Description
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (EAP) and U.S. Consulate General Auckland announce an open competition to implement Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Solutions Labs, a series of workshops centered around U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Pacific region. The priorities include unlocking investment in the Pacific, advancing the American Decade of Sports for Pacific Economic Impact, pursuing peace in the Pacific with faith communities, and promoting digital freedom and open information environments. Applicants may apply to host one, more, or all of the YPL workshops in the series, with the average cost of one workshop being roughly $100,000 to $250,000.
• The YPL program has cultivated emerging Pacific Island Country (PICs) leaders ages 20-40 into advocates for U.S. policy in a region of increasing strategic importance.
• The YPL Solutions Labs will build on past YPL programs that advanced U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Pacific region.
• The YPL Solutions Labs will be a series throughout 2026-2028 to catalyze advocacy and action on U.S. priorities.
• Applicants must submit a detailed budget in the template spreadsheet (Attachment “PDS Budget Narrative”).
• The U.S. Embassy will provide funding for the selected projects, with an estimated total funding of $1,000,000.
• The expected outcomes of the project include increased understanding of U.S. foreign policy priorities, improved skills in areas such as branding and social media marketing, and increased access to resources and networks for Pacific Island Country leaders.