Ukraine: U.S. Government Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program – Academic and Educational Programs | PAS UKRAINE 2020 002

Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program (Kyiv) 2019-2020: Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?

This is the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program for 2019-2020. It supports academic and educational programs in Ukraine that engage Ukrainian audiences and strengthen educational and civic outcomes through programming with a meaningful U.S. element.

Who is offering the grant?

The grant is offered by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program is intended to fund projects that serve Ukrainian participants and institutions, improve educational and civic outcomes, and include a substantive U.S. component (such as U.S. educational approaches, expertise, partnerships, or comparative experience).

Where are funded activities expected to take place?

Activities funded by this grant are expected to take place in Ukraine.

Who is the intended audience for the projects?

Projects should be tailored to Ukrainian audiences, including Ukrainian participants and institutions in secondary and/or post-secondary education settings.

What does it mean to include a "meaningful U.S. element"?

A meaningful U.S. element means the project should incorporate a substantive U.S. component. Examples mentioned include drawing on U.S. educational approaches, U.S. expertise, partnerships with U.S. entities, or comparative U.S. experience.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to Ukrainian and U.S.-registered non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations.

Are third-country organizations eligible to apply?

No. Third-country organizations are explicitly not eligible. Organizations registered outside Ukraine or the United States cannot apply under this competition.

Is this opportunity intended for NGOs and nonprofits only?

Yes. The opportunity is designed for Ukrainian and U.S.-registered NGOs and nonprofit institutions capable of delivering education-focused public diplomacy programming and managing U.S. government grant requirements.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount listed is up to $50,000 per project.

Is funding guaranteed?

No. Awards are described as small grants and are subject to the availability of funds.

What is the funding mechanism and identification information for the opportunity?

Funding is provided through a grant mechanism under a discretionary opportunity. The Funding Opportunity Number is PAS UKRAINE 2020 002, and the CFDA number is 19.040.

What is the program period referenced in the opportunity?

The opportunity is described as the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program for 2019-2020.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on November 6, 2019.

What was the proposal closing date?

The original closing date for proposals was June 21, 2020.

Where can applicants find official details like eligibility documentation and timelines?

Applicants are directed to the U.S. Embassy Kyiv grants webpage for details such as eligibility documentation, award levels, and the proposal review timeline: https://ua.usembassy.gov/education-culture/current-programs-grants//

Do proposed projects need to match specific themes or priorities?

Yes. Proposed projects are expected to align with at least one of the thematic priorities highlighted by the Embassy.

What priority areas does the Embassy highlight?

The Embassy highlights several priorities: supporting Ukraine's educational reform (including learning from U.S. education system practices), strengthening regional development and decentralization through collaboration among institutions and local partners, improving career counseling services, supporting youth leadership (including entrepreneurship, finance, innovation, and civic education), and promoting tolerance, diversity, and inclusive education using U.S. experience.

How can a project support Ukraine's educational reform under this program?

Projects can support education reform by adapting or learning from U.S. education system practices. The opportunity notes that this may include professional development and skills enhancement for teachers and educators at secondary and post-secondary levels.

What does the regional development and decentralization priority focus on?

This priority focuses on building collaboration among educational institutions and partners such as civil society organizations, local administrations, and businesses, connecting education more directly with community needs and local economic development.

Are projects related to career counseling eligible?

Yes. The Embassy is interested in projects that create or improve career counseling services for students in Ukrainian secondary schools and higher education institutions, including guidance for career planning, workforce readiness, and informed educational pathways.

Are youth leadership projects eligible, and what topics are emphasized?

Yes. Youth leadership initiatives are a priority, especially those that build skills and initiative in entrepreneurship, finance, innovation, and civic education, with an emphasis on preparing young people to contribute to economic growth and democratic civic life.

Are diversity, tolerance, and inclusive education projects eligible?

Yes. A priority area is using U.S. experience to promote tolerance, diversity, and inclusive education in secondary and post-secondary institutions, reinforcing democratic values and inclusive learning environments.

What education levels are eligible for programming?

Projects should be designed for secondary education (roughly middle and high school levels) and/or post-secondary settings (universities, colleges, vocational and technical institutions), as well as related educator training and institutional partnerships that serve those levels.

Are kindergarten or primary education projects eligible?

No. The competition does not support proposals focused on kindergarten or primary education.

Does the Embassy prescribe a single project design?

No. The Embassy is open to different project designs, but the core expectations remain: activities should take place in Ukraine, be tailored to Ukrainian participants and institutions, and incorporate a substantive U.S. component.

What scale of projects does this funding support?

The opportunity describes modest funding levels intended to catalyze targeted programming, partnerships, and institutional improvements rather than large-scale system overhauls.

What makes this a "public diplomacy" education grant?

Based on the description, it is public diplomacy oriented because it supports education programming that engages Ukrainian audiences and includes a real U.S. component, such as U.S. approaches, expertise, partnerships, or comparative experience.