700 general secondary schools to receive cash grants ahead of winter

Starting in November, 700 schools are to receive financial support totalling 203.35 million UAH from UNICEF provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Development Bank (KFW). This support, provided under Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1114, dated 26 September 2024, allocates 290,500 UAH per school to enhance their preparation for operating over the winter months. The complete list of the schools benefiting from this initiative can be accessed via the provided link.

“Every child deserves a safe and supportive place to learn, including amidst the war and during the tough winter months," said John Marks, UNICEF Ukraine Deputy Representative for Operations. "This financial support will help schools become better prepared for the winter season, ensuring that students can continue their education without interruption. Our goal is to bring a sense of stability and normalcy to their lives through continued learning while empowering schools to use the cash grants for meeting their specific needs and priorities for winter."

To prepare for winter, schools can use this grant for:

• Heating, insulation, replacement of windows and doors;
• Purchasing, installing, and repairing electricity- and heat-generating equipment;
• Repairing infrastructure (water supply, heating, electrical, ventilation, and sewage systems);
• Transporting and storing purchased equipment, components, materials, and fuel.

A limited portion of the funds – up to 83,000 UAH –  can be used for repairing and upgrading school canteens, as a contribution to the national school nutrition reform initiated by the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Reintegration. This portion of the grant therefore allows for: 

• Repairing school dining facilities (food preparation areas);
• Purchasing, installing, and repairing equipment for school dining facilities and its components.

This school grant has been allocated to three categories of schools:

Category 1

— Schools located in front-line or border areas that have shelters and conduct in-person or hybrid learning with at least 200 students. This category includes 550 of the 700 selected schools.

Category 2

— Schools that have shelters and conduct in-person or hybrid learning and educate at least 50 internally displaced children. This category includes 70 of the 700 selected schools. 

Category 3

— Schools that are the only in-person or hybrid learning institutions within their communities. This category includes 80 of the 700 selected schools.

“Our goal is to ensure the continuity of education and create comfortable learning conditions, especially in the winter season. We focused on reaching as many communities in each region as possible. This approach enabled us to support not only larger communities but also smaller localities. Such an approach has contributed to a fairer and geographically diversified distribution of resources, meeting the needs of more students across various regions,” stated Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Nadiia Kuzmychova.

According to the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine No. 1460, a committee was formed including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Reintegration, and UNICEF to determine the list based on the key criteria outlined in the resolution. The composition of the committee is available via the link.

The cash grant is a one-time support, aimed at helping schools prepare for winter. Funds will be deposited into the accounts of the schools starting at the end of November 2024. Schools that receive funding must submit reports on their use of the funds within three months from the date of receipt. If necessary, reporting deadlines may be extended to six months with approval from the Ministry of Education and Science and UNICEF.

For more information, please contact the UNICEF ‘Tell us how it is’ hotline at 0 800 600 017, option 3 (grants for school). The hotline is open from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 18:00. Additional details on reporting will be available starting on 18 November 2024.