OPEN CFDA 19.441 ↗ Competitive Grant Moderate ~50h typical effort

Vietnam CyberSafe Hacks 2026

🏛 U.S. Mission to Vietnam

✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026

⏰ Deadline
Aug 2, 2026 in 17 days
💰 Award amount
up to $35.6K
📊 Total program funding
$35.6K
🎯 Expected awards
1 recipient
📍 Scope
International

Can you apply?

This grant is for nonprofits and educational institutions working on cybersecurity awareness and anti-trafficking efforts in Vietnam. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, civil society organizations, nonprofits educational institutions, and governmental/international organizations. Programs must equip Vietnamese students and early professionals (aged 18-30) to understand and combat cyber scams and trafficking. Only one nonprofit entity can be the prime recipient; subcontracting is allowed if roles are clearly defined.

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Program description

The U.S. Department of State’s Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City announces an open competition to implement a program to combat cyber scams.

Transnational organized crime in Southeast Asia is increasing at an unprecedented pace. The region has witnessed the proliferation of industrial-scale cyber fraud and scam operations, driven by sophisticated transnational criminal syndicates and networks of human traffickers. These criminal enterprises have expanded to inaccessible border areas, particularly in the Mekong region, and have become global leaders in cyber-enabled and cryptocurrency investment fraud—defrauding Americans of over $10 billion in 2024 alone.

Vietnam stands at a critical inflection point where rapid digital transformation and adoption meet these sophisticated transnational cybercrimes. Economic losses in Vietnam from cyber-enabled scams have reached billions of dollars. Thousands of Vietnamese, primarily aged 18-35, have been trafficked to neighboring countries and forced to work in scam operations against their will, often targeting Americans. Traffickers target young jobseekers with technology skills, including students, and recruit primarily through social media platforms.

Against this backdrop, this program will equip and deploy students and early-stage professionals aged 18-30 to raise awareness of, and reduce vulnerabilities to, cyber scams and trafficking. Participants will examine the cyber-enabled scam and trafficking landscape and develop skills in emerging American technologies and cybersecurity to build practical, innovative, secure, and legally compliant solutions that address these challenges and advance U.S. and regional prosperity and security.

Please follow carefully all instructions below.  

Who can apply

Eligible applicants

Demographic focus

How to apply

Application links

Key dates & requirements

Required documents

  • DS Form 1220 (or equivalent State Department form)
  • Organizational Registration/Proof of 501(c)(3) status (if applicable)
  • Project Narrative
  • Budget and Budget Justification
  • Curriculum or Program Design Documentation
  • Letter of Support from Partners (if applicable)

Program contact

Funding track record

Recent awards under CFDA 19.441 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.

102
awards (3 yrs)
$12M
total funded
62
unique recipients
$121K
average award

Top 10 Largest Recent Awards

  1. $2,360,000
  2. $414,331
  3. $347,000
  4. $288,916
  5. $258,620
  6. $200,000
  7. $199,832
  8. $194,970
  9. $183,443
  10. $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?

Nonprofits, educational institutions, and public international organizations are eligible. For-profit entities cannot apply, even if structured as nonprofits.

What is the funding amount?

The total award is $35,633. No cost-sharing is required.

What activities does the program fund?

Funding supports programs that train Vietnamese students and young professionals (18-30) in cybersecurity and anti-trafficking awareness, with focus on practical solutions targeting cyber scams.

What is the deadline?

The application deadline is August 2, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no extensions.

Can my organization subcontract with others?

Yes, but only one nonprofit can be the prime recipient. Subcontractor roles must be clearly defined in the proposal.

💡 Tips for applicants

  • Focus your proposal on Vietnamese youth aged 18-30 and practical cybersecurity skills tied to anti-scam and anti-trafficking goals.
  • Demonstrate deep understanding of the cyber fraud landscape in Vietnam and the Mekong region.
  • Clearly define any subcontracting relationships and each party's specific responsibilities.
  • Connect your solution to both U.S. national security interests and regional stability.
  • Highlight how your program addresses recruitment of young tech talent for scam operations.

⚠️ Common mistakes

Proposing activities that don't directly engage the target age group (18-30) or that lack cybersecurity/anti-trafficking focus. Submitting unclear subcontracting arrangements without defined roles and responsibilities. Failing to connect program outcomes to both combating scams and reducing human trafficking.

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