Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs and the U.S. Consulate General Auckland have launched the Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs initiative to support regional workshops that strengthen leadership, economic opportunity, media freedom, and community resilience across Pacific Island Countries.
The programme will fund workshops between 2026 and 2028 under the Young Pacific Leaders network, with awards ranging from approximately $100,000 to $250,000 and a total funding pool of $1 million.
About the Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs Programme
The Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs initiative is part of the broader Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) programme, which has operated since 2013 to build leadership networks among emerging Pacific leaders aged 20 to 40.
The initiative aims to:
- Strengthen leadership skills
- Support economic development
- Promote democratic values
- Encourage regional collaboration
- Improve media freedom and open information environments
- Build resilient Pacific communities
The programme aligns with U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Pacific region and supports practical, skills-based engagement for emerging leaders.
Funding Overview
The programme will support regional workshops and collaborative learning activities implemented between:
- 2026 and 2028
Funding details include:
- Individual awards ranging from approximately $100,000 to $250,000
- Total available funding pool of $1 million
- Funding subject to availability of funds
Applicants may apply to organize:
- One Solutions Lab
- Multiple Solutions Labs
The initiative supports both in-person and virtual engagement formats.
Programme Objectives
The Solutions Labs programme seeks to:
- Equip emerging Pacific leaders with practical skills
- Build regional and international networks
- Strengthen advocacy and leadership capacity
- Promote economic opportunities
- Encourage transparency and democratic governance
- Support resilience against misinformation and external manipulation
The programme emphasizes long-term regional collaboration and sustainable leadership development.
Solutions Lab #1: Unlocking Investment in the Pacific
This Solutions Lab focuses on:
- Investment promotion
- Project management
- Economic development
- Commercial project preparation
Participants will learn how to:
- Develop commercially viable project tenders
- Attract U.S. and allied private sector investment
- Strengthen transparent business practices
- Conduct risk assessments
- Address security considerations
- Negotiate complex project agreements
The initiative aims to improve economic opportunities and infrastructure investment across Pacific Island Countries.
Solutions Lab #2: Advancing the American Decade of Sports for Pacific Economic Impact
This Solutions Lab focuses on:
- Sports economy development
- Sports tourism
- Entrepreneurship
- Media engagement
Target participants may include:
- Sports administrators
- Entrepreneurs
- Media professionals
- Tourism stakeholders
The programme supports:
- Development of sports-related economic projects
- Tourism initiatives linked to sporting events
- Business opportunities connected to Pacific athletes
- Regional sports media engagement
The initiative also aligns sports diplomacy with economic development goals.
Solutions Lab #3: Pursuing Peace in the Pacific with Faith Communities
This Solutions Lab focuses on:
- Faith-based engagement
- Peacebuilding
- Community resilience
- Religious freedom
The programme aims to:
- Strengthen partnerships with faith communities
- Promote shared democratic values
- Build resilience against manipulation and propaganda
- Encourage community-led engagement
- Support regional stability and governance priorities
Faith communities are recognized as important partners in strengthening social cohesion and peacebuilding efforts across the Pacific.
Solutions Lab #4: Promoting Digital Freedom and Open Information Environments
This Solutions Lab focuses on:
- Media freedom
- Independent journalism
- Freedom of expression
- Digital transparency
Activities may include:
- Training for journalists and media professionals
- Countering censorship and propaganda
- Supporting open information environments
- Strengthening independent media systems
- Promoting transparency and accountability
The initiative aims to support democratic resilience in the digital information space.
Activities Supported Under the Programme
The initiative may support:
- Regional workshops
- Leadership training
- Virtual learning sessions
- Collaborative activities
- Networking events
- Policy discussions
- Skills development programmes
- Media and advocacy training
Projects should demonstrate regional relevance and measurable leadership or community impact.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. not-for-profit organizations
- Foreign not-for-profit organizations
- Think tanks
- Civil society organizations
- Public educational institutions
- Private educational institutions
- Public international organizations
- Government institutions
- Individual applicants
For-profit organizations are not eligible.
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Relevant regional expertise
- Programme management capacity
- Experience working in the Pacific region
- Strong implementation and partnership strategies
Geographic Focus
The programme focuses on:
- Pacific Island Countries
- Regional Pacific leadership development
- Cross-border collaboration in the Pacific region
Activities should support emerging Pacific leaders and strengthen regional engagement.
Why This Programme Matters
Pacific Island Countries face growing challenges related to:
- Economic resilience
- Infrastructure investment
- Information integrity
- Democratic governance
- Community cohesion
- Climate and geopolitical pressures
The Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs initiative helps strengthen:
- Regional leadership capacity
- Economic opportunity
- Civic participation
- Media independence
- Community resilience
The programme also promotes stronger regional cooperation and long-term partnerships.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly identify the selected Solutions Lab theme
- Demonstrate regional expertise and partnerships
- Include practical and measurable workshop activities
- Show strong leadership development approaches
- Explain participant engagement strategies
- Provide realistic budgets and implementation timelines
- Demonstrate sustainability and long-term impact
- Include monitoring and evaluation plans
Strong proposals often combine:
- Practical training
- Regional collaboration
- Policy relevance
- Community engagement
- Scalable outcomes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Submitting unclear programme objectives
- Weak regional engagement strategies
- Unrealistic implementation timelines
- Incomplete budgets
- Lack of measurable outcomes
- Insufficient Pacific regional expertise
- Limited participant engagement plans
Projects that demonstrate clear regional value and sustainable impact are generally more competitive.
How the Programme Works
The programme supports organizations to:
- Design and implement Solutions Labs
- Recruit and engage participants
- Deliver workshops and training sessions
- Facilitate networking and collaboration
- Conduct follow-up learning activities
- Share resources and outcomes across the region
Activities may take place:
- In-person
- Virtually
- Through hybrid formats
The programme encourages collaborative and participatory learning models.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs initiative?
It is a funding programme supporting regional workshops and leadership initiatives for emerging Pacific leaders across economic development, media freedom, peacebuilding, and digital governance themes.
How much funding is available?
Individual awards range from approximately:
- $100,000 to $250,000
The total funding pool is:
- $1 million
What are the four Solutions Lab themes?
The themes are:
- Unlocking Investment in the Pacific
- Advancing the American Decade of Sports for Pacific Economic Impact
- Pursuing Peace in the Pacific with Faith Communities
- Promoting Digital Freedom and Open Information Environments
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Think tanks
- Educational institutions
- Civil society organizations
- International organizations
- Government institutions
- Individuals
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
No. For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply.
What age group does the Young Pacific Leaders programme support?
The programme focuses on emerging leaders aged:
- 20 to 40
What types of activities can be funded?
Funded activities may include:
- Workshops
- Leadership training
- Networking events
- Virtual learning sessions
- Media and advocacy activities
- Collaborative regional programmes
Conclusion
The Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs initiative represents a major investment in leadership development, democratic resilience, economic opportunity, and regional collaboration across Pacific Island Countries. By supporting practical workshops and engagement activities in areas such as investment, sports economy development, faith-based peacebuilding, and digital freedom, the programme seeks to strengthen the next generation of Pacific leaders.
Organizations with strong regional expertise, innovative engagement strategies, and experience in leadership development and community collaboration are well-positioned to contribute meaningful impact through this funding opportunity.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.