Young Pacific Leaders – Model Pacific Islands Forum

Deadline: 31 July 2024

The U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to develop and implement a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Model Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to provide emerging Pacific leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to become national and international Pacific leaders.

The program will include Young Pacific Leaders from all PIF member nations, PIF observers, and select PIF dialogue partners such as the United States (Hawaii). The program will take place at least over a year-long and will consist of

Young Pacific Leaders shadowing or interning with a PIF leader or Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council of Regional Organizations of the Pacific, or similar leading up to and during the PIF leaders meeting
Young Pacific Leaders participating in a youth Model PIF leaders meeting and
three youth mock parliaments in Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. Young Pacific Leaders may be placed in their home governments or in a host government.

YPL is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage with emerging leaders in the Pacific region. The program aims to create a network of young Pacific leaders who work across national borders and the four pillars of YPL – education, environment and resource management, civic engagement, and economic and social development – to solve common problems. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YPL seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Pacific, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues.

Funding Information

Length of performance period: Up to 48 months
Number of awards anticipated: One
Award amounts: Up to $450,000 USD
Total available funding: Up to $450,000 USD

Participants and Audiences

Participants will be emerging leaders ages 25-40 from Pacific nations. Participants should also be registered YPL members who have demonstrable interest in Pacific regional issues whether through paid employment, volunteer work, unpaid internships or coursework, and who show promise in becoming socially active in effecting positive change and have firm plans to champion their communities.

Eligible Countries

YPL is open to young leaders ages 25-40 who are both citizens and residents of the following countries: Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Islands of French Polynesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Rapa Nui, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and U.S. partners from the American affiliated Pacific including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii.

Eligibility Criteria

U.S. Embassy New Zealand welcomes applications from non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and private, public, or state institutions of higher education.

Ineligibility Criteria