Join the 2024 U.S.-ASEAN Women’s Leadership Academy for YSEALI

Deadline: 26 November 2023

Wedu is excited to offer the 10th U.S.-ASEAN Women’s Leadership Academy for YSEALI Regional Workshop for youth to bring together women leaders between the ages of 20 to 35 who are working on food security issues.

The U.S.-ASEAN Women’s Leadership Academy for YSEALI is a program funded by the U.S. State Department through funding managed by the U.S. Mission to ASEAN for the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative, in partnership with Wedu as the implementing partner.

The program will start with online activities and sessions in January 2024, followed by an in-person workshop in April 2024 and optional advocacy and collaborative activities until August 2024.

Aims

Specifically, the Academy aims to:
- become an avenue for participants to advance their leadership skills
- increase the participants’ understanding of key gender differences and challenges specific to food security issues in the region
- expand their network of young Southeast Asian women leaders who work across national borders and drive collective action
- provide access to seed funding and mentorship
- nurture a strong ASEAN identity and community
The program will include also leadership training and expert-led sessions that unpack food security issues and relevant fields. As a participant, you also have the opportunity to collaborate on a knowledge product with fellow women leaders from the region and the United States to foster cross-cultural exchange and increase areas and scope of impact in the domain of food security.

Cost Covered

All travel, lodging, and costs associated with your participation will be funded by the U.S. State Department in cooperation with Wedu as the implementing partner.

Eligibility Criteria

Women aged 20 to 35 (at the time of the workshop)
Citizens of and currently residing in: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam
Minimum of two years of professional or volunteer experience relevant to addressing food security-related issues. Fields that will be considered include but are not limited to:
- Biotech
- Agriculture
- Trade/Economics
- Resource management (e.g., water, soil)
- Public health specialities associated with nutrition and food safety
Passionate about building communities and have a keen interest in building a network through collaboration and partnership with other leaders from Southeast Asian countries
- Proficient in written and spoken English
- Have a valid passport that expires after October 31, 2024
- Able to attend the entire four-day in-person workshop in April 2023 and the pre and post-workshop activities between January-August 2024.