U.S. Embassy Tokyo Strategic Speaker Program (Japan)

The Speakers’ Program brings dynamic U.S. citizen experts to Japan to engage professional and student audiences throughout the country on topics of strategic importance to the United States and Japan. Specifically, the program seeks to influence local audiences on regional security, cybersecurity, climate and energy issues, diversity, equity and inclusion, advancing women’s economic empowerment, supply chain protection, foreign information manipulation and U.S. current issues. The program also seeks to establish concrete networking and contact building opportunities among U.S. experts and local audiences. Programs may take place in person or virtually (all applications should include a plan for some virtual engagement). They highly recommend potential applicants to collaborate and coordinate with project partners in Japan in order to implement the requested programs successfully. They expect to select one program implementer for a grant award of up to $200,000.

Program Objectives: U.S. Speakers address strategic policy priorities identified by U.S. Embassy Tokyo. The U.S. Speaker Program promotes an understanding of U.S. policies and institutions as well as the political, economic, and social context from which they arise. Speakers can be programmed with a variety of professional and student audiences in a wide range of disciplines. In this regard, this U.S. Speakers’ Program intends to support the overall Public Affairs Section’s (PAS) outreach strategy, which focuses on two defined audiences: established leaders and emerging leaders.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: Up to 24 months
• Number of awards anticipated: 1 award (dependent on amounts)
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $200,000
• Total available funding: $200,000
• Anticipated program start date: No later than October 31, 2024.
• Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 2 years or less.

Recipient’s Role

• Based on specific topics within the strategic priority parameters provided by U.S. Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs Section, the recipient will research and provide names, with justifications, as requested, of U.S. experts, who are willing to travel to Japan.
• Contact speakers identified by U.S. Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs Section. The recipient’s role includes, but is not limited to, contacting the identified individual, liaising with them on their interest in and availability to travel to Japan. For virtual programs that will include no travel, the recipient will also be responsible for logistical arrangements including providing an appropriate virtual platform, interpretation and closed caption (if required), design of landing page, and recording of the event.
• For both in-person and virtual program, the recipient will be responsible, but not limited to, preparing Japanese translations of speaker’s bio, preparing program invitation in Japanese, finding appropriate moderators when requested. The recipient is required to secure professional translators and interpreters.

Participants and Audiences

• They are seeking to connect with two main audiences: emerging voices and established opinion leaders:
  • Emerging voices could be junior or new members in business, technology, education, government, and public administration. They include entrepreneurs and social activists, journalists, teachers, researchers, and civil servants in government positions who have been identified as rising stars.
  • Established leaders include public figures at the top of their industry (e.g., innovators, tech leaders, academics, researchers, media members, journalists, business owners, government workers, and politicians), and alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs, who are able to influence society and policy. All programs must engage Japanese audiences.
  • All programs must include a U.S. element or connection with U.S. experts that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Programs may take place in person or virtually (note: all applications should include a plan for some virtual engagement). If you apply from outside of Japan, they highly recommend potential applicants collaborate and coordinate with project partners in Japan to implement requested programs successfully.

Priority Region: Japan

Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations
• Public and private educational institutions
• Public international organizations and governmental institutions.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.