CyberNext: Advance Cybersecurity and AI Readiness
🏛 U.S. Mission to Albania (DOS-ALB)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 21, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofits and individuals seeking to strengthen cybersecurity and AI skills in Albania. US and Albanian nonprofits, think tanks, and civil society organizations can apply, as can individuals from both countries. The program targets young Albanians aged 18-35 with baseline cyber/AI knowledge who want to build advanced practical skills.
Projects must engage at least 100 participants per location in cybersecurity and AI programming. All activities must demonstrate clear links to US expertise, technology, and best practices. The program does not support partisan political activity, religious activities, direct social services, construction, or fundraising campaigns.
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Program description
Project Background, Goals, and Objectives
Albania has experienced multiple cyberattacks in recent years, placing increasingly digital government services and critical institutions at significant risk. While Albania is actively embracing AI, substantial skill gaps remain – gaps that American expertise is uniquely positioned to address. The “CyberNext: Advanced Cybersecurity and AI Readiness” program strengthens Albania’s cybersecurity and AI capabilities by leveraging U.S. technology, standards, and expertise. The program moves beyond basic awareness to build practical skills, improve resilience against digital threats, and deepen understanding of U.S. leadership in technological innovation.
This initiative builds on previous American Corners programming in cybersecurity and AI that established a cohort of young people with baseline knowledge and awareness. It complements ongoing U.S. Embassy efforts to strengthen Albania’s cyber resilience and digital infrastructure in alignment with American technology standards. The program creates a foundation for sustained engagement with Albanian youth and professionals who will shape the country’s digital future.
The program advances key U.S. policy objectives by promoting American leadership in AI and cybersecurity, thereby defending digital openness and protecting space for open and authentic communication in the digital sphere. It equips Albanian professionals with skills and knowledge essential to shared security responsibilities, strengthening their capacity to contribute to regional stability, protects American interests abroad, consistent with the America First foreign policy that prioritizes building capable Allies and defending critical infrastructure against shared threats.
All activities must demonstrate strong linkages to U.S. expertise, technology, and best practices in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Proposals should clearly articulate how these connections advance program objectives while serving U.S. interests in regional security and digital infrastructure development. The program must reaffirm its core purpose: equip Albanian audiences with cybersecurity and AI capabilities through results-focused engagement that produces measurable changes in the attitudes and behaviours of young cybersecurity professionals.
Project Audience: Young Albanians aged 18-35, including university students, young professionals, startup leaders, and aspiring tech innovators with baseline understanding of cyber and AI issues seeking to build practical, advanced skills in cybersecurity and digital protection.
Project Goal: Strengthen Albania’s cyber resilience and digital infrastructure in alignment with American technology standards. Increase public support for enhanced cybersecurity capabilities and greater responsibility for regional security and stability.
Project Objectives: The project should engage at least 100 participants per Corner in cybersecurity and AI programming activities that build digital protection skills, foster teamwork, and enhance Albania’s overall cyber and AI readiness in support of U.S. leadership and global security. Suggested activities may include workshops through simulations and scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, tabletop exercises, competitions, innovation sprints etc.
At a minimum, projects should address the following objectives:
- Objective 1 – Advanced Threat Detection and Response Skills: Equip participants with intermediate-level practical skills to recognize, prevent, and respond to cyber threats, drawing on U.S. frameworks and best practices.
- Objective 2 – Responsible and Secure AI Deployment: Build participants’ understanding of AI risks and opportunities in cybersecurity, including how AI can both enable and counter attacks, and develop their ability to design and apply AI solutions ethically and securely, informed by U.S. standards and AI ethics guidance.
- Objective 3 – Operational Resilience and Professional Readiness: Strengthen participants’ critical thinking, teamwork, and decision‑making under pressure through realistic cyber and AI scenarios, preparing them to operate effectively in incident response teams and contribute to Albania’s broader cyber resilience.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Proposal narrative
- Budget and budget justification
- Evidence of SAM.gov registration and UEI (for organizations)
- Organizational capacity/background information
- Detailed activity and recruitment plan
Program contact
- 👤 Ilva Cuko Program Assistant
- 📧 tiranapdresources@state.gov
- 📞 00355684036853
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 19.441 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,360,000
-
$414,331
-
$347,000
-
$288,916
-
$258,620
-
$200,000
-
$199,832
-
$194,970
-
$183,443
-
$168,958
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 19.441). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $11,879,653 | |
| 2025 | $5,155,325 | |
| 2026 est. | $5,155,325 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
US and Albanian nonprofits, think tanks, civil society organizations, and individuals. For-profit entities are not eligible. Only one nonprofit organization can be the prime recipient, though subcontracting is allowed.
What geographic scope does this grant cover?
The program targets young Albanians aged 18-35 with baseline cybersecurity and AI knowledge. Programming activities must occur in Albania through US Mission programming.
What types of activities does this grant fund?
Workshops, simulations, scenario-based learning, hands-on labs, tabletop exercises, competitions, and innovation sprints focused on cybersecurity and AI skills development.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is August 20, 2026 (fixed deadline). Award amounts range from $5,000 to $14,000.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong proposals clearly articulate links to US expertise and technology standards. They demonstrate measurable outcomes, engage 100+ participants, and show how programming advances US policy objectives in regional security.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize connections to US technology standards and expertise throughout your proposal. Judges prioritize projects showing clear US leadership.
- Plan participant recruitment and engagement strategies upfront. You need at least 100 participants per location to meet minimum objectives.
- Include specific, measurable outcomes tied to changes in skills, attitudes, and behaviors of young cybersecurity professionals.
- Use interactive, hands-on activities like labs and simulations. These are more effective than lecture-based approaches for skill building.
- Budget realistically for the small award range ($5,000-$14,000). Focus on high-impact programming with limited resources.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to demonstrate clear links to US technology, standards, and expertise. Proposals that don't articulate how activities advance US foreign policy objectives or regional security are less competitive. Setting unrealistic participant targets or not planning concrete engagement and recruitment strategies.
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