Municipal Exchange Fund Austria for Ukraine: joint projects of Ukrainian and Austrian municipalities, from €25,000 to €50,000, apply by 30 November

The KDZ Centre for Public Administration Research has launched the second call for proposals under the Municipal Exchange Fund Austria for Ukraine (A4U). This initiative is funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of International Partnerships Austria and the Austrian Association of Cities and Towns, operating within the broader U-LEAD with Europe programme. The scheme is designed to strengthen institutional capacity and foster sustainable local development across Ukrainian communities through direct collaboration with Austrian partners.

The call supports joint municipal initiatives that transfer knowledge and practical expertise between local governments. Grants range from EUR 25,000 to EUR 50,000 per project, drawn from an overall call allocation of EUR 220,752. Eligible partnerships must submit their completed project proposals by 30 November 2026.

What is funded

The grant call finances collaborative projects aimed at capacity building, knowledge transfer, and sustainable local governance. Eligible initiatives focus on exchanging Austrian administrative and technical expertise to address operational and strategic priorities in Ukrainian municipalities.

Supported formats include expert advisory services, peer mentoring, study visits, and professional internships. Funding also covers the joint creation of administrative procedures, policy guidelines, and strategic development frameworks designed for local implementation.

Who can apply

Participation is open to municipal authorities and local communities from Ukraine acting in direct partnership with municipalities from Austria. The framework requires joint engagement, meaning that project concepts must be co-developed and executed by both local authorities.

The call is managed under the umbrella of the A4U fund, which links Ukrainian local self-government bodies with Austrian counterparts. Individual entities without a cross-border municipal partner cannot access this funding stream independently.

Conditions and requirements

Approved projects must have an implementation duration of between 6 and 8 months. Grant allocations are capped between EUR 25,000 and EUR 50,000 per initiative, with total available financing across the call set at EUR 220,752.

Financial disbursements are processed primarily on a reimbursement basis following project completion. However, applicants may request pre-financing of up to 20% of the approved budget to cover preliminary operational expenses. Partnerships must formalise their cooperation using a mandatory partnership agreement.

Practical tip. Align your budget plan early with your Austrian municipal counterpart, especially regarding initial cash flow. Because standard grant disbursements occur after project completion, ensure your partnership formally requests the 20% pre-financing option during the submission phase to mitigate working capital constraints.

How to apply

Applicants must assemble the standard call package, which includes the official application form, the partnership agreement, and the project budget prepared in accordance with the application guideline. All proposal materials and supporting attachments must be completed exclusively in English.

The final application package must be submitted via email directly to the project management team at the designated KDZ submission address. All proposals must be received before the deadline on 30 November 2026.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: kdz.eu.