Internews International accepts grant applications from frontline media

Internews International’s Frontline and Investigative Reporting Media in Ukraine (FAIR Media Ukraine), a project funded by the European Union, announces the the Building Stronger Frontline Media and Informed Communities Grants Competition.

The organisation invites Ukrainian media outlets from eleven frontline regions (Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv) to submit project proposals before 18:00 (Kyiv time) on 11 May.

Internews International will support projects that ensure Ukrainian frontline media are able to provide useful, life-saving news and information to communities, especially vulnerable groups that are most in need of local resources they can trust.

This grant competition aims to support regional and local Ukrainian media operating under wartime conditions, helping them continue delivering trusted, relevant, and high-quality information to their communities. It also aims to strengthen their capacity to survive and adapt over the medium term.

Eligibility requirements

Eligible media outlets must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered in Ukraine and serve audiences in frontline communities, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv regions.
• Be able to meet the information needs of war-affected communities, engage with them, and enable citizens to express their concerns through media, amplifying their voices.
• Demonstrate editorial independence and commitment to professional standards.
• Maintain an operational presence (staff, contributors, or editorial office) in the regions they serve.
• Have not previously received a grant from the EU-funded FAIR Media Ukraine project.

Proposed projects should include:

• Regular production and distribution of local news or public-interest content relevant to frontline or war-affected communities, with a clear description of formats, frequency, and target audiences.
• Interventions that strengthen the outlet’s financial, organisational, and operational resilience. These may include revenue diversification, audience engagement strategies, sales or fundraising capacity, operational efficiency, or strengthening staff’s qualifications and their retention. A proven increase in commercial revenue is anticipated by the end of the project.

Applicants should clearly explain in the project proposals:

• What challenges are faced in frontline areas that threaten serving the local audience?
• How will this grant help stabilise or strengthen the outlet beyond the grant period?

The funding

The average grant amounts will be around EUR 15.000 each for projects lasting up to eight months.

Project budgets should prioritise the costs that directly support:

• Content production and distribution.
• Core staff and contributors.
• Tools, equipment, and/or expertise that improve media outlets’ sustainability.

To apply

Please use the application form and the budget template. Project proposals, in Ukrainian or English, marked in a subject line “FAIR Media Ukraine grant competition” should be sent electronically to two emails: [email protected] and [email protected].

For questions: please contact Natalia Biedina, +380-98-365-9983 between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on weekdays before 5 May, 2026.

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Applicants’ ability to demonstrate concrete achievements and measurable impact.
• Relevance to the needs of frontline regional audiences.
• Quality and feasibility of proposed journalism outputs.
• Strength and realism of sustainability measures.
• Organisational capacity under wartime conditions.
• Cost-effectiveness of the budget.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.