The 2027 YSEALI Regional Workshop: Securing Supply Chains

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, Indonesia, is offering a funding opportunity to support the implementation of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop focused on securing supply chains and exploring market opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This initiative is part of the broader U.S. foreign policy objective to strengthen economic ties with ASEAN countries, promote secure and resilient supply chains, and enhance regional cooperation in trade, technology, and critical industries. The program reflects the growing importance of Southeast Asia in global manufacturing and logistics, particularly in sectors such as critical minerals and advanced technologies. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to design and execute a four-day regional workshop targeting up to 55 early-career ASEAN leaders between the ages of 22 and 35. The workshop will take place across two locations, Ho Chi Minh City and Surabaya, and will focus on topics including supply chain resilience, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, cybersecurity, and critical minerals. Participants will engage in simulations, expert-led sessions, and collaborative exercises designed to build practical skills and foster regional dialogue. The program also includes a business incubator component that will provide seed funding to at least one participant-led initiative aimed at strengthening supply chains and expanding U.S.-ASEAN commercial partnerships. Funding for this opportunity is provided through a cooperative agreement, with a total award amount of $300,000 and an anticipated performance period of 12 months, from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The recipient organization will be responsible for all programmatic and logistical elements, including participant recruitment, travel arrangements, workshop design, and content development. Allowable costs include personnel, travel, equipment, supplies, and other direct program expenses. Construction, direct social services, political activities, and commercial projects are explicitly prohibited. While cost sharing is not explicitly required, the program anticipates leveraging industry partnerships to offset certain costs. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, individuals, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. However, for-profit entities are not eligible to serve as the primary recipient. Organizations must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and be registered in SAM.gov, unless applying as an individual. Only one proposal per organization is permitted. Applicants may partner with other entities through subcontracts, but a single eligible organization must serve as the lead applicant. The application process requires submission of standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B), a detailed narrative proposal (up to 20 pages), a comprehensive budget and justification, and supporting documentation such as resumes and letters of support. Proposals must clearly address the program’s goals, outline a detailed implementation plan, and include a monitoring and evaluation framework. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including program quality, organizational capacity, feasibility, budget justification, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainability. The Department of State anticipates notifying applicants of funding decisions within approximately 120 days after the application deadline. Applications must be submitted electronically via email and must be received by August 31, 2026 at 23:59 GMT+7. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the U.S. Consulate General Surabaya or Ho Chi Minh City via their respective grant program email addresses. The selected recipient will work closely with both consulates throughout the project period and must obtain approval for major program elements. This funding opportunity is a one-time award with no guarantee of future funding, though it aligns with ongoing regional engagement initiatives and may inform future programming cycles.

Ensure strong alignment with U.S. foreign policy priorities; provide detailed and feasible implementation plan; include robust monitoring and evaluation framework; clearly justify all budget items