U.S. Ukraine Reconstruction Engineering Scholarships

The U.S. Embassy Kyiv Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity under the title “U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Engineering Scholarships.” This initiative, funded through Assistance for Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia (AEECA) funds, aims to support Ukraine’s post-war recovery by providing scholarship opportunities for Ukrainian undergraduate and graduate students to study in priority technical fields in the United States. The project is directly aligned with the United States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund’s objectives of strengthening reconstruction capabilities, promoting bilateral cooperation, and countering authoritarian influence in Ukraine’s long-term development. The anticipated performance period is up to five years, with a total available funding of $2,000,000 and award amounts ranging between $500,000 and $2,000,000. The cooperative agreement structure ensures substantial involvement from PDS in all aspects of program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The program’s primary goal is to create a scholarship system for Ukrainian undergraduate and/or master’s degree students in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity, supply chain management, and other relevant disciplines essential for reconstruction. Scholarships may fund full four-year undergraduate degrees, two-year graduate degrees, or shorter programs for transfer students. Selected students will participate in academic study at U.S. military colleges, gaining access to advanced curricula, applied research opportunities, and leadership training. Upon completion, participants are expected to return to Ukraine, equipped with technical knowledge and U.S. best practices, to contribute to rebuilding critical infrastructure, strengthening security, and modernizing essential sectors. An important feature of the program is the integration of Follow-on Impact Initiatives. These include establishing a Ukrainian alumni network to foster professional collaboration, mentorship, and shared projects; and building strategic partnerships between U.S. and Ukrainian institutions to facilitate knowledge exchange and implement joint educational and recovery initiatives. These measures are designed to ensure the sustainability of the program’s outcomes beyond the period of study. Eligible applicants are U.S. Military Colleges and Military Institutions offering programs in the designated fields. Cost sharing is recommended but not mandatory. All applicant organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration. There is no requirement for a NATO CAGE code unless applicants intend to pursue Department of Defense funding. Individuals and organizations not meeting these institutional eligibility requirements are not eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted in English and include required federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B as applicable), a five-page proposal, and a detailed budget narrative. Proposals must address the problem statement, project goals and SMART objectives, activities, methods, schedule, key personnel, partners, monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability strategy. Attachments may include CVs for key personnel, letters of support from partners, and NICRA documentation if applicable. Applications are due via email to KyivPDGrants@state.gov no later than 23:59 Kyiv time on August 25, 2025. The anticipated start date for the funded program is October 2025 or later. Evaluation criteria include quality and feasibility of the program idea (30 points), organizational capacity (20 points), program planning (15 points), budget justification (10 points), monitoring and evaluation (15 points), and sustainability (10 points). The review process involves a merit-based assessment, possible interviews for short-listed candidates, and final selection by a grants review committee. The award will be formalized in writing by the Grants Officer, and recipients may only incur costs from the official start date. Post-award, recipients will be required to comply with U.S. federal grant regulations, submit periodic financial and performance reports, and track activities under the Foreign Assistance Data Review framework. Funds are subject to restrictions, including prohibitions on use for UNRWA and activities encouraging mass migration caravans to the U.S. southwest border. The cooperative agreement requires ongoing collaboration with PDS in recruitment, selection, stakeholder engagement, and communication to ensure program goals are met and sustained.