2020 Young Pacific Leaders Conference (YPL) in Papua New Guinea (Fully Funded)

The United States Department of State, in partnership with Cultural Vistas, is now accepting applications from emerging leaders across the Pacific to attend the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference in Papua New Guinea in April.

The seventh Young Pacific Leaders Conference in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, will enhance Pacific leaders’, ages 25-35, leadership skills and regional knowledge to advance the economic vibrancy and civic engagement within the region. The YPL Conference will include informational sessions, skills workshops, cultural activities, and site visits to deepen participants’ capacity to address regional issues related to YPL’s four programmatic themes: Education; Environment and Resource Management; Civic Leadership; and Economic and Social Development.

Applicants will be selected from across the independent Pacific states, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Pacific French Territories, and the American-affiliated Pacific (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii). Outstanding alumni of previous conferences are also invited to apply to participate in the 2020 YPL Conference as alumni mentors. All applications are due by February 3, 2020 and can be completed online.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Cultural Vistas at YPL@culturalvistas.org for any questions about the conference, or to request a fillable PDF version of application if needed. Participants will be required to attend the full conference program (April 21 – 24, 2020, not including travel days).

Benefit:

All travel, lodging and meals will be provided to selected participants and alumni.At the conclusion of the YPL Conference, all YPL alumni will be eligible to compete for small grant funding to support projects in their countries and the region. In addition, conference participants and the larger YPL community will participate in YPL LEADS throughout the month of May, a month-long event highlighting the YPL program through service-related activities in their communities

Requirement:

Applicants must be between 25-35 years old at time of the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference.
Applicants must be a citizen and current resident of one of the YPL countries: Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Islands of French Polynesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and the American-affiliated Pacific including American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii.
Applicants must be fluent in English. The YPL Conference will be held entirely in English.
Applicants must have a minimum of two-years work experience.
Applicants must be able to travel to Papua New Guinea and attend the 2020 YPL Conference in its entirety. The YPL Program will cover all travel, accommodation and meals for selected recipients. The YPL Program will only arrange participant travel from YPL-eligible countries to the Conference. If you currently reside outside of the region, you will be responsible for arranging your own travel to a YPL country for Conference travel to Papua New Guinea.

*Please note travel dates may vary based on location of departure and may require extended layovers depending on flight itineraries. Please contact Cultural Vistas for more information at YPL@culturalvistas.org.

How to Apply:

Prepare electronic versions of the following items; you will upload them at the end of the application HERE:

Current C.V. or Resume (Limit 2 pages, Word Document or PDF format)
Passport: Accepted participants must have a passport valid through 1 December 2020 at the time of the conference. A copy of the biographic page is required (page with picture, legal name, birth information) and can be uploaded towards the end of the online application

Complete this form in entirety including the two essay questions
Upload the required documents
Review and agree to program terms and conditions
Submit
Re-directed to the "Thank You" page of the application and receipt of an email confirmation to the email you've indicated in the application. If you do not receive this email, your application submission was not received. Please re-submit.
It is recommended that applicants have all required documents (resumes, written materials, etc.) ready and in Word Document or PDF formats prior to beginning the application. No other format types are supported and any materials submitted in other formats will not be accepted, deeming the application incomplete.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.