The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces the FY 2025 Youth Ambassadors Europe (YA-EUR) program, inviting U.S. public and private non-profit organizations to apply for a cooperative agreement totaling approximately $720,000 to conduct exchanges for youth from Russia. This program aims to foster civic engagement, leadership development, and pluralism among participants aged 18-22 while focusing on environmental sustainability. The initiative consists of two four-week exchange cohorts in the United States, planned for summer 2025 and summer 2026.
Eligible entities must demonstrate at least four years of international exchange experience, possess a Unique Entity Identifier, and comply with specific proposal contents. The program's objectives include enhancing participants' understanding of community engagement, developing leadership and critical thinking skills, and fostering meaningful interactions with U.S. peers. Proposals must outline recruitment strategies that emphasize diversity and engage underserved populations.
Additionally, all projects must incorporate follow-up community engagement projects upon participants' return home and provide for future alumni activities. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov by January 20, 2025. ECA will evaluate proposals based on factors including program quality, planning ability, support for diversity, and institutional capacity. This initiative reflects ECA's commitment to fostering mutual understanding and engagement through cultural exchanges.
The Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) document outlines the requirements for applicants seeking funding under the ECA programs for performance monitoring. It emphasizes the importance of utilizing the Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework, which includes standardized indicators and survey questions, to ensure consistency in measuring program outcomes. Applicants must complete key sections detailing their organization, funding opportunity, and relevant indicators from the MODE Framework. The document specifies the importance of data collection, including when to measure outcomes (post-program and follow-up years) and the types of demographic information needed.
Furthermore, it provides detailed definitions of performance indicators, disaggregation methodologies, and the need to specify targets for each indicator. The PMP focuses on enhancing participants' cross-cultural understanding and civic engagement while also monitoring outputs like volunteer hours and skill improvements. By outlining a clear methodology for data collection and analysis, the PMP aims to improve the efficacy of ECA programs and contribute to long-term impacts. This framework reflects the federal government's push for accountability and effectiveness in grant-funded programs while fostering global engagement and collaboration through structured assessments.