2027 YSEALI ScamShield Regional Workshop

The grant opportunity titled 2027 YSEALI ScamShield Regional Workshop is offered by the U.S. Mission to ASEAN under the U.S. Department of State. This initiative is part of the broader Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), which focuses on strengthening leadership development, regional cooperation, and shared understanding among emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The funding falls under the Assistance Listings program for International Exchange Alumni Programs and is structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement from the funding agency throughout the implementation of the project. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the design, organization, and execution of a regional workshop in Cambodia that focuses on combating online scams and transnational criminal activity. Building on the success of a prior CyberSafe workshop, this program aims to educate participants on how criminal organizations leverage illicit financial flows to conduct scams that affect both Southeast Asian populations and Americans. The workshop is designed to equip young leaders with the skills necessary to detect, disrupt, and dismantle such financial networks. The scope of the funded activities includes convening approximately 60 YSEALI exchange alumni along with up to 11 mentors from the previous CyberSafe initiative, representing all 11 ASEAN member countries. The program will span four days and include a combination of expert-led panel discussions, interactive workshops, and site visits. Participants will collaborate to develop actionable plans that address the detection and disruption of scam-related financial networks. These activities are expected to foster cross-border collaboration and long-term engagement among participants. Funding under this opportunity ranges from a minimum of 200000 dollars to a maximum of 300000 dollars, with an expectation of one award to be issued. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, allowing applicants to propose fully funded project budgets within the specified range. While specific allowable cost categories are not detailed in the synopsis, it is implied that funds should directly support program implementation, including logistics, travel, facilitation, and program development. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing not-for-profit organizations such as think tanks and civil society organizations, public and private educational institutions, individuals, public international organizations, and governmental institutions. This wide eligibility scope supports diverse applicant types capable of managing international workshops and fostering regional collaboration. The application process requires submission through the Grants.gov platform, following all instructions provided in the full announcement. The application deadline is August 24, 2026, and applicants are encouraged to review additional materials available through the U.S. Mission to ASEAN website. While specific evaluation criteria are not outlined in the summary, proposals are likely assessed based on program design, feasibility, impact, and alignment with stated objectives. For further assistance, applicants may contact the grantor representative via email or phone as provided in the announcement.