Opportunity Information: Apply for PD SEOUL TOKYO FY23 01
The U.S. Embassy Seoul Public Diplomacy Section and the U.S. Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs Section are offering a joint public diplomacy grant to launch an inaugural Trilateral Global Youth Leadership Forum that strengthens ties among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. The opportunity sits under the U.S. Embassy Seoul PD Small Grants umbrella and is framed as a response to mounting Indo-Pacific challenges such as security tensions, trade and financial uncertainty, and environmental instability. The core idea is to use U.S. convening power to create a reliable forum where emerging youth leaders from Korea and Japan can build relationships, compare approaches to civic leadership, and work together on issues that affect the alliance and the broader region.
This funding opportunity (PD-SEOUL-TOKYO-FY23-01) was posted by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Korea, with applications due May 22, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. GMT+9. It is a discretionary award issued as a cooperative agreement (meaning the U.S. government expects to stay actively involved in the project rather than simply funding it at arm's length). The CFDA listing is 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs). The total amount available is up to $180,000, subject to funding availability, with an expectation of making one award.
Programmatically, the forum is designed around a small, highly selective cohort of about 35 participants aged 18 to 30 who are fluent in English and have a track record of outstanding leadership in their communities or in local and regional youth programs. The embassies are looking for people who have already demonstrated they can push for constructive change and who can collaborate across borders with peers who share a similar mindset. Applicants from underrepresented regions and constituencies are encouraged, and alumni of prior U.S. government-sponsored programs are explicitly welcomed. The selection process is intended to be structured and competitive: participants would apply through a standardized online application promoted via a public website and associated outreach and social media, with the U.S. Embassy Seoul, U.S. Embassy Tokyo, and a U.S.-based grantee jointly vetting candidates. The U.S. government retains final approval over participant selection.
The proposed program has three major components that the grantee would be expected to deliver. First, there should be at least four weeks of virtual engagement before the in-person event. These sessions are meant to build momentum, help participants get to know one another, and shape clear objectives and a practical agenda for the summit. The virtual phase is also supposed to bring in subject matter experts from the United States, Japan, and Korea (from academia, civil society, and government) to discuss trends affecting the trilateral relationship, effective youth civic engagement, and other topics tied to the theme of global youth leadership. In addition, the program aims to connect the cohort with leaders from other U.S.-supported regional initiatives, such as YSEALI and the Young Pacific Leaders initiative, to broaden participants' understanding of Indo-Pacific issues and show how youth networks have collaborated successfully elsewhere in the region.
Second, the program culminates in an in-person summit, anticipated to be held in either Korea or Japan in late 2023 and lasting at least two to three days (the text also describes a two-day summit structure). The summit is envisioned as a mix of lectures, facilitated workshops, and skills-based training focused on practical leadership tools: organizing, advocacy, civic engagement, and communicating about complex international challenges. Content areas are intentionally broad and policy-relevant, including climate change, regional security, trade, and science and technology, among others. The embassies expect the summit to feature expert trainers recruited from Japan and Korea, while also creating space for the participants themselves to lead peer-learning sessions based on what they have done in their own communities and organizations. The host-country embassy would support high-level engagement and visibility elements such as a diplomatic reception, senior-level meetings, and public-facing communications, while the grantee would handle program execution details and arrange limited visits to relevant cultural and/or political sites.
Third, the grant emphasizes structured follow-on work rather than a one-off conference. The summit is supposed to produce a concrete, actionable implementation plan for establishing a regular annual trilateral youth summit beginning in 2024. Participants would be organized into working groups to design key pieces of that future forum, including themes, governance and membership requirements, venue options, policy focus areas, and communications strategy. After the 2023 summit, the grantee would continue coordinating with both embassies and the emerging youth leadership group through follow-on virtual sessions (including a check-in about a month after the summit) to keep the plan on track and support the cohort as it transitions from attendees into organizers.
A distinctive feature of this opportunity is its long-term leadership pipeline approach. The initial cohort is not only meant to learn and network, but also to become a tight-knit group of trilateral "youth ambassadors" who can advise on youth perspectives and help steer future trilateral programming. The plan is to leverage these same participants as an organizing or steering committee that collaborates with the embassies and relevant Department of State offices on themes, logistics, and strategic direction for follow-on initiatives. The notice also signals that additional cross-border activities proposed by the cohort could be sustained through small grants co-funded by the U.S. Embassies in Tokyo and Seoul, reinforcing the idea that the inaugural program is a launchpad for continued collaboration rather than a standalone event.
In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is open to U.S.-based implementers, including nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), with additional eligible applicant categories referenced in the notice. Funding is authorized under FY23 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds, aligning the program with the State Department's broader mandate to build mutual understanding and strengthen international partnerships through people-to-people exchange and leadership development.Apply for PD SEOUL TOKYO FY23 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Korea in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Seoul PD Small Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 21, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a joint public diplomacy grant opportunity from the U.S. Embassy Seoul Public Diplomacy Section and the U.S. Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs Section to launch an inaugural Trilateral Global Youth Leadership Forum that strengthens ties among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.
2) What is the official funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PD-SEOUL-TOKYO-FY23-01.
3) Which U.S. government entity posted the opportunity?
The opportunity was posted by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to South Korea.
4) What is the application deadline listed in the notice?
Applications were due May 22, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. GMT+9.
5) What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary award issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government expects to stay actively involved in the project rather than only providing funding with minimal involvement.
6) What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 19.040 (Public Diplomacy Programs).
7) How much funding is available?
The total amount available is up to $180,000, subject to funding availability.
8) How many awards does the program expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of making one award.
9) What is the overall purpose of the Trilateral Global Youth Leadership Forum?
The forum is intended to use U.S. convening power to create a reliable platform where emerging youth leaders from Korea and Japan can build relationships, compare approaches to civic leadership, and collaborate on issues affecting the trilateral relationship and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
10) What challenges or themes is the opportunity responding to?
The opportunity is framed as a response to mounting Indo-Pacific challenges, including security tensions, trade and financial uncertainty, and environmental instability.
11) Who is the forum designed for (participant profile)?
The program is designed around a small, highly selective cohort of about 35 participants who are 18 to 30 years old, fluent in English, and have a track record of outstanding leadership in their communities or in local and regional youth programs.
12) How many participants are expected?
About 35 participants are anticipated.
13) What is the expected age range for participants?
Participants are expected to be between 18 and 30 years old.
14) What language proficiency is required?
Participants are expected to be fluent in English.
15) Are applicants from underrepresented regions or constituencies encouraged?
Yes. The notice encourages applicants from underrepresented regions and constituencies.
16) Are alumni of previous U.S. government-sponsored programs eligible or encouraged?
Yes. Alumni of prior U.S. government-sponsored programs are explicitly welcomed.
17) How will participant recruitment and applications be handled?
The selection process is intended to use a standardized online application promoted through a public website and related outreach and social media.
18) Who vets and selects the participants?
The U.S. Embassy Seoul, the U.S. Embassy Tokyo, and a U.S.-based grantee would jointly vet candidates, and the U.S. government retains final approval over participant selection.
19) What are the main components the grantee is expected to deliver?
The proposed program has three major components: (1) at least four weeks of virtual engagement before the in-person event, (2) an in-person summit in late 2023 lasting at least two to three days, and (3) structured follow-on work to produce an actionable plan for an annual trilateral youth summit beginning in 2024.
20) What is required during the virtual pre-summit phase?
The program should include at least four weeks of virtual engagement intended to build momentum, help participants get to know each other, and shape clear objectives and a practical summit agenda.
21) What kinds of speakers or experts are expected for the virtual engagement?
The virtual phase is supposed to include subject matter experts from the United States, Japan, and Korea, including voices from academia, civil society, and government, focusing on trends affecting the trilateral relationship and effective youth civic engagement.
22) Are there intended linkages to other U.S.-supported youth networks?
Yes. The program aims to connect the cohort with leaders from other U.S.-supported regional initiatives such as YSEALI and the Young Pacific Leaders initiative to broaden understanding of Indo-Pacific issues and demonstrate how youth networks collaborate in the region.
23) When and where is the in-person summit expected to take place?
The in-person summit is anticipated to be held in either Korea or Japan in late 2023.
24) How long is the in-person summit expected to last?
The summit is described as lasting at least two to three days, and the notice also references a two-day summit structure.
25) What format is envisioned for the in-person summit?
The summit is envisioned as a mix of lectures, facilitated workshops, and skills-based training focused on practical leadership tools such as organizing, advocacy, civic engagement, and communicating about complex international challenges.
26) What topic areas may be covered during the summit?
Content areas are intentionally broad and policy-relevant, including climate change, regional security, trade, and science and technology, among others.
27) Are participants expected to contribute content, or is it only expert-led?
The embassies expect expert trainers recruited from Japan and Korea, and also want space for participants to lead peer-learning sessions based on their own community and organizational experience.
28) What kinds of high-level engagement or visibility elements are expected?
The host-country embassy would support high-level engagement and visibility elements such as a diplomatic reception, senior-level meetings, and public-facing communications.
29) What responsibilities fall to the grantee for the in-person summit?
The grantee would handle program execution details and arrange limited visits to relevant cultural and/or political sites, in addition to delivering the overall program components described in the notice.
30) What is meant by "structured follow-on work" after the summit?
The program is designed to go beyond a one-off conference. The 2023 summit should produce a concrete, actionable implementation plan to establish a regular annual trilateral youth summit beginning in 2024, with continued coordination and follow-on virtual sessions after the summit.
31) What deliverable is expected regarding an annual summit starting in 2024?
An actionable implementation plan for establishing a regular annual trilateral youth summit beginning in 2024 is a central expected output of the inaugural program.
32) How will participants be involved in planning future iterations?
Participants would be organized into working groups to design components of the future forum, including themes, governance and membership requirements, venue options, policy focus areas, and communications strategy.
33) Is there a post-summit check-in expectation?
Yes. The notice mentions follow-on virtual sessions, including a check-in about a month after the summit.
34) What is the "youth ambassadors" concept described in the notice?
The initial cohort is intended to become a tight-knit group of trilateral "youth ambassadors" who can advise on youth perspectives and help steer future trilateral programming.
35) Will the inaugural cohort have an ongoing leadership role after the forum?
Yes. The plan is to leverage the same participants as an organizing or steering committee that collaborates with the embassies and relevant Department of State offices on themes, logistics, and strategic direction for follow-on initiatives.
36) Does the notice mention possible funding for future cross-border activities?
Yes. The notice signals that additional cross-border activities proposed by the cohort could be sustained through small grants co-funded by the U.S. Embassies in Tokyo and Seoul.
37) Who is eligible to apply as an implementer for this grant?
The opportunity is open to U.S.-based implementers, including nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The notice also references additional eligible applicant categories.
38) What funding authority is cited for this opportunity?
Funding is authorized under FY23 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds.
39) How does this opportunity fit within embassy grantmaking?
The opportunity sits under the U.S. Embassy Seoul Public Diplomacy Small Grants umbrella.
40) What does the opportunity imply about the U.S. government role during implementation?
Because it is a cooperative agreement and because the U.S. government retains final approval over participant selection, the notice implies active U.S. government involvement throughout key aspects of design and implementation.
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