Winners of the Victory Gardens grant competition announced

The managers of the Victory Gardens grant competition for communities, together with the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, have selected the winners who will receive funding to implement ideas related to local food security or agricultural development support. Eight communities have become the winners: 

1. Biloziria, Cherkasy region
2. Bobrytsia, Cherkasy region
3. Krasnopilka, Vinnytsia region
4. Myronivka, Kyiv region
5. Novopokrovka, Dnipropetrovsk region
6. Pyriatyn, Poltava region
7. Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia region
8. Chyhyryn, Cherkasy region

The competition started in September. It was organized by the Victory Gardens initiative of the SURGe project, funded by the Government of Canada, and the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. Nearly 80 communities have entered the competition providing ideas for improving their food supply situation. The winning communities will receive funding of up to UAH 250 thousand.

"We see a great activity among hromadas within this contest. Which signalizes that they have a comprehensive understanding of their responsibility in the context of own food security and development. They understand and look for ways to achieve the aims they set. This all is extremely important under the conditions of war: how to secure food supplies and external financial aid. That's why together with our partners we are happy to create opportunities for those who, despite everything, strive to develop" said the director of the Department of Agrarian Development of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Ihor Vishtak.

"Over the past year, communities have faced various food security problems, ranging from shortages of certain food to lack of access to it for different categories of people. Therefore, it is important for us that communities not only understand the risks associated with food security, but also develop action plans to prevent and overcome risks. Moreover, by solving today's problems, they lay the foundation for local business development and sustainable changes in communities. This is the approach we are promoting in the Victory Gardens initiative and we are pleased that thanks to this competition, eight more communities will strengthen their capacity and food security," Tetiana Lebukhorska, Head of Food Security at SURGe.

"Food security in communities is one of the priority areas of our work. It is not so much about providing ready-made solutions or direct assistance as it is about teaching people how to identify food needs and meet them. That is why we are pleased to see that so many communities have applied for the competition and completed the training courses. All of this together lays a good foundation for a conscious, adult, self-sufficient approach to food security in the community, region, and thus the whole of Ukraine," Tetiana Volochai, director of MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, says.

As part of the competition, interested communities took part in educational webinars where experts talked about the strategy, development and implementation of a comprehensive food security plan. They were also trained in project management and grant applications.

The community will be able to spend the grant funds for land cultivation equipment, the required means for growing, storing, and processing agricultural products, implementation of the latest technologies, as well as for other means of fostering food security. 

The project implementation period is from 2 to 12 months.