Deadline: 10 March 2017
U.S. Embassy Canberra announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting proposals to organize a conference that examines current issues of interest to the United States, Australia, and their regional partners.
Proposals should encourage think tanks to engage in a comprehensive conversation examining and analyzing the U.S.-Australia bilateral relationship; and how the two nations respond individually and jointly to opportunities and challenges — domestic, regional, and global.
This conference will be part of a series of U.S. Department of State-supported thematic conferences for think tank specialists, strategic thinkers, and academics focused on policy in the Asia Pacific region. Conference presenters and participants are encouraged to discuss the current status of U.S.-Australia relations, examine any challenges or areas of debate, and make recommendations for policy makers in both countries and the wider multilateral architecture in the Asia-Pacific region.
Funding Information
- U.S. Embassy Canberra anticipates having approximately$250,000 in Fiscal Year 2017 Public Diplomacy funds available to support one successful application submitted in response to this NOFO,subject to the availability of funding.
- Applications should request no more than $250,000. Applicants should include an anticipated award start date on or about April 10, 2017and the period of performance should be between 6 to 12 months.
Focus Activities
U.S. organizations are invited to submit a proposal that describes how each of the following activities will be administered:
- Partner with an organization in the host country to design and implement a two-day conference to be held in Australia in July/August 2017. Flight schedules may require additional time both before and after the conference to accommodate travel.
- The conference should organize six to eight separate panels, each of which should cover a specific topic relating to U.S.-Australia relations. Suggested topics can include but are not limited to:
- Security: Regional, Cyber, and Border
- Economic Engagement: Trade, Business, and Investment
- Engaging the Next Generation in U.S.-Australia Relations
- Opening New Frontiers: Technology, Research, and Innovation
- Regional Multilateral Architecture& Priorities: Strengthening Cooperation and Dialogue
- Development and Governance Priorities: Engagement with Regional and Pacific Island Countries
- Proposals should include criteria for determining presenters and participants that is consistent with the goal of encouraging think tanks specialists, strategic thinkers, and academicsto examine and analyzehow the U.S. and Australia respond to opportunities and challenges, both regional and global. Please include presenters’ biographies and/or résumés.
- Conference organizers will publish a paper from the conference proceedings to inform policymakers.
- The conference should accommodate approximately 40 participants who represent experts in their subject matter and are drawn primarily from Australia and the United States. Up to four participants should be invited from partner countries such as Japan, China, Korea, India, and New Zealand. Australian and U.S. government officials would participate primarily as keynote speakers and funding for their participation would not be covered by this grant. Officials from other governments may be covered as needed.
- The conference presenter/participant list must reflect diversity (in age, gender, race, and political leaning) to ensure a broad range of viewpoints and include “next generation” perspectives.
- As youth public opinion on the U.S.-Australia relationship and each country’s place in the region is an area of particular interest, proposals are encouraged to include sessions that include the participation and perspectives of younger generations, i.e., “future thought leaders.”
- Proposals are encouraged to include a welcome event, opening plenary, and/or other opening event suitable for senior government official participation.
- Presenters and participants should be encouraged and have opportunities to network with each other to develop collaborative relationships that will persist after the conference’s conclusion. Cost-sharing for post-conference activities, such as the exchange of scholars, and/or internship-exchange programs between think-tanks in the US and Australia, is encouraged.
- Proposals should include management of travel and lodging logistics for all participants, speakers, and conference staff, as well as the conference venue. 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.All travel funded under the grant agreement should be economy class and must comply with Fly America requirements.
- Proposals should envision media coverage as well as the invitation of journalists to cover (and if appropriate to present at) the event. Proposals must include a plan for widely publicizing the conference and any recommendations resulting from it, both within the United States and Australia via the media and online through social media.
- Proposals should include a description of the applicant’s experience with U.S.-Australian relations and conference organization as well as experience in and/or ties with organizations in the Asia-Pacific or other international expertise.
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. Embassy Canberra welcomes applications from U.S.-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and private, public, or state institutions of higher education.
- For-profit and foreign entities are not eligible to apply.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can submit their applications at the address given on the website.
Eligible Countries: Australia and United States
For more information, please visit U.S.-Australia Conference.