Management of U.S. Embassy Youth Council (USYC) Program | PAS KTM NOFO 23 05

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS KTM NOFO 23 05

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is seeking an organization to manage its U.S. Embassy Youth Council (USYC) Program 2024, a flagship youth leadership and civic engagement platform that has operated since 2011. The program brings together roughly 50 to 55 Nepali young adults (ages 20 to 30) for a membership term during which they take part in networking opportunities, Embassy-linked events, training sessions, and hands-on community work. The Embassy is offering funding through a cooperative agreement, meaning the Public Affairs Section will stay actively involved in key decisions such as approving program content, helping select council members, and providing speakers and technical experts. The opportunity is open to not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and public or private academic institutions. Proposals were required to be submitted by email to KTMgrants@state.gov by July 23, 2023; late submissions would not be considered.

USYC was created to give the Embassy a direct channel to engage with Nepali youth on issues that matter to them, while also encouraging those youth to become more active in their communities and civil society. Interest in the program is high; the notice cites that more than 2,700 young people applied in 2022. The program has a track record of helping participants turn ideas into practical civic or social initiatives. Examples referenced include Project Upskill (employability skills for graduating students), eConstruction (supporting reconstruction efforts after the 2015 earthquake), Lunch Box (supporting rural women to start small businesses), iConstitution (an app to help citizens understand Nepal's constitution and rights), and Model Debate (creating dialogue between electoral candidates and young voters). The Embassy is looking for an implementer that can continue that momentum by recruiting a diverse cohort and keeping members engaged with meaningful, well-structured activities throughout their term.

The primary target group is Nepali youth ages 20 to 30, with several representation requirements built into recruitment. At least 50 percent of selected council members should be female, and the cohort should reflect geographic coverage across all seven provinces. Participants are expected to have a bachelors degree or higher, and the selection should intentionally represent Nepal's cultural, religious, ethnic, and social diversity. The recruitment process is expected to be open, transparent, and objective, which implies clear eligibility rules, widely shared announcements, fair review procedures, and documented selection decisions.

The overall goal aligns with the Embassy's broader public diplomacy priorities in Nepal: strengthening democracy, expanding economic prosperity, and building resilience by equipping youth with skills, networks, and resources to contribute to positive change. The opportunity lays out several concrete objectives for the implementing partner. These include selecting and onboarding 50 to 55 diverse youth; delivering capacity-building training and professional development activities; supporting members to design and implement approximately 5 to 7 Civic Engagement Projects (CEPs); organizing events that strengthen relationships between USYC members and the U.S. Embassy; and improving participants' empowerment, exposure, and leadership skills. Another specific expectation is to leverage the experience of USYC alumni, including making recommendations on how alumni can be incorporated into future Embassy programming, mentoring, or events.

From a funding and timeline standpoint, the award is expected to support a 15-month performance period with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2023. The listed award amount is $75,000, funded through FY23 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds (CFDA 19.040). The notice also makes clear the Embassy can choose to award more or less than the stated amount if it determines that is in the U.S. government's best interest, subject to funds availability and grants officer approval. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, applicants should expect ongoing coordination with Embassy staff and shared responsibility for major program elements, especially those connected to selection decisions, program design, and speaker or expert engagement.

A cross-cutting requirement throughout the program is a strong emphasis on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). Applicants are expected to propose practical strategies to broaden participation and ensure inclusive implementation, considering diverse perspectives and identities including religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, national origin, and age. In practice, this signals that the implementer should think beyond basic outreach and build accessible application processes, equitable selection methods, and inclusive programming approaches that allow participants from varied backgrounds and regions to engage fully.

• The U.S. Mission to Nepal in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Management of U.S. Embassy Youth Council (USYC) Program" 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 2023-06-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-23. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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