The Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment Project in Ukraine | Apply Online

FAQs: Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment Project in Ukraine (USAID/Ukraine)

What is the Access to Justice and Legal Empowerment Project in Ukraine?

It is a USAID/Ukraine grant opportunity intended to strengthen how Ukrainians can understand, use, and benefit from the justice system. The opportunity emphasizes practical legal help and advocacy shaped by what citizens actually need, while also improving the broader enabling environment for access to justice.

Which sector does this opportunity fall under?

The activity is in the law, justice, and legal services sector.

What type of award is this?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. Under a cooperative agreement, the awardee typically implements the project while working closely with USAID on planning, coordination, and key decisions.

What is the overall goal of the project?

The overall aim is to improve access to justice not only by delivering legal services or advocacy in isolated locations, but by strengthening the enabling environment through stronger organizations, better coordination, and clearer connections to national reform.

What are the three core results USAID wants to achieve?

USAID identifies three core results: (1) strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian legal advocacy organizations to better represent and advance citizens interests, (2) building a sustainable nationwide network of legal advocacy organizations that links frontline work with national legal reform, and (3) attracting private resources and expanding impact through public-private partnerships.

What does "strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian legal advocacy organizations" mean in this opportunity?

The opportunity points to organizational development and performance improvements that help advocacy organizations more effectively serve citizens. Examples described include better case and client management, stronger policy and legislative advocacy skills, improved strategic communications, more professional governance and financial management, stronger monitoring and evaluation, and better ability to identify systemic issues reflected in day-to-day legal needs.

Is the focus on citizens or institutions?

The emphasis is on advocating for citizens interests and public-oriented legal empowerment, rather than legal work that primarily serves institutions.

What is meant by a "sustainable nationwide network" of legal advocacy organizations?

It refers to a coordinated, lasting network that can respond to citizen demand for legal services across the country and also create direct linkages between frontline legal advocacy work and national legal reform efforts. The term "sustainable" signals an interest in durable coordination mechanisms, shared tools and standards, and partnerships that can outlast the period of funding.

How is the network expected to connect frontline legal needs with national legal reform?

The opportunity describes a two-way bridge: local organizations and communities surface recurring legal problems and barriers to access, which can inform national-level policy dialogue and reform; in return, national reforms and standards can be communicated back to the network so local organizations can align services, messaging, and advocacy.

What role do public-private partnerships play in this project?

The project is expected to attract private resources and expand impact through public-private partnerships. This includes pursuing co-investment, pro bono support, philanthropy, corporate social responsibility contributions, and other forms of private sector engagement that can extend services, support innovation, or strengthen long-term financing.

Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

The opportunity notes that a cost sharing or matching requirement reinforces that applicants were expected to bring some level of non-federal resources to the table. The specific form (cash, in-kind, or leveraged partnerships) would depend on the terms in the full solicitation.

How much funding was USAID planning to award?

USAID anticipated making one award with a total funding level of $3,200,000.

Does the funding amount represent a range?

No. The funding level was listed as both the floor and the ceiling ($3,200,000), which typically indicates a single planned award amount rather than a range.

How many awards was USAID expecting to make?

USAID anticipated making one award.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on January 22, 2010.

What was the application deadline?

Applications were due by March 4, 2010 at 5:00 PM Kyiv local time.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was later archived on April 3, 2010.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning a broad range of organizations could apply, subject to any additional eligibility language contained in the full announcement.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The program falls under CFDA 98.001 (USAID foreign assistance for overseas programs).

Who is the point of contact for help accessing the announcement?

The point of contact listed for assistance with accessing the announcement was Marina Orlova, an Agreement/Acquisition Specialist at USAID in Kyiv.

How can the point of contact be reached?

Marina Orlova could be reached by phone at +380 44 492 7190.

What does "working closely with USAID" imply for implementation?

Because the award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, the implementer would generally carry out the project while coordinating closely with USAID on planning, coordination, and key decisions, rather than operating entirely independently.

Is the project designed to fund standalone legal services in a few locations?

The stated intent is broader than isolated service delivery. The opportunity emphasizes strengthening organizations, improving coordination, and linking frontline legal needs to national reform so that access to justice improves in a more systemic way.