Deadline : 21-06-2022
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop, organize, and oversee the 2022 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Summit (YSEALI) Summit, pending the availability of FY 2022 funds. The three-day Summit (exclusive of arrival and departure dates) in December 2022 will gather over 150 YSEALI alumni participants across ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste ages 18-35. The award recipient is expected to design a youth-focused, high-energy, and dynamic Summit that will provide the next generation of Southeast Asian leaders the opportunity to build networks, discuss ideas, and develop solutions to contemporary challenges around the theme of Promoting Sustainable Economic Development in ASEAN countries.
Started in 2013, YSEALI (https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/) is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage with emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young leaders in the 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and Timor-Leste who work across national borders to solve common problems and strengthen the U.S.-ASEAN partnership. YSEALI includes more than 6,000 young leaders who are alumni of YSEALI exchange and regional programs and more than 150,000 who are members of the YSEALI Network. YSEALI focuses on four pillars – sustainable economic growth and social entrepreneurship, environmental issues, education, and civic engagement.
The Cambodia YSEALI Summit will be conducted in English and will focus specifically on the Economic Development pillar. The Summit will enable participants to study and observe the latest challenges and opportunities in economic sectors throughout Southeast Asia. The gathering will also afford participants the opportunity to work together to develop possible solutions to economic problems considering social issues and COVID-19. Additionally, participants will learn innovation approaches to promote economic relations among ASEAN countries and with the United States through presentation, case studies and simulation that follow the model of the ASEAN Summit. The Summit will also provide leadership and other soft skills training on topics such as advocacy, negotiation, personal branding, which are core soft skills YSEALI alumni need to become successful economic and business leaders. Participants will also have a chance to join cultural activities, company visits, and other site visits that support the Summit’s theme.
The Summit will include a mix of informational sessions, discussions and challenges, and break-out sessions on different topics and group presentations.