Sponsor

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training programs. The Bureau does so by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences. ECA (formerly the United States Information Agency) oversees a number of exchange programs throughout South Asia, Eurasia and Eastern Europe as part of its mission to further the public diplomacy efforts of the United States abroad. ECA awards a cooperative agreement to American Councils to ensure the welfare of the JFDP Fellows and the smooth operation of the program. After establishing the JFDP in Russia in 1994, ECA and the United States congress decided to expand the program across Eurasia and into Southeast Europe.

For more information about ECA's various programs and activities, visit the website at http://exchanges.state.gov.