Public Diplomacy Small Grants - EDUCATION

The U.S. Embassy Kyiv announces an open competition for non-government, non-profit organizations to submit applications to carry out a Public Diplomacy Small Grants (PDSG) Program EDUCATION. This Program is subject to availability of funding from the U.S. Government. Program Objectives: The U.S. Embassy Kyiv announces the 2024 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program - EDUCATION to support projects aimed at strengthening Ukraines educational system as a contributor to Ukraines post-war restoration and development. The U.S. Embassy plans to award small grants to Ukrainian non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations (NGOs) to administer the projects in collaboration with counterparts in education (colleges, universities, local and central governments). Collaboration or partnerships between the United States and Ukrainian organizations is encouraged and may include but is not limited to implementation of U.S. concepts and using U.S. experts. Preference will be given to proposals that provide clear and sustainable results and strengthen US-Ukraine people to people ties or have clear potential for lasting engagement between US and Ukrainian institutions. All proposal must include a monitoring and evaluation plan with clearly defined indicators to measure the realization of project goals. Specific thematic priorities for the projects may include one or more of the following: 1. Collaboration between educational institutions, employers and government entities to produce qualified workforce in sufficient numbers for the fields identified as priorities in economic recovery and development plan. This priority addresses the need to connect the current educational system to the specific demands of Ukraines labor market, drawing, where practical, from US examples and leveraging U.S. experience and institutions to support Ukraines modernization of education. The projects should help youth stay and succeed in Ukraine, and equip representatives of business with modern business tools, concepts, and principles to build enduring professional relationships between Americans and Ukrainians, develop businesses in Ukraine and attract foreign investment. The projects may include, but are not limited to collaborative research, design of regional development plans with regard to the regional job market needs and educational offers, design of dual education programs, development of new study programs/ study plans, adjusted to employers present and future needs. 2. Development of training opportunities and programs for individuals with disabilities, veterans and IDPs to increase their employability and support regional economic recovery and growth. This priority anticipates leveraging U.S. experience and institutions to support Ukraines modernization and expansion of its education system to integrate a growing population of veterans considering disabilities and PTSD challenges, students with special learning needs, displaced and vulnerable populations. Proposals should support Ukraines efforts to rebuild the current and post-war economy including re-integration of mentioned target groups into the labor market. The projects may include but are not limited to the piloting of centers for veterans services and centers for disabilities services at Ukrainian colleges and universities focusing on entrepreneurship, career advising, vocational re-training, small business development, and soft skills development. 3. Support of optimization as part of educational reform in response to war and post-war reconstruction challenges. The projects should consider the optimization of Ukrainian educational system which has been started by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine as a response to the war-generated challenges. Where possible, Ukraines Euro-Atlantic aspirations, particularly, in education, should be considered with regard to areas where U.S. expertise provides unique experiences for educational advancement and modernization. The projects may include, but are not limited to, development of strategies; enhancement of teaching in priority fields identified by the Government of Ukraine; ensuring access to high quality education for students in war-affected areas or studying on-line from abroad. 4. Development of civic education programs for Ukrainian students and adults to facilitate social cohesion and reintegration of citizens from occupied territories, IDPs, with a possible connection to Ukrainians sheltered abroad. The projects may include but are not limited to educational projects in Ukrainian history, culture, and citizenship for target audiences. Participants and Audiences: All project activities supported by the U.S. Embassy grant should take place in Ukraine. The key participants are Ukrainian stakeholders in education who have power to shape educational sector so that it pragmatically addresses the challenges of the post-war recovery period. The target audience (beneficiaries) for the projects include social groups that suffered in the war the most (veterans, individuals with disabilities, IDPs), and decision-makers in crisis circumstances. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: six to twelve months Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of 25000 to a maximum of 50 000 USD Total available funding: pending funds availability Type of Funding: FY24 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds Anticipated program start date: between July 1 and September 30, 2024 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following organizations only are eligible to apply: Ukrainian not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations (NGOs); their collaboration with the U.S. counterparts is welcome. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is encouraged but not required. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION - see attached full NOFO for all details.