The McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship 2026 is a fully supported leadership program designed for Ukrainian professionals working on the country’s future beyond the war. Over three months, selected fellows will sharpen their leadership, policy, communication, and reconstruction-focused skills while joining a cross-sector network connected to international experts and the Washington, D.C. policy space.
Quick Facts
| Host Country: | United States (program host) + Bosnia & Herzegovina (in-person workshop) |
| Study Level / Job Type: | Fellowship / Leadership Program |
| Funding Type: | Fully Funded |
| Eligible Countries: | Ukraine |
| Deadline: | April 30, 2026 |
About the Opportunity
Rebuilding a country is not only about infrastructure. It is also about leadership, public trust, institutions, communities, and long-term vision. That is the space this fellowship is trying to fill.
The McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship 2026 is a new pilot initiative from the McCain Institute, created for Ukrainian leaders already doing meaningful work across different sectors. The program will run from July to September 2026 in a hybrid format, combining online learning with a week-long workshop in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, from August 15–22, 2026.
Participants will explore what a democracy-centered, inclusive, and just post-war reconstruction process should look like in Ukraine. Along the way, they will receive training in leadership, communications, proposal development, and practical planning, while also engaging with international experts and peers from across sectors.
This opportunity is officially offered by the McCain Institute, and applicants should apply through the official application portal.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Be based in Ukraine
- Have at least six years of relevant professional experience
- Demonstrate working English proficiency
- Be able to obtain or already have permission from the Ukrainian government to leave Ukraine for the August workshop
- Be willing to undergo a background check
- Work in one of the target sectors below:
- Policy
- Veterans
- Civil Society
- Business / Technology
- Environment / Ecology
- Media
- Culture
The McCain Institute also says it strongly encourages applicants based outside the Kyiv region to apply, reflecting its inclusion focus.
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Benefits
Selected fellows will gain both practical and professional advantages, including:
- Full coverage of travel and lodging costs for the in-person workshop
- Access to a three-month hybrid leadership fellowship
- Training in:
- Leadership development
- Communications
- Proposal development
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Exposure to international experts in post-war reconstruction
- Opportunity to build connections within the Washington, D.C. policy network
- A chance to co-create real reconstruction recommendations for Ukraine
- Space to design an action plan for impact in their own sector and community
Who Should Apply
This fellowship is especially relevant for Ukrainian professionals who are already carrying serious responsibility in their field and want to contribute more strategically to the country’s future.
If you work in public policy, civic life, veterans’ support, media, culture, business, or environmental recovery, and you are thinking beyond immediate crisis response, this program is likely built with your profile in mind.
It is particularly suitable for applicants who want to move from good work to broader influence: shaping systems, institutions, partnerships, and reconstruction conversations that will matter long after the current emergency period.
Application Process
To apply, candidates will need to complete the official application and prepare a few short documents.
Required application materials:
- CV / Resume
- Maximum of 2 pages
- Cover Letter
- Maximum of 1 page
- Should explain your motivation for joining the fellowship
- Should highlight any professional or personal experience related to post-war reconstruction
- Essay
- Maximum of 1 page
- Should address:
- The major reconstruction challenges in your sector
- How those challenges intersect with one or more other sectors
- How the fellowship would help you create a positive impact in your sector and community
- Background Check Readiness
- Final participation depends on successfully passing the required background check.
How To Apply
If your work is already tied to rebuilding institutions, communities, or sector-level systems in Ukraine, this fellowship is worth serious attention. It is not just a leadership label; it is a focused program for professionals expected to bring ideas back into real-world practice.
