Support for the Return and Rehabilitation of Forcibly Transferred Ukrainian Children

The Support for the Return and Rehabilitation of Forcibly Transferred Ukrainian Children program is administered by the U.S. Department of State through its EUR/ACE bureau. This funding opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement under federal funding mechanisms tied to National Security Investment Programs and the Democracy Fund. The program is designed to address the urgent humanitarian and geopolitical challenge posed by the forced transfer of Ukrainian children and youth to the Russian Federation and occupied territories since 2022. The Department of State plays an active role in oversight and implementation through substantial involvement, including monitoring, evaluation guidance, and coordination with partners. The primary purpose of this program is to support the Government of Ukraine and partner organizations in identifying, returning, and reintegrating affected children and youth. The initiative has two central objectives: first, to strengthen systems that securely collect, analyze, and preserve evidence related to forcibly transferred children, and second, to provide comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration services for those who are returned. These services include medical and psychological care, family reunification, legal assistance, and educational placement. The program emphasizes coordination across stakeholders to improve data sharing and operational effectiveness. Funding is structured across two major components. Approximately fifteen million dollars is expected to support efforts related to identification, tracking, and return, including digital infrastructure enhancements, use of satellite imagery and open-source intelligence, and development of secure evidence systems that meet legal standards. The remaining ten million dollars is intended for rehabilitation and reintegration services, including long-term care systems, social services, and support for youth transitioning into education or employment. Funding restrictions prohibit use of funds for certain entities such as UNRWA and impose compliance requirements related to anti-discrimination laws and trafficking prevention. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, for-profit entities, and international organizations. Applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier and active SAM.gov registration unless exempted. Only one application per primary applicant is allowed, though consortium applications are permitted with a designated lead organization. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity, which lowers the barrier to participation for qualified applicants. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov or MyGrants and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must submit federal forms such as SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, along with a detailed proposal not exceeding eighteen pages. The proposal must include sections such as organizational background, problem statement, project design, monitoring and evaluation plan, risk analysis, and security plan. Additional materials include budgets, timelines, resumes of key personnel, and letters of support. All documents must adhere to formatting and language requirements specified in the notice. Applications are evaluated based on a structured scoring system that considers program quality, organizational capacity, planning effectiveness, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. The review process includes risk assessment factors such as financial stability and prior performance. Awards are expected to be announced by early June 2026, with a projected project start date in June 2026 and a performance period ranging from twenty to thirty months. The application deadline is April 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent. Applicants may direct questions to the program email provided in the notice. Reporting requirements for selected recipients include quarterly financial and programmatic reports, along with compliance with federal regulations and branding guidelines. This funding opportunity represents a significant investment in addressing the humanitarian crisis affecting Ukrainian children and aims to create sustainable systems for recovery and reintegration.

Ensure strong monitoring and evaluation framework; align budget clearly with activities; demonstrate organizational capacity and prior experience; provide detailed and feasible implementation plan