Young Pacific Leaders Conference and Regional Workshops | PDS NEWZEALAND 2025 02

Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS NEWZEALAND 2025 02

The Young Pacific Leaders Conference and Regional Workshops grant opportunity is an open, competitive funding call from the U.S. Embassy New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), part of the U.S. Department of State. Through this program, PDS is looking for qualified organizations to design and deliver between one and four Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) convenings, consisting of one annual conference option and up to three regional workshop options. The overall aim is regional development through leadership engagement and practical policy and skills programming that supports a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Pacific region, with an emphasis on issues that align with U.S. partnerships and security interests in the Pacific.

Funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the award recipient should expect an active partnership with the U.S. government during program implementation rather than operating entirely independently. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: PDS NEWZEALAND 2025 02; CFDA: 19.040) anticipates making up to four awards. The maximum funding level listed is USD 100,000, and each of the four proposed program tracks is described as being budgeted at about USD 100,000, suggesting applicants may apply to run one track or propose multiple tracks depending on their capacity and approach. The application deadline is August 15, 2025, and the opportunity was posted July 17, 2025.

Applicants are invited to propose and implement one or more of the following activities. First is a YPL Annual Conference to be held in New Caledonia or another Melanesian country. This convening is framed around multilateral policy discussions and is intended to bolster U.S. security alliances and partnerships across the Pacific, supporting regional stability and prosperity. Second is a YPL Regional Workshop on Security of Food Supply, to be hosted in Kiribati or another YPL country. The focus areas include commercial fishing, land and ocean-based resource management, and maritime domain awareness, connecting food security to sustainable resource governance and the broader operating environment at sea. Third is a YPL Regional Workshop on Digital Media Technology, planned for Australia or New Zealand, centered on strengthening digital reporting skills, experimenting with storytelling formats, developing news revenue models, and generally expanding the technical and business capabilities needed for resilient digital journalism, with the stated goal of contributing to a safer Pacific region. Fourth is a YPL Regional Workshop on Health Security, to be held in a YPL country, focusing on health security as a component of national security and public safety, emphasizing preparedness and protective measures that reduce risks to communities and governments.

Eligibility is broad but limited to specific organization types: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both those with U.S. 501(c)(3) status and those without 501(c)(3) status). In practical terms, this competition is geared toward universities, research and training institutions, and experienced nonprofit implementers capable of convening regional participants, delivering specialized content, coordinating cross-border logistics, and meeting U.S. government assistance requirements.

• The U.S. Mission to New Zealand in the regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Young Pacific Leaders Conference and Regional Workshops" 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 2025-07-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-15. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 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, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for PDS NEWZEALAND 2025 02

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