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.

  • 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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