Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0017815
Apply for DFOP0017815
- The Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2026 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-20. (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 $4,467,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2026 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) funding opportunity that supports the design and implementation of a major exchange program focused on emerging leaders from Southeast Asia. Managed through ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges, the program is intended to advance U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific by building a long-term network of professional connections with leaders from ASEAN member states. It emphasizes values described as aligned with American founding principles, including liberty, opportunity, and self-reliance, and it promotes free enterprise, open markets, and innovation as pathways to shared prosperity and a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific.
Under this program, the award recipient would run professional fellowships and reciprocal exchanges that bring Southeast Asian professionals to the United States and then send U.S. professionals to Southeast Asia to continue the collaboration. Each year, the program plans for two cohorts totaling about 144 Fellows from Southeast Asia to travel to the United States for five to six weeks of professional and leadership development. Fellows are expected to be between 25 and 35 years old and will be placed with U.S. host organizations across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The placements are meant to be customized and tied directly to one of four strategic themes that mirror U.S. foreign policy priorities: Economic Prosperity; Strategic Energy and Minerals; Liberty and Freedom; and Peace and Security.
A key component of the U.S.-based experience is a concluding YSEALI Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C. This forum is positioned as the capstone convening where participants synthesize what they learned during their placements, share outcomes with peers and partners, and explore ways to collaborate going forward. The structure suggests the implementing organization will need to coordinate not only individual fellowship placements and professional development programming, but also a large-scale culminating event that brings the cohort together and supports networking and future joint initiatives.
After each U.S. fellowship cycle, the program includes a reciprocal element designed to sustain momentum and deepen partnerships. Approximately 72 American professionals will travel to Southeast Asia on Reciprocal Exchanges. These trips are intended to extend engagement with the Fellows and their institutions, provide opportunities for knowledge and skills transfer, and strengthen bilateral and regional partnerships. In practical terms, this implies the implementing organization must be prepared to manage two-directional exchanges, including international travel logistics, stakeholder coordination across multiple countries, and program activities that produce concrete professional linkages and continued collaboration.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity is offered as a discretionary Cooperative Agreement, meaning the U.S. government typically expects substantial involvement in shaping or overseeing aspects of implementation compared with a standard grant. The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017815, and the assistance listing (CFDA) is 19.415. The opportunity is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), as well as other eligible applicants as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The agency anticipates making one award, with an award ceiling of $4,467,000. The original application closing date listed is April 20, 2026, and the opportunity record indicates a creation date of February 19, 2026.
Overall, the grant supports an implementing organization that can recruit and support mid-career emerging leaders from ASEAN countries, place them in meaningful U.S. professional fellowships aligned to the four priority themes, deliver leadership and professional development over a five-to-six-week U.S. program window, convene a Washington, D.C. capstone forum, and then organize reciprocal exchanges that send U.S. professionals to Southeast Asia to reinforce partnerships and translate the exchange experience into sustained networks and practical cooperation. For full requirements, expected deliverables, and application instructions, the Notice of Funding Opportunity is the authoritative reference.
FAQs: FY 2026 YSEALI Professional Fellowship (DFOP0017815)
What is the FY 2026 YSEALI Professional Fellowship funding opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), through ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges. The award supports the design and implementation of a major exchange program for emerging leaders from Southeast Asia under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to build a long-term network of professional connections with leaders from ASEAN member states and to advance U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. It emphasizes values described as aligned with American founding principles (including liberty, opportunity, and self-reliance) and promotes free enterprise, open markets, and innovation as pathways to shared prosperity and a secure, free, and open Indo-Pacific.
Who is the federal funder and which office manages the program?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The program is managed through ECA's Office of Citizen Exchanges.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary Cooperative Agreement. Compared with a standard grant, a cooperative agreement typically involves substantial U.S. government involvement in shaping and/or overseeing elements of implementation.
What are the key program components the award recipient must implement?
Based on the opportunity description, the implementing organization is expected to run: (1) professional fellowship placements and leadership/professional development for Southeast Asian Fellows in the United States, (2) a concluding YSEALI Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C. as a capstone event, and (3) reciprocal exchanges that send U.S. professionals to Southeast Asia to continue collaboration and strengthen partnerships.
How many Southeast Asian Fellows are expected to participate each year?
The program plans for two cohorts per year totaling about 144 Fellows from Southeast Asia to travel to the United States.
How long is the U.S.-based fellowship experience for Southeast Asian Fellows?
Each cohort is expected to travel to the United States for five to six weeks of professional and leadership development.
What is the expected age range for the Southeast Asian Fellows?
Fellows are expected to be between 25 and 35 years old.
Where are Fellows placed during their time in the United States?
Fellows will be placed with U.S. host organizations across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Placements are intended to be customized and directly tied to one of the program's strategic themes.
What are the four strategic themes for fellowship placements?
The four themes listed are: Economic Prosperity; Strategic Energy and Minerals; Liberty and Freedom; and Peace and Security. These themes are described as mirroring U.S. foreign policy priorities.
What is the YSEALI Fellows Forum in Washington, D.C.?
The YSEALI Fellows Forum is described as the concluding capstone convening in Washington, D.C. where participants synthesize what they learned during their placements, share outcomes with peers and partners, and explore ways to collaborate going forward.
How many U.S. professionals are expected to participate in reciprocal exchanges?
Approximately 72 American professionals are expected to travel to Southeast Asia on Reciprocal Exchanges following each U.S. fellowship cycle.
What is the purpose of the reciprocal exchanges to Southeast Asia?
The reciprocal exchanges are intended to extend engagement with the Fellows and their institutions, support knowledge and skills transfer, and strengthen bilateral and regional partnerships by continuing collaboration after the U.S. fellowship experience.
What kinds of operational responsibilities are implied for the implementing organization?
The description implies the award recipient must coordinate individualized fellowship placements, deliver leadership and professional development programming, organize a large cohort-wide capstone forum in Washington, D.C., and manage two-directional exchanges. This includes international travel logistics and stakeholder coordination across multiple countries, with activities designed to create concrete professional linkages and sustained collaboration.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
The opportunity is open to: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and other eligible applicants as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
How many awards does the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipates making one award.
What is the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $4,467,000.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0017815.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) is 19.415.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date listed is April 20, 2026.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record indicates a creation date of February 19, 2026.
Which countries or governments does the program focus on?
The program focuses on emerging leaders from Southeast Asia and is described as building connections with leaders from ASEAN member states.
Is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) important?
Yes. The description states that the Notice of Funding Opportunity is the authoritative reference for full requirements, expected deliverables, and application instructions.
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