YSEALI Regional Workshop on Digital Policy and Emerging Technologies: A Catalyst for Inclusive Economic Growth

YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues.

YSEALI is open to young leaders ages 18-35 who are both citizens and residents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Timor-Leste. Responding to priorities from youth in the ASEAN region, YSEALI programs focus on four themes (Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Education and Environmental Issues). One component of YSEALI is the annual Regional Workshops held across Southeast Asia on strategic topics.

The Regional Workshop on Digital Technology and Emerging Technologies will advance the YSEALI themes of Economic Empowerment and Education, the Indo-Pacific Strategy goal of deepening regional collaboration around emerging and critical technologies and the Mission Vietnam goal of enhancing bilateral, regional, and global economic security by adopting and implementing high-quality regulatory standards, especially on cybersecurity and the use of trusted vendors.

This workshop aims to explore these issues with emerging leaders across ASEAN and Timor Leste to foster collaboration to advance the goal of trusted, interoperable digital ecosystem that advances regional economic growth. Participants will collectively examine global standards and regulations of these areas, case studies for effective implementation as well as barriers to adoption, review specific ASEAN priorities and regional efforts on these issues, and gain insights from private industry, government regulators as well as non-government stakeholders, including representatives of underserved populations. These interactions will set the stage for long-term engagement and transnational cooperation.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $100,000 – $250,000
• Award amounts: Award may range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $250,000.
• Length of performance period: 18 months
• Number of awards anticipated: One
• Anticipated period of performance start date: October 1, 2024
• Anticipated start date of in-person activities: August 1, 2025

Activities

• The workshop will incorporate several activities, including:
  • Seminars and presentations designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of current perspectives on key digital policy areas, including cybersecurity, cross-border data flows, cloud computing, AI, digital ID, cross-border digital trade, digital payments, online scams and fraud, trusted vendors, and developing high-quality trusted and secure digital infrastructure.
  • Seminars should include perspectives from across ASEAN and Timor-Leste as well as US and partner governments, industry leaders, and academics.
  • Interactive group activities to encourage young leaders to initiate solutions to institutional problems shared across the region;
  • Networking events among participants, speakers, facilitators and mentors;
  • Capacity building and skills training to include analytical and research skills around technical and policy topics, communications skills, collaboration and problem-solving and other professional skills
  • Site visits to illustrate tangible models and practical viewpoints on relevant issues;
  • A small grants competition to launch participants’ initiatives to establish partnerships amongst ASEAN and Timor-Leste higher education institutions;
  • Virtual pre and post engagement as well as an in-person workshop with a mix of synchronous and asynchronous activities;
  • Cultural activities and a reception;
  • Continued post-program mentorship from subject matter experts.

Participants and Audiences

• The recipient will coordinate with U.S. Embassy Hanoi and with the U.S. embassies in ASEAN and Timor-Leste to recruit and select 50-70 participants. Participants will be registered YSEALI and Timor-Leste members aged 20-35, who have leadership potential, a commitment to improve their community and possess experience relevant to digital and emerging technology policy formation. Participants should demonstrate their leadership and active engagement in effecting change in their home communities and in the region. Participants should be racially, ethnically, religiously, and experientially diverse. A premium should be placed on recruiting a diverse group of participants, with an emphasis on gender, geographic, socio-economic diversity as well as a diversity of skills and backgrounds. Participants must be citizens and residents of an ASEAN member country or Timor-Leste.
• All participants must be proficient in written and spoken English. All programs must include participants from all ten ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste.
• The recipient will be responsible for arranging and using cooperative agreement funds to cover all elements related to participant and staff travel including international and domestic flights, visas, travel to and from airports, accommodations, per diem, meals during the program, insurance, etc.

Priority Region

• Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • U.S. public and private educational institutions
  • U.S. not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks
  • Foreign public and private educational institutions
  • Foreign not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks

For more information, visit Grants.gov.