Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS COL 2023 YLS
The Youth Forum Leadership Summit 2024 is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka) public diplomacy grant opportunity designed to fund a local Sri Lankan organization to plan and deliver a four-day leadership summit for young volunteers connected to the U.S. Embassy Colombo's American Spaces network. Run by the Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) through a cooperative agreement, the project is meant to strengthen the leadership pipeline of Youth Forum members who serve as lead volunteers at American Corners and related American Spaces, while also building stronger regional connections among emerging South Asian youth leaders.
The summit is tentatively scheduled for February 2024 and is structured as three days of in-person training and skill-building followed by an additional day dedicated to a hands-on community service project. The core group of participants includes about 75 Youth Forum members representing five U.S.-supported sites in Sri Lanka: the American Corners in Kandy, Jaffna, and Matara, the American Center in Colombo, and the iHUB in Batticaloa. In addition, the program will include approximately 20 to 25 youth leaders from across South Asia who are expected to be nominated by U.S. missions in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, and Maldives. The target participant age range is 18 to 24, with a focus on youth who are already actively engaged as lead volunteers and who can carry lessons back into their local communities and American Spaces programming.
Program content is expected to blend practical leadership development with issue-based learning tied to U.S. policy priorities and shared regional challenges. Sessions will cover leadership skills, training and professional development opportunities, and a clearer understanding of U.S. policy goals and how those themes can be translated into meaningful public programming inside American Spaces. Priority themes explicitly mentioned include climate change, entrepreneurship, diversity and acceptance, free and fair governance, and social exchange, along with other topics the Embassy and Sri Lankan stakeholders may identify as important. The design also emphasizes peer learning and networking, giving participants structured opportunities to learn from one another as well as from expert trainers and speakers, including alumni of U.S.-government sponsored exchange programs and senior Embassy and government officials.
A central element of the summit is helping participants think beyond the event itself by connecting leadership training to real future pathways. In addition to workshop-style sessions, the summit will expose youth to education and professional options that can help them build careers while contributing to their communities. The culminating community service day is intended to translate the training into action, with participants collaborating on a service project that they help design and organize, reinforcing teamwork, project planning, and civic engagement.
Because the award is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the selected local organization is expected to work closely with the U.S. Embassy Colombo, particularly the American Spaces team, and coordinate with volunteers and staff at each American Corner site. The implementing partner will serve as the primary on-the-ground organizer and will be responsible for meeting U.S. government reporting, monitoring, and compliance requirements associated with the grant. The opportunity anticipates one award with a funding ceiling of $75,000.
Administrative details include the funding opportunity number PDS COL 2023 YLS, categorized as discretionary funding under CFDA 19.040, issued by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka. The opportunity was posted July 21, 2023, with an application deadline of August 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Colombo time. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others" with additional eligibility details to be provided in the full announcement, indicating the Embassy is seeking a capable local organization able to manage event delivery and ongoing post-summit engagement.
A notable expectation of the project is follow-through after the four-day event. The organizer is not only expected to deliver the summit itself, but also to provide a way for participants to continue learning afterward through ongoing training, mentorship, and reflection opportunities. This post-summit component is meant to ensure the leadership skills, policy understanding, and collaborative habits developed during the summit continue to shape participants' work in their American Spaces and their broader community roles once they return home.Apply for PDS COL 2023 YLS
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth Forum Leadership Summit 2024" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 21, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 20, 2023 1159 p.m. Colombo Time 20 August 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Youth Forum Leadership Summit 2024 Grant
What is the Youth Forum Leadership Summit 2024 grant opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka) public diplomacy funding opportunity to support a local Sri Lankan organization to plan and deliver a four-day leadership summit for young volunteers connected to the U.S. Embassy Colombo's American Spaces network.
Who is offering and managing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Sri Lanka. It is run by the Embassy's Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) and closely connected to the Embassy's American Spaces team.
What type of award is this?
This award is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. That means the selected organization is expected to work closely with the U.S. Embassy Colombo during planning and implementation.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to strengthen the leadership pipeline of Youth Forum members who serve as lead volunteers at American Corners and related American Spaces, while also building stronger regional connections among emerging South Asian youth leaders.
How long is the summit and what is its format?
The summit is designed as four days total: three days of in-person leadership training and skill-building, followed by a fourth day focused on a hands-on community service project.
When is the summit expected to take place?
The summit is tentatively scheduled for February 2024.
Who are the participants expected to be?
The core group includes about 75 Youth Forum members representing U.S.-supported American Spaces sites in Sri Lanka, plus approximately 20 to 25 youth leaders from across South Asia who are expected to be nominated by U.S. missions in the region.
Which Sri Lanka sites are represented in the core group?
The Sri Lanka participants are expected to come from five U.S.-supported sites: the American Corners in Kandy, Jaffna, and Matara, the American Center in Colombo, and the iHUB in Batticaloa.
Which countries may send regional South Asia participants?
Regional participants are expected to be nominated by U.S. missions in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, and Maldives.
What is the target age range for participants?
The target participant age range is 18 to 24.
What kinds of youth are prioritized for participation?
The summit focuses on youth who are already actively engaged as lead volunteers in the Youth Forum and who are positioned to bring lessons back into their local communities and American Spaces programming.
What topics and themes are expected to be covered during the summit?
Programming is expected to blend practical leadership development with issue-based learning tied to U.S. policy priorities and shared regional challenges. Priority themes explicitly mentioned include climate change, entrepreneurship, diversity and acceptance, free and fair governance, and social exchange, along with other topics the Embassy and Sri Lankan stakeholders may identify as important.
How does the summit connect to U.S. policy goals?
Sessions are intended to help participants gain a clearer understanding of U.S. policy goals and how those themes can be translated into meaningful public programming inside American Spaces.
Will the summit include networking and peer learning?
Yes. The design emphasizes peer learning and networking, including structured opportunities for participants to learn from one another and build regional connections.
Who might serve as trainers or speakers?
Speakers and trainers may include expert trainers and speakers, alumni of U.S.-government sponsored exchange programs, and senior Embassy and government officials.
What is the purpose of the community service day?
The final day is meant to translate leadership training into action through a hands-on service project. Participants are expected to collaborate on a community service activity they help design and organize, reinforcing teamwork, project planning, and civic engagement.
What is expected beyond the four-day summit?
A key expectation is post-summit follow-through. The implementing organization is expected not only to deliver the event, but also to provide a way for participants to continue learning afterward through ongoing training, mentorship, and reflection opportunities.
What responsibilities does the selected local organization have?
The selected organization is expected to serve as the primary on-the-ground organizer, coordinate closely with the U.S. Embassy Colombo (especially the American Spaces team), and coordinate with volunteers and staff at each American Corner site. The organization is also responsible for meeting U.S. government reporting, monitoring, and compliance requirements associated with the award.
How many awards are anticipated under this opportunity?
The opportunity anticipates one award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The funding ceiling is $75,000.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PDS COL 2023 YLS.
What is the CFDA number and program category listed for this opportunity?
It is categorized as discretionary funding under CFDA 19.040.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 21, 2023.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was August 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Colombo time.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details to be provided in the full announcement. Based on the description, the Embassy is seeking a capable local Sri Lankan organization able to manage event delivery and ongoing post-summit engagement.
What is the relationship between the implementing partner and American Spaces?
The summit is designed for volunteers connected to the U.S. Embassy Colombo's American Spaces network. The implementing partner is expected to coordinate with the Embassy's American Spaces team and with volunteers and staff across the American Corner sites involved.
What is the intended impact for participants after they return to their communities?
The summit is designed so participants can carry leadership lessons, policy understanding, and collaborative habits back into their American Spaces programming and broader community roles, supported by ongoing post-summit learning opportunities.
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