Deadline: October 12, 2025
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, has launched a Call for Proposals under the Innovation Challenge: Resilient Business Accelerator to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ukraine.
The focus areas of the Call include Waste and Debris Management: focused on minimizing waste through efficient systems for collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal. Reuse and Refurbishment: aimed at extending life cycles of products and materials by promoting sharing, repairing, refurbishing, and reusing them. Efficient Resource Use: focused on minimizing resource consumption and environmental impact through lean production methods that streamline processes, eliminate waste, and enhance efficiency across the product lifecycle—including innovations that reduce material and energy use, optimize supply chains, and support sustainable manufacturing practices. Digital Innovations, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (including Industry 4.0) Technologies: supported circular economy goals by enhancing resource optimization, operational efficiency, and system transparency by the AI-driven predictive maintenance to extend equipment lifespans and reduce waste, digital twins for simulating and optimizing resource flows and production cycles, blockchain for secure and transparent tracking of materials across circular supply chains, IoT-enabled monitoring systems for energy and material efficiency.
This initiative is a key part of the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs, championing innovative circular economy models that will help Ukrainian MSMEs recover from war-related disruptions and adapt to sustainable practices. By combining direct grants with advisory support and training, the Innovation Challenge seeks to create opportunities for scalable and replicable solutions that drive green transformation, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to long-term economic resilience.
Successful applicants will have up to five months to implement projects, with funding support available up to USD 40,000 per proposal, from a total prize pool of USD 120,000. The funding is intended for project activities such as technology development, equipment, training, events, and business development. Ineligible expenses include capital expenditures, debt servicing, or costs already financed under other schemes. The funding will be disbursed in two tranches, aligned with project progress and reporting requirements.
Eligibility criteria require applicant MSMEs to be legally registered in Ukraine with at least three years of operational experience and active within government-controlled territories. Proposals involving cooperation with Czech entities will receive priority consideration, ensuring knowledge exchange and stronger circular economy practices. Enterprises from the Resilient Business Academy or Trajectory 2.0, especially women-led businesses and those led by veterans, will also be given preference to strengthen post-conflict recovery efforts.
Evaluation will be based on innovation, feasibility, scalability, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, alignment with public-private partnership needs, and contribution to inclusive economic growth. Projects scoring above 70% will be considered for funding, with final selection based on ranking and available financial resources.
For more information, visit UNDP.
