Public Diplomacy Small Grants - EDUCATION | PAS UKRAINE FY22 015

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS UKRAINE FY22 015

The Public Diplomacy Small Grants - EDUCATION opportunity is a U.S. Embassy Kyiv grant competition designed to support education-focused projects that contribute to Ukraine's post-war recovery, specifically through engagement with the academic community. Funding is provided by the U.S. Government (subject to availability) and is intended for projects implemented in Ukraine that reach Ukrainian audiences at the secondary and higher education levels. The Embassy expects Ukrainian non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations to serve as grant recipients and project administrators, working in partnership with schools, colleges, and universities. A meaningful U.S.-Ukraine collaborative element is strongly encouraged and treated as a competitive advantage if it is clearly justified and substantively integrated into the project design.

Projects must align with one or more priority themes connected to recovery and reform. These themes include: strengthening collaboration between educational institutions, local authorities, and businesses to aid regional economic recovery; creating career advising and re-skilling pathways for internally displaced persons (IDPs), veterans, and people with disabilities; maintaining continuity of educational services and access to educational information for institutions most affected by the Russian invasion; developing educational tools that support recovery needs in areas such as PTSD treatment, biomechanics and prosthetics, and urban planning; and advancing civic education by improving methods for teaching civic education courses (with a particular emphasis on history) at the secondary and post-secondary levels. The program description emphasizes practical, reform-oriented education activities, with examples including curriculum and course development, institutional strategy development, skills-building events, and career advising services that connect educators, employers, NGOs, and local administrations.

The grant parameters are relatively small and time-bounded. Projects can run for up to 12 months, with award amounts ranging from USD 25,000 to USD 50,000. The number of awards depends on available funding (the notice indicates an expectation of multiple awards). While cost sharing or matching contributions are recommended, they are not required, and applicants may include cash or in-kind contributions (such as volunteer time or donated venues). All project activities funded by the grant must take place in Ukraine, and proposals focused on maternity, kindergarten, or primary/elementary education are explicitly not eligible.

Eligibility is limited to Ukrainian non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations. Each organization may submit only one proposal; if an organization submits more than one, all submissions from that organization become ineligible. The program also prohibits partisan or political activities. In addition, organizations seeking federal assistance must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before an award can be made and must maintain that registration throughout the project period. Organizations or entities listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in SAM are not eligible to apply or participate, consistent with U.S. government debarment and suspension rules.

Applications must be submitted in English and include a completed application form with attachments plus a separate, detailed budget spreadsheet in USD (Excel format). Proposals are expected to provide a clear project narrative and implementation plan (including timeline and activities), explain the need and objectives, and show how the project supports Ukraine's educational reform goals. The Embassy places strong emphasis on monitoring and evaluation: applicants must define measurable objectives and describe how they will collect baseline and endline data to assess results. Proposals must also demonstrate organizational capacity, including management structure, staffing, and relevant experience, and they must present a credible sustainability plan explaining how results will continue after U.S. funding ends (the Embassy signals that applicants should not assume future continuation funding).

Budget rules are detailed and fairly strict. Costs must be realistic, reasonable, and directly tied to project activities; routine organizational operating costs are not considered allowable just because the organization is running the project. Equipment purchases are allowed but capped at under 30 percent of the total proposal budget, and the notice distinguishes between equipment and supplies (with an equipment threshold based on per-unit cost and useful life). Pre-award costs are not reimbursable. The funding restrictions list several unallowable categories, including office rent and utilities, construction/renovation and other capital improvements, vehicle purchases, scholarships, entertainment and receptions, alcohol, travel to the United States or U.S.-based activities, and standalone academic/analytical research unless it is necessary to accomplish a broader project. Applicants must include itemized budget justification across typical categories such as personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs (with indirect costs permitted via an approved NICRA or, if none exists, up to 10 percent of modified total direct costs as defined by federal regulations).

Required attachments include the Excel budget spreadsheet, partner agreements or memoranda, CVs of key Ukrainian experts and any U.S. experts involved, CVs of the organization head and project manager, and proof of SAM.gov registration. The application deadline in the notice is September 2, 2022 at 23:59, and submissions must be emailed to KyivPDGrantsEdu@state.gov. The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine, under the assistance listing associated with public diplomacy (CFDA/ALN 19.040), with an award ceiling of USD 50,000.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Ukraine in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Diplomacy Small Grants - EDUCATION" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 02, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for PAS UKRAINE FY22 015

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: