FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program. This cooperative agreement seeks a recipient to design, administer, and implement virtual exchanges connecting young leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with U.S. peers. The program, with an anticipated award of $4,000,000, aims to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting American scientific excellence, technological leadership, and democratic principles through interactive digital programming. Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions, with proposals due by May 1, 2026. The recipient will manage sub-awards, oversee program promotion, establish an Alumni Leadership Academy, and ensure compliance with U.S. values and foreign policy objectives.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). This cooperative agreement, worth approximately $4,000,000, seeks a U.S. not-for-profit organization or educational institution to design and implement virtual exchanges connecting young leaders (18-25) from the U.S. and the Middle East/North Africa. The program aims to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting American scientific excellence, technological leadership, innovation, and core U.S. principles like freedom of speech and the rule of law. The initiative will engage 8,000 participants annually through digital platforms, focusing on STEM, entrepreneurship, digital media, and civic engagement. Key components include managing up to six sub-award partner organizations, an Alumni Leadership Academy, and extensive program promotion. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to manage sub-awards, adhere to a performance monitoring framework (MODE), and comply with various federal regulations and submission requirements by the May 1, 2026 deadline.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program. This cooperative agreement seeks to design and implement virtual exchanges connecting young leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with U.S. peers. The program, with an anticipated award of $4,000,000, aims to advance U.S. foreign policy priorities by promoting American scientific excellence, technological leadership, and core U.S. principles like freedom of speech and the rule of law. Eligible applicants include U.S. not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and SAM.gov registration. The initiative will engage approximately 8,000 participants annually through various virtual formats, including an Alumni Leadership Academy for continued engagement. The recipient will manage up to six sub-award partner organizations and will be responsible for program promotion, alumni engagement, and adherence to the ECA's Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework for performance monitoring and evaluation. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2026.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) issued an amendment to the FY 2026 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI) Program, increasing total funding to $10,000,000 for two cooperative agreements. The program aims to connect young leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with U.S. peers through virtual exchanges, promoting American values and leadership in science, technology, business, and civic life. Two distinct program options are offered: the JCSVEI and JCSVEI: Digital Leaders for Peace and Economic Opportunity, with participants ranging from 18-30 years old. Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions with a UEI and SAM.gov registration. The initiative emphasizes virtual and hybrid formats, alumni engagement, and adherence to performance monitoring frameworks like MODE. The application deadline is May 29, 2026.