Malaysia Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit 2025 | SMY300 FY2024 YSEALISUMMIT2025

Opportunity Information: Apply for SMY300 FY2024 YSEALISUMMIT2025

The Malaysia Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit 2025 grant opportunity is an open, competitive cooperative agreement offered by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, subject to the availability of funds. The selected awardee will be responsible for developing, organizing, and overseeing a four-day regional Summit in Malaysia in 2025 (not counting travel days). The event is expected to convene more than 150 alumni of YSEALI exchange programs from across all ASEAN member states as well as Timor-Leste, with the central purpose of strengthening regional youth leadership networks and equipping participants to collaborate on real-world solutions to shared regional challenges.

The Summit is intended to be youth-centered, energetic, and highly interactive, rather than a conference that relies mainly on lectures. Programming will be conducted in English and must reflect each of YSEALI's four pillars while also incorporating leadership development, mentorship opportunities, and teamwork training. A major emphasis is showcasing practical examples of alumni impact, helping participants see and learn from how YSEALI members have gone on to lead in their communities through community service, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and education. Applicants are expected to build an agenda that highlights these pathways and turns alumni experience into usable lessons and models for other emerging leaders.

A core program requirement is to feature panels and presentations led by prior YSEALI participants from each country, specifically alumni who are now acting as changemakers in their fields. Beyond highlighting success stories, the Summit must create structured opportunities for participants to work together across borders to develop potential solutions to pressing environmental, social, political, and economic issues affecting the region. The announcement encourages practical, hands-on formats such as case studies, simulations, group challenges, break-out discussions, and group presentations, with the goal of moving participants from discussion to action planning and collaborative problem-solving.

The Summit also has a clear public diplomacy and relationship-building dimension. Participants should be exposed to innovative approaches that promote stronger relations among ASEAN countries and between ASEAN and the United States, using applied learning methods rather than purely theoretical content. In addition to regional issue work, the Summit should include targeted soft-skills training aligned with leadership success, including topics like advocacy, negotiation, and personal branding. These skills are framed as essential tools for YSEALI alumni to become more effective leaders and advocates in their respective communities and professional sectors.

Cultural engagement is another required component. The program should incorporate cultural activities and site visits that reinforce the Summit theme and deepen participants' understanding of Malaysia and the broader regional context. Overall, the design is expected to blend informational sessions with interactive workshops, team-based challenges, and experiential learning through visits and cultural programming, creating a cohesive four-day experience that supports networking, leadership growth, and cross-border collaboration among alumni.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity (CFDA 19.040) administered by the U.S. Mission to Malaysia under funding opportunity number SMY300 FY2024 YSEALISUMMIT2025. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement by the U.S. government partner during planning and implementation compared to a standard grant. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of USD 700,000 and anticipates up to two awards. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and other eligible entities. The competition was created on 2024-06-01, and the original application closing date is 2024-08-01.

• The U.S. Mission to Malaysia in the community development, other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Malaysia Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit 2025" 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 2024-06-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-01. (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 $700,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for SMY300 FY2024 YSEALISUMMIT2025

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