McCain Global Leaders Ukraine
The McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship honors Senator John McCain’s legacy of character-driven leadership, serving a cause greater than ourselves, and his strong support of a free and independent Ukraine by bringing together a diverse, cross-sectoral cohort of Ukrainian leaders for a pilot leadership initiative centered on post-war reconstruction.
This three-month hybrid program will provide participants with the opportunity to hone their leadership and technical skills, including communications and proposal development, as well as to engage with international experts in the field of post-war reconstruction. Fellows will also have the opportunity to connect with the McCain Institute’s extensive network in the Washington, D.C. policy space.
The fellowship will run July through September 2026.
Fellows are expected to:
- Participate in regular online leadership modules and thematic discussions throughout July, August, and September.
- Attend a week-long workshop in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina from August 15-22, 2026.
- Work with their cohort to develop recommendations for a democracy-centered, just, and inclusive post-war reconstruction process in Ukraine.
- Develop action plans for how they can apply what they have learned in the fellowship to their work and within their communities.
Fellows’ travel and lodging expenses are covered in their entirety by the McCain Institute.
Apply now
Qualified candidates must:
- Be based in Ukraine.
- Have at least six years of relevant professional experience.
- Have working English language proficiency.
- Have permission from the Ukrainian government to leave Ukraine to participate in the August workshop.
The McCain Institute seeks fellows from the following sectors:
- Policy
- Veterans
- Civil Society
- Business / Technology
- Environment / Ecology
- Media
- Culture
In service of Arizona State University’s commitment to inclusion, the McCain Institute strongly encourages candidates based outside of the Kyiv region to apply.
Interested applicants must submit the following materials:
- A CV (no more than 2 pages)
- A cover letter (no more than 1 page) that explains your motivation for participating in the fellowship and highlights any professional or personal experiences you may have in the field of post-war reconstruction.
- An essay (no more than 1 page) that:
- Outlines what you think are, and will be, the main post-war reconstruction challenges for your sector, and suggests how these intersect with one or more of the other sectors listed above.
- Outlines how the fellowship will help you to positively impact your sector and community.
The deadline for applications is Friday, April 30, 17:00 EST
Interested applicants must also be willing to undergo a background check. Only applicants who successfully pass the background check may participate in the fellowship.
Depending on the number of applications received, we hope to inform successful candidates of their selection by the end of May or beginning of June.
The McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship honors Senator John McCain’s legacy of character-driven leadership, serving a cause greater than ourselves, and his strong support of a free and independent Ukraine by bringing together a diverse, cross-sectoral cohort of Ukrainian leaders for a pilot leadership initiative centered on post-war reconstruction.