FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals and Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for cooperative agreements to implement the FY 2026 Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program and the outbound Congress-Bundestag/Bundesrat Staff Exchange (CBBSX) travel component. The programs aim to advance America’s national interests by building lasting personal and institutional relationships that promote prosperity and security between the United States and Germany. Key activities include: • Approximately 65 American and 65 German participants, ages 18.5-24, engaging in year-long academic and professional exchanges. • American participants completing two months of in-country German language training, studying for one semester at a German university, and gaining practical work experience. • German participants studying for one semester at a U.S. university and gaining practical work experience. • Both American and German participants living with host families throughout the program year. • Ten U.S. Congressional and ten German parliamentary staffers participating in a short-term reciprocal exchange with each other’s legislatures. The applicant should propose a program that includes these components and outlines how they will be implemented to achieve the program's objectives.