U.S.-ASEAN Road to 50: Rising Leaders Forum

About this funding opportunity

The U.S. Mission to ASEAN (USASEAN) Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition for applications to develop, organize, and oversee the U.S.-ASEAN Road to 50: Rising Leaders Forum. This one-day Jakarta workshop will gather approximately 50 rising leaders selected exclusively from the USASEAN alumni networks across Southeast Asia. Celebrating 50 years of partnership, this forum looks ahead to the next 50 years: building an independent, self-sustaining alumni network that collaborates to address regional challenges and advance shared goals.

Participants will design joint action plans aligned with U.S. priorities, including strengthening the U.S.-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), ASEAN centrality, AI, digital economy, energy security, critical minerals, resilient supply chains, maritime security, and entrepreneurship. Through expert panels, strategy sessions, and a joint social media campaign, alumni will turn shared policy goals into practical, cross-border initiatives that mark the U.S.-ASEAN relationships successes over the past 50 years and prepare for even more triumphs over the next 50. Please follow all instructions below.

Read the full NOFO here: https://asean.usmission.gov/nofo-u-s-asean-road-to-50-rising-leaders-forum/

Topic areas: Social Innovation and Community Development, Education and Training, General and Cross-cutting R&D, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Energy and Environment, Security and Defense.

Funding amount

This cooperative agreement provides $60K-$85K in funding, up to $85K per award.

Deadline

Applications are due Aug 30, 2026. Confirm the exact closing time on the official program page before applying.

Who can apply

This opportunity is open to the following applicant types:

• Other
• NGOs
• University
• Individuals
• Public Authorities

Eligibility

● Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations ● Public and private educational institutions ● Individuals ● Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions

Agency

U.S.-ASEAN Road to 50: Rising Leaders Forum is administered by U.S. Mission to ASEAN (ASEAN), listed via Grants.gov.