FY 2026 Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Professional Fellowship

The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs through its Office of Citizen Exchanges. The program operates under the authority of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act, and is designed to strengthen mutual understanding between the United States and countries in Southeast Asia. This initiative reflects U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Indo-Pacific region by cultivating emerging leaders and strengthening regional partnerships grounded in economic cooperation, democratic values, and security collaboration. The purpose of the program is to develop a network of emerging leaders from ASEAN member states who demonstrate strong leadership potential and a commitment to advancing collaboration with the United States. The fellowship focuses on four strategic themes: economic prosperity, strategic energy and minerals, liberty and freedom, and peace and security. Participants engage in professional fellowships in the United States, gaining exposure to American systems, institutions, and practices while building long-term partnerships that support regional stability and shared prosperity. The program also includes reciprocal exchanges where U.S. professionals travel to Southeast Asia to reinforce partnerships and support participant-led initiatives. Funding supports a comprehensive program structure that includes recruitment and selection, pre-departure orientations, U.S.-based fellowships, leadership development curricula, and alumni engagement activities. The award recipient is responsible for managing all program components, including participant travel, stipends, housing, and program logistics. Allowable costs include travel, per diem, materials development, professional placements, workshops, and alumni grants. Restrictions include adherence to federal cost principles, limits on certain expenses such as room rentals and honoraria, and compliance with U.S. government regulations, including the Fly America Act and restrictions on certain technologies. Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and educational institutions with demonstrated experience in international exchange programming. Applicants must have a valid Unique Entity Identifier and registration in SAM.gov. Organizations with less than four years of relevant experience may receive limited funding. Applicants may partner with subrecipients to implement program components but must maintain overall responsibility for program management and compliance. Only one proposal per organization will be accepted, and proposals must meet all technical and formatting requirements to be considered. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as the SF-424 form, executive summary, proposal narrative, detailed budget, and budget narrative. Applicants must design a program that aligns with stated goals and demonstrate capacity to manage large-scale international exchanges. Evaluation criteria include program quality, institutional capacity, cost-effectiveness, and the strength of monitoring and evaluation plans. Selected applicants will work closely with the Department of State under a cooperative agreement structure, with substantial federal involvement in program oversight. The application deadline is May 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The anticipated award date is September 15, 2026, with a performance period of 30 months. The program is expected to operate across multiple cohorts beginning in 2027 and 2028. While the notice does not explicitly state recurrence, the program structure indicates an ongoing initiative with annual or periodic cycles. For questions, applicants may contact Program Officer Davron Mirsagatov at [email protected] or by phone at 202-632-2718.

Align proposal closely with U.S. foreign policy priorities; demonstrate strong monitoring and evaluation framework; highlight institutional experience managing large international exchange programs