Deadline: 31 July 2019
The U.S. Embassy Vientiane has announced an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a five-day workshop in Laos on agriculture-related entrepreneurship (agri-biz) for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), pending the availability of FY2019 funds. The YSEALI Agri-Biz Incubator Regional Workshop will bring together around 50 youth (aged 18-35) from ASEAN nations (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and Timor-Leste.
YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage with emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems.
This workshop will focus on building theoretical and practical knowledge about responsible, sustainable and environmentally sound agri-biz initiatives in Southeast Asia. This workshop will allow participants to explore different approaches to promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector. The objective would be to create innovative and sustainable SMEs in the field of agriculture that create jobs which improve local livelihoods and have the potential to open new areas for U.S. trade and investment across ASEAN. This objective directly supports regional public diplomacy goals to promote sustained and inclusive economic growth and prosperity.
Priority Region: East Asia Pacific
Program Objectives
- The long-term goal of this workshop is to support the creation of innovative and sustainable SMEs in the field of agriculture that create jobs, improve livelihoods and open new potential areas for U.S. trade and investment across ASEAN. A successful workshop would generate new business ideas that support the creation of start-up businesses in the field of agriculture, or develop existing SMEs in this field.
- Ideally, the workshop would have three components:
- a class-based component that focuses on technical knowledge and discussion;
- a field based component that emphasizes direct observation and hands-on experience;
- a mentoring component where participants design their own project or business model.
- Classroom: Experts in different fields would provide an overview of the main topics and themes. For example, what are the major trends in agri-biz SMEs; what are simple technologies and techniques that can be applied. Participants can also discuss different models they have experienced in their home countries.
- Field Trips: Through field visits to local SMEs, the participants would observe first-hand some examples of successful, responsible businesses that support environmentally friendly production models, promote community participation in decision-making, and generate income for local (and often rural) communities.
- Mentoring Workshop: Following field visits, participants would work with established leaders in the field to design their own business models. Emphasis would be placed on identifying potential projects, businesses, or activities in home countries, and working in teams to design micro initiatives to promote sustainable agri-biz initiatives. For example, participants might design actual business plans, or design outreach and training to promote already existing SMEs.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: September 2019 to September 2020
- Award amounts: award may range from a minimum of $150,000 to a maximum of $250,000
- Total available funding: $250,000
Timeline: The ideal time for the workshop is in late February or early March 2020, but other timeframes can be considered as well.
Participants and Audiences
Participants will come from 10 ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, ages 18-35, and be registered as YSEALI members who have demonstrable interest in: agriculture, animal husbandry, environmental protection, producing nature-based products (e.g. soaps, bamboo straws, etc), promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), managing socially responsible businesses, or engaging in ag-related fields through paid employment, volunteer work, unpaid internships, or coursework. Participants should show promise in becoming socially active in effecting positive change in their communities. Participants may have attended other YSEALI events and some may be familiar with collaboration on projects across borders.
Eligible Applicants
- Submissions are encouraged from U.S. and Lao entities with relevant programming experience and other foreign entities with relevant programming experience can also apply. This experience should be documented in the proposal.
- The following organizations are eligible to apply: U.S., foreign, or both. For example:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
- Previous federal award recipients who are not/were not in compliance with the terms of their financial and program reporting requirements are ineligible to apply. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable terms, conditions, and Office of Management and Budget guidance and requirements. Those organizations found to be in non-compliance may be found ineligible for funding or designated high risk if selected for funding.
- Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing is not required.
How to Apply
- Proposals should be submitted electronically at the address given on the website.
- Please attach proposals in Microsoft Word or .pdf format to an email with “YSEALI Agri-Biz Incubator Workshop Proposal” in the subject line.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=316164