YSEALI Regional Workshop: Enhancing Digital Connectivity for All | SMY300 FY2020 YSEALI WS

Opportunity Information: Apply for SMY300 FY2020 YSEALI WS

The YSEALI Regional Workshop: Enhancing Digital Connectivity for All (Funding Opportunity Number: SMY300 FY2020 YSEALI WS) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Mission to Malaysia (Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur). It funds a cooperative agreement to design, organize, and deliver a three-day Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) regional workshop in Malaysia focused on strengthening digital governance and digital economy efforts across ASEAN. The core intent is practical and capacity-building: helping ASEAN stakeholders develop workable solutions that fit within real-world constraints of existing infrastructure, especially in areas outside major cities where connectivity and access gaps are still a major barrier to benefiting from digital public services and online economic opportunities.

The workshop is designed to address a common regional challenge: ASEAN countries are progressing at different speeds on digital economy and e-governance strategies, but in the near to mid-term many communities will remain limited by current infrastructure and access. Because of that, the program emphasizes realistic approaches that can be implemented now, rather than relying on ideal future network conditions. The workshop aims to expand the reach of online municipal services, improve access to digital education, and open up economic opportunities tied to the growing digital marketplace, with particular attention to rural and underserved populations. It also aligns with and is intended to complement broader Indo-Pacific strategy priorities related to good governance and human capital development.

A key feature of the program is cross-sector collaboration. The planned workshop will convene practitioners from regional governments, municipalities, and nongovernmental organizations alongside technology experts. This mix is meant to produce concrete, implementable ideas for improving connectivity and enabling digital inclusion, rather than remaining at the level of general discussion. The event location is Sarawak, Malaysia, selected in part because the state is positioning itself as a regional leader in connectivity and has invested significant resources to connect rural communities, making it a relevant setting for hands-on learning and solution development.

In terms of funding and eligibility, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, signaling that the U.S. government expects to be actively involved in the project’s implementation rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal engagement. The activity category is listed under science and technology and other research and development (CFDA 19.040). Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as nonprofit organizations, including both those with 501(c)(3) status and those without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions). The opportunity was created on April 29, 2020, with an original application deadline of July 30, 2020. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $250,000, and the agency anticipated making up to 10 awards.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Malaysia in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "YSEALI Regional Workshop: Enhancing Digital Connectivity for All" 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 Apr 29, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2020. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 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.

Apply for SMY300 FY2020 YSEALI WS

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