On May 21, a new grant support program for micro and small businesses titled “Moving Forward: Grants and Consulting for Microenterprises” launches in Ukraine. The initiative is implemented by GIZ, the National Development Institution, and Oschadbank. This was announced by Natalia Butkova on her official Facebook page.
The official presentation of the program took place with the participation of representatives of the public sector, international partners, and financial institutions. One of the speakers at the event was Natalia Butkova, Member of the Management Board of Oschadbank, who emphasized that today the focus is not only on financing businesses, but above all on supporting people who, even amid war, continue to work, create jobs, and sustain the economies of their communities.
The program is primarily aimed at:
— women entrepreneurs;
— veterans;
— internally displaced persons;
— entrepreneurs from frontline territories.
Entrepreneurs from the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions are eligible to participate in the program.
Within the initiative, participants may receive non-refundable grants of up to €8,000, as well as comprehensive free support, including:
— legal assistance;
— financial and accounting consultations;
— support in business development and scaling.
Applications will be accepted for three weeks, while funding is expected to begin approximately in July 2026 following the completion of project evaluations.
Special attention within the program is devoted to women’s entrepreneurship, which today plays a crucial role in maintaining the country’s economic resilience. According to Natalia Butkova, nearly one-third of Oschadbank’s small and medium-sized business loan portfolio currently consists of businesses led by women.
The bank also actively supports veteran-owned businesses and entrepreneurs from frontline regions. At present, almost 30% of Oschadbank’s MSME loan portfolio is concentrated in frontline areas, while more than 1,500 accounts have already been opened for veteran-owned businesses.
Through previous support programs implemented together with international partners, around 600 entrepreneurs have already received assistance totaling more than UAH 120 million in grant funding.
The new initiative is designed not only to provide businesses with financial support, but also to become a tool for rebuilding Ukrainian communities, strengthening local economies, and fostering entrepreneurship during wartime.
It is through programs like these that Ukraine’s economic resilience is being shaped today — through people who, despite all challenges, continue to create, work, and develop the country.
Read also: On May 23, Yerevan Hosted a Vyshyvanka Day Festival Celebrating Ukrainian Culture and Unity
Photo: Natalia Butkova’s Facebook