SVCF Community Action Grants in California

The U.S. Embassy Kyiv's 2024 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program - EDUCATION seeks to bolster Ukraine's educational system, contributing significantly to the nation's post-war restoration and development. This program aligns with broader U.S. government strategic priorities of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and resilience, with a focus on strengthening civil society and human capital. The underlying theory of change posits that investing in education will equip Ukrainians with the necessary skills and knowledge to rebuild their country, foster economic growth, and promote democratic values, thereby ensuring long-term stability and prosperity. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are Ukrainian non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations (NGOs) and their collaborators in education, including colleges, universities, and local and central governments. The impact goals are to strengthen Ukraine's educational system, produce a qualified workforce, increase employability for vulnerable populations, optimize the educational system, and develop civic education programs. The program also aims to foster enduring professional relationships between Americans and Ukrainians, develop businesses in Ukraine, and attract foreign investment. The program has four specific thematic priorities. The first focuses on collaboration between educational institutions, employers, and government entities to produce a qualified workforce for economic recovery and development, drawing from U.S. examples and expertise. The second priority is the development of training opportunities and programs for individuals with disabilities, veterans, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) to increase their employability and support regional economic recovery and growth, leveraging U.S. experience in integrating these populations into the education system. The third priority supports the optimization of Ukraine's educational system as part of ongoing reforms in response to war and post-war reconstruction challenges, considering Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and U.S. expertise. Finally, the fourth priority involves the development of civic education programs for Ukrainian students and adults to facilitate social cohesion and reintegration, with a potential connection to Ukrainians sheltered abroad. Expected outcomes include a more robust and responsive educational system in Ukraine, a skilled workforce aligned with post-war economic needs, increased employability for veterans and individuals with disabilities, and enhanced social cohesion through civic education. Measurable results will be tracked through a monitoring and evaluation plan with clearly defined indicators to assess the realization of project goals. Preference will be given to proposals demonstrating clear and sustainable results, strengthening US-Ukraine people-to-people ties, or having a clear potential for lasting engagement between US and Ukrainian institutions, with all project activities taking place in Ukraine.