FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors Programs
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0018391
- Agency
-
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $300,000 to $2,100,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Other
- Eligible applicants
-
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Points of contact
-
- Ashraf Sarsour sarsouraa@state.gov (703) 628-2288
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is soliciting applications for the FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors Programs, with applications due July 17, 2026, and funding ranging from $300,000 to $2,100,000 per award across eight regional program options.
Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and educational institutions, that demonstrate at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. No cost share is required.
ECA anticipates awarding eight separate cooperative agreements totaling approximately $7,954,000 in FY 2026 funding. Regional funding allocations are Sub-Saharan Africa ($1,500,000), East Asia and Pacific ($600,000), Europe and Eurasia ($450,000), Middle East and North Africa ($450,000), South Central Asia ($300,000), Western Hemisphere ($2,100,000), Youth Ambassadors USA ($1,654,000), and Youth Ambassadors On-Demand ($900,000). The program period is 15 months, with anticipated award date of September 15, 2026; awards are eligible for renewal for two additional consecutive fiscal years.
The program provides three-week youth leadership exchanges involving youth and adult mentor participants (select programs) from select countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Middle East and North Africa, South Central Asia, Western Hemisphere, and the United States. Applicants must clearly identify which program option(s) a proposal addresses; separate proposals are required for each option. Exchanges include U.S.-based programming alongside international travel. Proposals must emphasize youth leadership development with creative applications of artificial intelligence concepts, homestay placements, community engagement, capstone follow-on projects, and alumni networking. Recipients manage participant recruitment and selection, visa and passport processing, housing logistics, exchange activities in Washington D.C. and other host communities, and comprehensive monitoring using ECA's MODE Framework.
The program is funded under CFDA 19.415, Professional and Cultural Exchange Programs – Citizen Exchanges.
Synopsis
2 versions
Update #2 · Latest ·
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for the FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors program. Proposals may be submitted to implement one, or more, of eight program options outlined in this solicitation. A different proposal must be submitted for each program option, if applying for more than one. You must clearly identify which program option a proposal is for, early in the Executive Summary of the proposal. The Youth Ambassadors program provides groups of youth and adult mentor (select programs) participants from select countries in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (AF), East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), Middle East and North Africa (NEA), South Central Asia (SCA), the Western Hemisphere (WHA), and the United States of America (USA) , with a three-week exchange focusing on youth leadership. In addition to participants travelling internationally, exchanges will include U.S. youth and adult mentors participating as peers in U.S. based exchanges. As applicants explore the main theme of leadership, they are encouraged to showcase creative and transformative application of AI concepts, resources, strategies, and tools. Program participants will apply knowledge gained on the program to implement follow-on projects in their home communities.
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Update #1 ·
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is pleased to announce an open competition for the FY 2026 Youth Ambassadors program. Proposals may be submitted to implement one, or more, of eight program options outlined in this solicitation. A different proposal must be submitted for each program option, if applying for more than one. You must clearly identify which program option a proposal is for, early in the Executive Summary of the proposal. The Youth Ambassadors program provides groups of youth and adult mentor (select programs) participants from select countries in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (AF), East Asia and Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), Middle East and North Africa (NEA), South Central Asia (SCA), the Western Hemisphere (WHA), and the United States of America (USA) , with a three-week exchange focusing on youth leadership. In addition to participants travelling internationally, exchanges will include U.S. youth and adult mentors participating as peers in U.S. based exchanges. As applicants explore the main theme of leadership, they are encouraged to showcase creative and transformative application of AI concepts, resources, strategies, and tools. Program participants will apply knowledge gained on the program to implement follow-on projects in their home communities. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025.pdf | ||
| performance_monitoring_plan_mode_2.3_02.03.2025-4.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY26 YA NOFO Solicitation.pdf |
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