Deadline: 30 August 2019
U.S. Embassy New Zealand has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting proposals to organize a comprehensive program designed to provide emerging Pacific leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders in the region’s economic and civic development.
As a Pacific nation, the United States has long been committed to working with partners in the region to ensure continued regional security, as well as economic growth and development. This program for young leaders will create ties across the Pacific to ensure that we are better prepared to address challenges together in the future.
The State Department has convened a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference each year for the past six years, taking place in American Samoa, Samoa, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Fiji, all with the goal of building leadership capacity and creating ties among emerging leaders from across the Pacific region (see below for a list of participating countries). This year, the conference should bring together a group of emerging leaders, ages 25-35, with the goal of providing them with practical leadership skills and a deeper knowledge of regional issues related to the four pillars of the YPL program: civic leadership, environment/resource management, education, and economic and social development. The conference should also help participants grow their networks and enable them to work with their peers on issues that affect the region.
Goals
Goals of the conference should include:
- Developing the knowledge and skills of youth in the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand, to become economic and civil society leaders who cooperate across the region to address difficult issues.
- Ensuring that emerging Pacific Islands leaders see the United States as a partner in solving regional and global challenges.
- Building a network of emerging Pacific leaders that can share best practices and collaborate on shared challenges.
Activities
Not-for-profit organizations or universities are invited to submit a proposal that describe show each of the following activities will be administered:
- Design and implement a 3-4 day program for young leaders between February 2020 and April 2020. Demonstrating planned coordination with partner organizations knowledgeable in the region is highly encouraged.
- The program should accommodate delegates from the following countries: Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Islands of French Polynesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and the American-affiliated Pacific including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii.
- Delegates may include alumni of the previous YPL conferences. U.S. Embassy New Zealand is able to provide contact information for alumni delegates. Proposals should include a plan for promoting the conference application across the eligible countries and territories, and identifying and selecting delegates, in partnership with the U.S. embassies in the Pacific region.
- Delegates should be drawn from Pacific Islands youth, including Diaspora populations living in Australia and New Zealand, and Maori, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as youth working on Pacific issues in Australia and New Zealand. They should be between the ages of 25-35 who have a track record of making an impact in their community, institution, or company and who have at least two years of professional experience. Proficiency in English and citizenship in one of the participating countries is also required.
- The program should include substantive interaction with U.S. Government representatives as well as non-government organizations, businesses and think tanks that focus on the Pacific, particularly in the areas comprising the predetermined thematic areas.
- The program should also include experiential learning activities, enabling delegates to immerse themselves in relevant areas of the host-country’s community, as pertains to the thematic areas.
- Proposals are encouraged to include opening and closing events, to include key speakers and a broader cross section of the host-country community.
- Participants and leaders should have formal and informal opportunities to network with each other to develop collaborative relationships that will persist after the conference’s conclusion.
- Proposals should explain how participants will be assisted in continuing and building upon the connections and learnings made during the program, and should describe how alumni of the program will be encouraged to continue to build upon their relationships and implement ideas developed at the event.
- Proposals should include management of travel and lodging logistics for all participants, speakers, and staff, as well as venue(s). Proposals must show how grant funds will be used to cover the cost of the venue, transportation, visas, travel insurance, lodging, and meals or per diem for eligible participants, speakers, and staff. All travel funded under the grant agreement should be economy class and must comply with Fly America requirements.
- Proposals should include a plan for publicizing both the application opportunity as well as the conference, to include both traditional and social media, as appropriate, in partnership with the U.S. embassies located in the Pacific region.
- Proposals should include a plan for evaluating the program’s goals, including pre- and post-event surveys of participants.
- Proposals should include a description of the applicant’s experience with U.S.-Pacific relations, youth leadership development, and event organization as well as experience in and/or ties with organizations in the Asia-Pacific or other international expertise.
Funding Information
Applications should request no more than $250,000. Applicants should include an anticipated award start date in September 2019 and the period of performance should be approximately 10-12 months, with the event taking place in the February-April time period.
Eligible Applicants
U.S. Embassy New Zealand welcomes applications from non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and private, public, or state institutions of higher education. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
Cost Sharing
Providing cost sharing is encouraged, but not a requirement for this NOFO. Inclusion of costs hare in the budget does not result in additional points awarded during the review process.
How to Apply
Applicants can find application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply on the given website.
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318460