Research Project Competition for Young Researchers: USAID “Dream and Act” Program

Research Project Competition for Young Researchers: USAID “Dream and Act” Program

Research Project Competition for Young Researchers: USAID “Dream and Act” Program

The “Dream and Act” program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IREX, announces a grant competition to support young researchers. The competition aims to encourage innovative research that addresses the pressing issues facing Ukrainian youth.

Key Information About the Competition

Start Date: January 13, 2025

Application Deadline: February 10, 2025

Maximum Grant Amount: Up to $20,000 USD

Project Duration: Up to 12 months

Application Languages: Ukrainian or English

Target Research Audience: Youth aged 10-35, including various social and demographic groups

Research Topics

Researchers can choose one of the following themes:

Youth Economic Opportunities. Examining ways to improve career prospects, employment, and innovative job opportunities.

Youth Civic Engagement. Exploring methods to enhance youth participation in decision-making and community development.

Pluralism and Social Inclusion. Research focused on promoting diversity and inclusion.

Education. Identifying innovations to expand access to formal and non-formal education.

Innovative Topics. New research directions, such as the use of artificial intelligence, online gaming, youth migration, and more.

Eligibility Requirements

Who Can Apply: Officially registered Ukrainian NGOs, youth organizations, universities in partnership with NGOs.

Researchers: Youth up to 35 years old. Teams may include experienced professionals, but no more than one senior member (35+) per four young researchers.

Partnership: Applications must include a partnering NGO.

Application Evaluation Criteria

  1. Relevance and justification of the research topic (20 points).
  2. Organizational experience in conducting research (20 points).
  3. Quality of research methodology and design (20 points).
  4. Realistic plan for applying research results (20 points).
  5. Budget justification and feasibility (20 points).

How to Apply for the Grant Competition

Project Proposal: Up to 10 pages (in .doc and PDF format).

Budget: Detailed and submitted in .xlsx format.

Questionnaire: Completed and signed in PDF format.

Documents: Letter of support from the partnering NGO.

All materials should be submitted via email to grants.diemo@irex.org by 11:59 PM Kyiv time on February 10, 2025.

More details can be found at this link.

Integrating Principles of Gender Equality and Inclusion

The “Dream and Act” program promotes gender equality and social inclusion across all projects. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all social groups.

Engaging Youth in Change

This competition offers a unique opportunity for young researchers to contribute to addressing significant social, economic, and educational challenges. If you have ideas for research that can transform Ukraine for the better, don’t miss the chance to participate!