PDS-NEWZEALAND-2026-03 Young Pacific Leaders Solutions Labs

The U.S. Department of State’s Mission New Zealand Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition to implement a program to advance U.S.- New Zealand economic, scientific, and cultural ties. The program is intended to support organizations to build capacity to strengthen or advance the U.S.-New Zealand relationship. Projects may address one or more of the following areas but are not strictly limited to the following topics: · Promoting science by reinforcing cooperation in key domains, including (but not limited to) scientific research in Antarctica, space exploration and regulatory frameworks, and critical technology and artificial intelligence. · Advancing prosperity by promoting economic growth and innovation with a focus on biotechnology, space technology, and broader innovation sectors. · Strengthening democratic values and ties through programs that celebrate shared democratic principles, cultural connections, and innovative spirit of the peoples of the United States and New Zealand, including but not limited to programming leveraging sports, education, and other areas of connection. This Annual Program Statement (APS) seeks to partner with eligible entities, including not-for-profit organizations, education institutions, individuals, or government institutions, to advance U.S. foreign policy by strengthening the U.S.-New Zealand partnership in science, innovation, and shared values. By promoting collaboration in scientific research, space, critical technology, and disaster management, the APS supports a free and open Indo-Pacific and helps shape global standards. Initiatives in biotechnology and space technology foster economic growth and expand opportunities for U.S. businesses. Programs that highlight our shared history and values reinforce U.S. leadership and mutual understanding, laying the groundwork for lasting cooperation.

The U.S. Department of State’s U.S. Mission New Zealand announces an open competition to implement a program to advance U.S.-Cook Islands and U.S.-Niue maritime cooperation, economic and cultural ties. The program is intended to support local solutions and build local capacity to: 1. Increase economic linkages with the United States 2. Promote long-term economic prosperity through natural resource management 3. Reduce threats against the United States and the Pacific region. Projects are encouraged to include a plan to build capacity and technical expertise among local communities and organizations. Projects may address one or more of the following areas, but are not strictly limited to the following topics: · Increasing economic linkages with the United States through exchange, education, work, and trade promotion programs; · Promoting long-term prosperity by incorporating best practices for natural resource management; · Advancing U.S.-Cook Islands and U.S.-Niue cooperation to enhance safety, especially in digital media, information technology, emergency preparedness, artificial intelligence, maritime, health, and other related sectors. Projects may propose activities targeted through this solicitation in the following countries: Cook Islands and Niue.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (EAP) and U.S. Consulate General Auckland announce an open competition to implement Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Solutions Labs, a series of workshops centered around the following U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Pacific region: · Unlocking Investment in the Pacific · Advancing the American Decade of Sports for Pacific Economic Impact · Pursuing Peace in the Pacific with Faith Communities · Promoting Digital Freedom and Open Information Environments Applicants may apply to host one, more, or all of the YPL workshops in the series with the average cost of one workshop being roughly $100,000 to $250,000. Since 2013, the YPL program has cultivated the target audience and participants of emerging Pacific Island Country (PICs) leaders ages 20-40 into advocates for U.S. policy in a region of increasing strategic importance. Since YPL’s inception YPL alumni have delivered on U.S. priorities across the region. The YPL Solutions Labs will be a series throughout 2026-2028 to catalyze advocacy and action on U.S. priorities. The YPL Solutions Labs will build on past YPL programs that advanced U.S. foreign policy priorities in the Pacific region, namely previous conferences, workshops, exchanges, YPL alumni-led projects, community service activities, and digital engagement.