Application Guide

How to Apply for EVALUATION OF SMALL GRANTS SCHEMES (UKRAINE FUND)

at Swiss Solidarity

🏢 About Swiss Solidarity

Swiss Solidarity (Fondation Suisse de la Chaîne du Bonheur) is a unique Swiss humanitarian foundation that has been raising funds for crisis victims since 1946. Its focus on locally-led programming, particularly the Ukraine Fund since 2022, sets it apart, offering a chance to contribute directly to community-driven recovery in conflict zones.

About This Role

This role involves leading a remote evaluation of three small grant schemes in Ukraine to assess their relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency. You'll generate critical learning on how these schemes address priority needs and deliver community benefits, directly shaping future Swiss Solidarity programming.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve remote coordination with Ukrainian partners via secure channels, analyzing data from field surveys and interviews, and drafting evaluation findings. You'll also hold virtual meetings with Swiss Solidarity's program team to discuss emerging insights and adapt data collection plans.

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🎯 Who Swiss Solidarity Is Looking For

  • Experienced in humanitarian evaluations, especially in conflict-affected contexts like Ukraine, with a track record of leading similar multi-site assessments.
  • Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative methods, with proven ability to design and implement mixed-methods evaluations in remote or insecure settings.
  • Deeply familiar with small grant schemes and locally-led programming, understanding their unique challenges and opportunities in crisis response.
  • Excellent analytical and report-writing skills, with experience producing actionable recommendations for international NGOs or foundations.

📝 Tips for Applying to Swiss Solidarity

1

Highlight specific evaluation experience in Ukraine or similar conflict zones, detailing how you navigated access, security, and remote data collection.

2

Demonstrate familiarity with Swiss Solidarity's Ukraine Fund by referencing their published reports or strategies in your cover letter.

3

Showcase your understanding of small grant schemes by providing examples of how you've assessed their impact on community-level outcomes.

4

Tailor your CV to emphasize results, using metrics like number of evaluations completed, size of grants assessed, or recommendations adopted.

5

Include a brief writing sample or evaluation report excerpt that shows your ability to synthesize findings into clear, actionable lessons.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience leading evaluations in conflict-affected settings, with specific examples from Ukraine or similar regions.', 'Your knowledge of small grant mechanisms and locally-led approaches, and how they differ from traditional humanitarian funding.', 'Your ability to generate practical, evidence-based recommendations that can guide future programming for Swiss Solidarity.', 'Your commitment to the mission of Swiss Solidarity and understanding of its unique role in Swiss humanitarian aid.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Swiss Solidarity's annual reports and Ukraine Fund specific pages to understand their strategic priorities and past evaluations.
  • → Review the latest UN OCHA humanitarian situation reports for Ukraine to grasp the current context and needs.
  • → Look into the specific small grant schemes mentioned in the job description (if any) or similar schemes like the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund's small grants.
  • → Understand Swiss Solidarity's partnership model and how they work with local organizations in Ukraine.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design an evaluation for three small grant schemes in Ukraine, considering remote management and security constraints?
2 Can you describe a time you used mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) in a conflict-affected evaluation? What challenges did you face?
3 What do you see as the key differences between evaluating small grants versus larger humanitarian projects?
4 How would you ensure that the evaluation captures community perspectives and locally-led outcomes?
5 How would you present your findings to Swiss Solidarity to influence future programming decisions?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Not addressing the specific context of Ukraine in your application; generic conflict experience won't suffice.
  • Overlooking the 'locally-led programming' aspect; failing to emphasize community ownership and participation in your approach.
  • Submitting a lengthy, unfocused CV without highlighting relevant evaluation experience and grant scheme knowledge.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: May 31, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Swiss Solidarity!

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