Goat/sheep/nutria/rabbit breeding (meat and dairy production) — 30,000 UAH
• Beekeeping (honey and bee products production) — 30,000 UAH
• Other agriculture (open-ground crop production) — 32,000 UAH
• Bakery, confectionery, semi-finished food production, and food processing — 43,000 UAH
• Provision of services (sewing and handicrafts, construction, domestic, beauty services, etc.) — 43,000 UAH

Important! Please select in your application the activity type(s) that will generate income for you within the next 3 to 6 months.

Grant funds can be used to acquire various combinations of goods and services, including associated delivery and installation costs.

Eligible expenditure categories:

• Purchase of cattle and small livestock;
• Purchase of equipment for meat and milk production;
• Purchase of poultry;
• Purchase of poultry farming equipment;
• Purchase of beekeeping equipment and raw materials;
• Purchase of bee colonies and beehives;
• Payment for veterinary services;
• Purchase of equipment and tools for food processing;
• Purchase of raw materials for production and service delivery;
• Other expenses upon approval by the Estonian Refugee Council.

Ineligible expenses:

Cash support CANNOT be used to purchase production assets associated with heightened storage or operational risks (chemicals, fuel materials, etc.), or for debt repayment, housing rent/repairs, tax payments, or other non-operational fees.

This type of assistance is accessible no more than once every 12 months. If a household has previously received similar support from the Estonian Refugee Council or another organization, at least 12 months must have elapsed since the disbursement date.

Apply Now

This program supports launching or resuming self-employment activities aimed at selling products or delivering various service types to the community.

Applications are open for:

• Zaporizhzhia district of Zaporizhzhia oblast;
• Izium, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv oblast;
• Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk oblast;
• Velykooleksandrivska hromafa, Beryslav district of Kherson oblast.

Target audience: Households displaced or evacuated within the last 6 months from areas located closer than 20 km to the frontline due to an official government decision on mandatory/forced evacuation, who possess at least one of the following supporting documents:

• IDP certificate (issued within the last 6 months), an evacuation slip, or an official evacuation statement from local authorities;
• Document confirming previous place of residence (passport with registration, residency extraction, etc.);
• Written confirmation from social services, humanitarian organizations, or local partners regarding household displacement.

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following vulnerability criteria:

• Households with 3 or more children under 18 years of age;
• Households with pregnant women and children under 2 years of age;
• Single-headed households with children under 18 years of age;
• Households with members having special health needs (people with Category 1 or 2 disabilities, severe or chronic illnesses, or requiring expensive medical treatment and care);
• Elderly-headed households (60+), including single elderly individuals;
• Households where all adult members aged 18–49 are unemployed;
• Households that include war veterans who have completed military service;
• Young households (headed by parents/caregivers aged 24 and under inclusive);
• Households with at least one unemployed family member aged 50–59.

All vulnerabilities must be supported by official documentation.

Supported activities under this program:

• Poultry farming (egg and/or meat production) — 31,000 UAH
• Cattle breeding (dairy production) — 43,000 UAH
• Greenhouse farming — 43,000 UAH
• Pig farming (meat production) — 32,000 UAH
• Goat/sheep/nutria/rabbit breeding (meat and dairy production) — 30,000 UAH
• Beekeeping (honey and bee products production) — 30,000 UAH
• Other agriculture (open-ground crop production) — 32,000 UAH
• Bakery, confectionery, semi-finished food production, and food processing — 43,000 UAH
• Provision of services (sewing and handicrafts, construction, domestic, beauty services, etc.) — 43,000 UAH

Important! Please select in your application the activity type(s) that will generate income for you within the next 3 to 6 months.

Grant funds can be used to acquire various combinations of goods and services, including associated delivery and installation costs.

Eligible expenditure categories:

• Purchase of cattle and small livestock;
• Purchase of equipment for meat and milk production;
• Purchase of poultry;
• Purchase of poultry farming equipment;
• Purchase of beekeeping equipment and raw materials;
• Purchase of bee colonies and beehives;
• Payment for veterinary services;
• Purchase of equipment and tools for food processing;
• Purchase of raw materials for production and service delivery;
• Other expenses upon approval by the Estonian Refugee Council.

Ineligible expenses:

Cash support CANNOT be used to purchase production assets associated with heightened storage or operational risks (chemicals, fuel materials, etc.), or for debt repayment, housing rent/repairs, tax payments, or other non-operational fees.

This type of assistance is accessible no more than once every 12 months. If a household has previously received similar support from the Estonian Refugee Council or another organization, at least 12 months must have elapsed since the disbursement date.

Apply Now

This program supports launching or resuming self-employment activities aimed at selling products or delivering various service types to the community.

Applications are open for:

• Zaporizhzhia district of Zaporizhzhia oblast;
• Izium, Kupiansk, Kharkiv, and Chuhuiv districts of Kharkiv oblast;
• Kryvyi Rih, Nikopol, and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk oblast;
• Velykooleksandrivska hromafa, Beryslav district of Kherson oblast.

Target audience: Households that have suffered direct damage from shelling or missile strikes within the last 3 months and possess at least one of the following supporting documents:

• Extract from a medical institution, medical certificate, or discharge summary confirming an injury or trauma sustained as a result of military events;
• Death certificate of an immediate family member and/or other official documents confirming the cause of death;
• Income statement / employment certificate confirming a reduction in salary or job loss / documents on dismissal or suspension of employment (directly linked to the specified event);
• Official list of persons affected by the specified event provided by local authorities;
• Official confirmation from the head of the territorial community (hromada) / starosta or the head of the Condominium Homeowners Association (OSBB).

Applicants must also meet at least one of the following vulnerability criteria:

• Households with 3 or more children under 18 years of age;
• Households with pregnant women and children under 2 years of age;
• Single-headed households with children under 18 years of age;
• Households with members having special health needs (people with Category 1 or 2 disabilities, severe or chronic illnesses, or requiring expensive medical treatment and care);
• Elderly-headed households (60+), including single elderly individuals;
• Households where all adult members aged 18–49 are unemployed;
• Households that include war veterans who have completed military service;
• Young households (headed by parents/caregivers aged 24 and under inclusive);
• Households with at least one unemployed family member aged 50–59.

All vulnerabilities must be supported by official documentation.

Supported activities under this program:

• Poultry farming (egg and/or meat production) — 31,000 UAH
• Cattle breeding (dairy production) — 43,000 UAH
• Greenhouse farming — 43,000 UAH
• Pig farming (meat production) — 32,000 UAH
• Goat/sheep/nutria/rabbit breeding (meat and dairy production) — 30,000 UAH
• Beekeeping (honey and bee products production) — 30,000 UAH
• Other agriculture (open-ground crop production) — 32,000 UAH
• Bakery, confectionery, semi-finished food production, and food processing — 43,000 UAH
• Provision of services (sewing and handicrafts, construction, domestic, beauty services, etc.) — 43,000 UAH

Important! Please select in your application the activity type(s) that will generate income for you within the next 3 to 6 months.

Grant funds can be used to acquire various combinations of goods and services, including associated delivery and installation costs.

Eligible expenditure categories:

• Purchase of cattle and small livestock;
• Purchase of equipment for meat and milk production;
• Purchase of poultry;
• Purchase of poultry farming equipment;
• Purchase of beekeeping equipment and raw materials;
• Purchase of bee colonies and beehives;
• Payment for veterinary services;
• Purchase of equipment and tools for food processing;
• Purchase of raw materials for production and service delivery;
• Other expenses upon approval by the Estonian Refugee Council.

Ineligible expenses:

Cash support CANNOT be used to purchase production assets associated with heightened storage or operational risks (chemicals, fuel materials, etc.), or for debt repayment, housing rent/repairs, tax payments, or other non-operational fees.

This type of assistance is accessible no more than once every 12 months. If a household has previously received similar support from the Estonian Refugee Council or another organization, at least 12 months must have elapsed since the disbursement date.

Apply Now

Before filling out the form, we recommend preparing the following documents and materials in advance to ensure a smooth application process:

1) Passports and Tax Identification Numbers (TAX ID) of all household members (everyone residing under the same roof);

2) Bank statement or official document showing account details (IBAN) for the fund transfer;

3) Proof of household vulnerability (e.g., IDP certificate, disability certificate, large family status certificate, pension ID, etc.);

4) Photos/videos confirming the availability of land and/or premises suitable for executing the selected activity;

5) One photo to confirm your current physical location in one of the following options:

• Applicant's passport + a recent receipt from a local shop/pharmacy/post office;
• Applicant's passport + a utility bill for the current month;
• Applicant's passport + an official letter/statement from local authorities OR a photo of the applicant's passport against a village/city sign or local administrative building.

Please share only those location confirmations that do not expose you to potential safety hazards or create additional security risks.

1) Eligibility Check: Review of the application's compliance with Program technical requirements (including the accuracy and completeness of the form, presence of all supporting documents, type of economic activity, and socio-economic/demographic vulnerability level of the household). Applications that fail the eligibility check will not proceed to subsequent evaluation stages.

2) Application Scoring: Applications admitted to the second evaluation stage will be assessed against the following criteria: capacity to execute the selected activity, household motivation, economic viability of the proposed activity, planning of expected results, and the itemized list of goods required to launch operations.

3) Application Selection: Applications that pass Stages 1 and 2 will be reviewed to ensure selection alignment with the program's budgetary efficiency commitments.

4) Verification Stage: Following initial selection, final-stage interviews (in person, by phone, or via video call) will be conducted with each shortlisted applicant. These interviews serve the following verification objectives and controls: confirming the applicant's identity, verifying the accuracy of information provided by the household, and validating the household's operational capacity to execute the selected economic activity.

Applications are reviewed within one month of receipt. Updates regarding your application status will be sent to the email address provided in your form.

Upon final approval for grant support, selected applicants must sign a grant agreement with the Branch Office of the Estonian Refugee Council NGO in Ukraine. If a selected applicant declines to sign the agreement, support cannot be provided.

Grant recipients are obligated to conduct their economic activities in accordance with their submitted applications and applicable Ukrainian legislation. The implementation of the declared activity will be monitored by the Branch Office of the Estonian Refugee Council NGO in Ukraine. Grant funds must be used strictly in accordance with the list of goods and services approved in the agreement.

Financial support is provided to the recipient according to the selected payout mechanism:

• IBAN bank transfer
• Raiffeisen Bank (cash pickup at a branch)
• Ukrposhta (cash pickup at a branch)
• Ukrposhta (home delivery)

For applications from Khersonska oblast only IBAN bank transfer is available.

List of banking cards that can not be used for humanitarian assistance payments:

• State targeted cards (e.g., ePidtrymka / Diia programs)
• Special social and budget-funded cards
• Business accounts and corporate cards
• Accounts subject to enforcement service restrictions (frozen/seized accounts).

Humanitarian assistance is always free of charge. Never pay any money or use alternative ways. Never share your PIN codes or passwords. If in doubt, stop and call the ERC hotline.

You do NOT have to pay money

You do NOT have to give gifts

You do NOT have to provide services in exchange for humanitarian cash assistance

How to verify that Livelihoods assistance information is legitimate?

It comes from a known humanitarian organization, local authorities, or an official hotline.

Information is distributed through official channels (local authorities, notice boards, official websites of humanitarian organizations, verified social media pages, or humanitarian hotlines).

Registration is always free.

You are not asked for money, services, or secret codes.

Be cautious if:

• Someone promises to "expedite" your payment.
• You are asked to enter personal banking passwords or security codes.

ERC may request your IBAN (bank account number) solely for sending money. If someone asks for secret codes or passwords, it is a scam. Humanitarian organizations will never ask for your PIN code, password, SMS verification code, card expiration date, or the 3-digit security code (CVV/CVC) on the back of your card.

If someone asks you for payment or a service in exchange for processing Livelihoods Assistance:

Do not pay anything.

Do not share personal data or bank account details.

End the conversation immediately.

Report the incident safely and confidentially via the ERC hotline, the Feedback and Complaints Mechanism (FCM)(Opens in a new tab/window), local authorities, social protection offices, or the Cyberpolice of Ukraine (0-800-505-170 or online at cyberpolice.gov.ua).

Reporting an incident helps protect you and others, and will not affect your eligibility to receive assistance.

ERC requests your personal data to better understand your needs and circumstances. This allows us to assess eligibility and safely deliver cash assistance. It also helps prevent duplication of aid (ensuring the same individual does not receive the same assistance twice).

ERC adheres to strict standards to protect the personal data of applicants:

• Your data is used exclusively for humanitarian purposes.
• Your data is stored in a secure system.
• Access to your data is restricted strictly to authorized ERC personnel.
• Your data is protected against misuse, unauthorized access, or loss.

You have the right to ask why ERC staff require specific information and to decline to provide it. However, please note that if essential information is missing, ERC may be unable to provide assistance. Our staff will clearly and respectfully explain the implications if you choose not to provide the requested information.

Can I apply for multiple programs at the same time? You can apply for multiple programs; however, assistance will be provided under the single program that best aligns with your household's situation and needs.

I am experiencing issues filling out the application on the online platform — what should I do? If you encounter any problems completing your assistance request (application) on the ERC (Estonian Refugee Council) online platform, please contact us via email at livelihoods@pagulasabi.ee(Opens in a new tab/window) or by calling our hotline at 0-738-617-998 (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 12:00) — we will help resolve your issue!

I am under 18 years old — am I eligible for assistance? No. Only adults (18+) are eligible to receive assistance.

Can someone assist me in submitting the application if I cannot do it myself? Yes. If you need assistance, you may ask a household member or a trusted representative to help you. You can also reach out to our staff or contact local authorities and social workers for support. There is a dedicated question in the application form where you should indicate the reason why the form is not being submitted directly by the applicant.

Can I receive support if I have already received similar targeted cash assistance in the past? In some cases, yes. It depends on the type of assistance, when you received it, and your current situation and needs. Typically, the same type of assistance is not provided twice at the same time. However, you may be eligible again if your situation has changed or deteriorated as a result of the armed conflict.

Can I appeal for a decision review if my application was not approved? Yes. If your household was not selected and you believe an error occurred, you can submit a request through the Estonian Refugee Council's Feedback and Complaints Mechanism (FCM)(Opens in a new tab/window), where you can:

• Request an explanation regarding the decision by calling our hotline or using the online form
• Submit a request for a review of your information
• Correct any inaccurate or missing data