About REMARKET:
The project “Recovery and Empowerment through Market Access and Sustainable Economic Transformation in Ukraine” (REMARKET) is a three-year initiative implemented by Caritas Switzerland in partnership with Caritas Ukraine, Caritas-Spes and SPARK. The project is directly funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the If! Foundation, with additional financial and technical contributions from Caritas’ international network partners: Caritas Austria, Cordaid, and Trócaire.
The REMARKET project provides equal opportunities for businesses and individuals among Ukrainians who are internally displaced, non-displaced or host communities, and those returning to Ukraine. The project aims to support the most vulnerable segments of the population in Ukraine, including women, youth, the elderly, veterans, people with disabilities and national minorities. In partnership with a local financial partner, REMARKET will implement and test specially adapted loan products for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) for the purchase of fixed assets, with the possibility of receiving a cashback of 10% of the loan amount (up to CHF 10,000).
This integrated approach helps MSMEs rebuild, sustain and expand their businesses, contributing to economic recovery and social stability, while Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes invite relevant financial institutions to join as key partners in implementing this innovative mechanism.
The purpose of the competition:
This competition invites eligible financial institutions in Ukraine to become partners in the REMARKET Cash-back program. Selected institutions will provide individual loans to MSMEs under the program and will cooperate with project partners in the verification, reporting, and monitoring processes.
Definition:
Cashback : A non-refundable financial incentive equivalent to 10% of the MSME loan amount is provided to eligible MSMEs after verification of the use of funds for the appropriate purposes.
Financial Partner : A licensed Ukrainian financial institution responsible for issuing loans, evaluating borrowers, and paying cashback grants under this program.
REMARKET partners : Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes Ukraine and implementing local organizations that manage the project and monitor its implementation.
MSME that meets the conditions of the program: a legally registered enterprise in Ukraine that meets the participation criteria established within the framework of the Cash-Back REMARKET Program.
Funding partner : Caritas Switzerland (CACH), which provides financial support to the program and approves cashback payments.
Procurement concept and implementation:
The procurement of services and goods under this Competition will be carried out through an open local tender procedure in accordance with the thresholds and requirements defined by the Caritas Switzerland procurement procedure.
The process will ensure fair competition, transparency and equal opportunities for all participants. A two-envelope system will be used, with technical and financial proposals submitted separately, to ensure an objective and unbiased evaluation.
All stages of the process – from the call for tenders to the notification of results – will be fully documented in accordance with Caritas Switzerland standards. All records will be kept by Caritas Switzerland and the implementing partners to ensure accountability and transparency.
Roles and responsibilities (procurement context):
A tripartite agreement will be concluded between Caritas Switzerland, the selected financial partner and the REMARKET partners. This agreement defines the respective roles and responsibilities of each party to ensure transparent and accountable management of the REMARKET Cash-back Program:
Caritas Switzerland (Funding Partner ) : Acts as the initiator and overall responsible organization for the procurement and financing process, ensuring compliance with the CACH procurement procedure.
Spark: Caritas Switzerland will provide technical support
REMARKET Partners: Are responsible for making payments directly to the Financial Partner, as well as for financial monitoring and reporting of these transactions to the Financing Partner.
Financial Partner : Acts as a service provider that provides loans to MSMEs and manages the cash-back mechanism in coordination with implementing partners under this program.
Responsibilities of the selected Financial Partner:
Expectations from a financial partner:
- Promote the REMARKET Cash-back Program to eligible MSMEs.
- Develop and disburse loan products specifically designed for MSMEs in relevant sectors.
- Verify the borrower’s compliance with program requirements, including the legitimate use of funds for fixed capital investments.
- Accept and verify MSME cash-back applications, including collecting necessary documentation.
- Prepare consolidated reports for REMARKET partners (Caritas Ukraine and Caritas-Spes).
- Transfer cash-back payments to MSMEs after approval by Caritas Switzerland.
- Follow up with MSMEs after disbursement (at least one year after loan disbursement).
Eligibility criteria for financial institutions
To be considered, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Licensing and Regulation – Officially registered and regulated by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
- Organizational and legal form – a legally registered person in Ukraine that has the right to engage in lending/financial intermediation in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.
- Financial stability – demonstrated financial stability with positive equity levels and stable operations based on the latest audited financial statements.
- Track record – at least 2 years of experience in lending/financial intermediation with demonstrated MSME outreach.
- Experience with international programs – proven experience of working with international organizations (donors, international financial organizations, NGOs, development agencies) on MSME lending programs.
- Operational presence or coverage capabilities in target regions: Odesa, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv.
- Interest and willingness to take risks to pilot innovative financial products for MSMEs
Cash-back – Program parameters
- Purpose of the loan: purchase of fixed assets (e.g. machinery, equipment, machinery)
- Loan currency: UAH, USD, EUR
- Loan amount: from 20,000 Swiss francs
- Loan term: up to 60 months
- Loan grace period: up to 12 months (repayment of the loan principal)
- Loan collateral: flexible (may include movable property, partial guarantees or credit guarantee schemes)
- Cash-back: 10% of the loan amount, up to a maximum of 10,000 Swiss francs. The payment will be made in Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH) at the exchange rate determined by the REMARKET Project, which will be periodically reviewed and updated as necessary.
The total project budget available under this call for proposals is 300,000 Swiss francs . All activities financed under this programme must be implemented, completed and financially closed no later than 31 December 2026 .
Estimated deadlines – The MSME loan is disbursed by December 1, 2026, the cashback application should be submitted by December 1, 2026, the verification takes about a month, and the cashback payment is made no later than December 30, 2026.
To enhance the impact of the business grants component (Output 1.1 of the REMARKET project), at least 20% of MSMEs participating in the Cash-back program will be selected from among businesses that have already received business grants under REMARKET1. This approach creates a logical connection between grants and blended financing, allowing MSMEs to subsequently gain greater and more independent access to finance.
Sector Eligibility:
MSMEs must work in one of the following sectors:
- Beekeeping: Including beekeeping, honey production, honey-based products and related innovations.
- Apparel Industry: Including garment manufacturing, sustainable fashion, textile innovation and related value-added services.
- Baking: Including artisan baking, innovative baked goods, sustainable packaging, and related innovations in food processing.
- Cross-sectoral innovations:
SMEs that combine elements from multiple sectors or implement cross-sectoral innovations are also eligible to apply. Examples of such innovations include (but are not limited to): - Honey-based cosmetics: The use of honey or bee products in the beauty and skin care industry.
- Bee venom extraction: Innovative use of bee venom in medicine or cosmetics.
- Integrated technologies in the apparel industry: Incorporating technologies into clothing to monitor health, support sustainability, or improve functionality.
- Health-focused baked goods: Developing products with additional nutritional properties, such as gluten-free, low-sugar, or functional foods.
Application procedure
Interested financial institutions are invited to submit the following documents:
- Letter of interest describing your motivation to join the program (please provide a short statement explaining your institution’s motivation to join the program, its alignment with your mission, relevant experience in MSME lending, and any collaboration with international programs or donors.
- Institutional profile (See Annex 1).
- Evidence of licensing and regulation by the NBU.
- Latest audited financial statements (last 2 years).
- Proposed approach to developing a credit product and reaching MSMEs within REMARKET.
- Declaration of Impartiality and Confidentiality (Annex 3)
Applications
- Annex 1: Selection Process
- Annex 2: Institution Profile Template
- Annex 3: Declaration of Impartiality and Confidentiality
Attachments will be sent by mail upon receipt of your application.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted electronically to: ukrainecrisis@caritas.ch, nmaksymiv@caritas.ch and u.kozla@spark-online.org with the subject: “Application – partnership under the Cash-back REMARKET program”.
Submission deadline: 31.10.2025
Contacts
For questions or clarifications regarding this call for applications, please contact:
Ulyana Kozla, Finance and Investment Expert, SPARK
u.kozla@spark-online.org
+38 097 590 35 38