The U.S. Embassy Tokyo’s Public Affairs Section is offering this grant to empower International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni and bolster the U.S.-Japan relationship.

U.S. Embassy Tokyo’s Public Affairs Section announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program designed to bring together past participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) with the goal of strengthening their sense of identity as USG alumni and as leaders in support of the U.S.-Japan relationship. 

Program Objectives:  The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) — the Department of State’s premier professional exchange initiative for emerging leaders — fosters mutual understanding and the development of cultural and professional connections. The program has over 225,000 alumni worldwide. In Japan, the program started in 1953. Currently, Japan has over 3,800 IVLP alumni in a range of fields in government, academia, and industry. IVLP celebrates its 70th anniversary in Japan in 2023, making this is an opportune time to reflect on the accomplishments of IVLP alumni contributing to a variety of fields in Japan and showcase their contributions to the U.S.-Japan partnership.

The award recipient will be responsible for planning and administering all components of a program, such as a forum, workshop or seminar series, to bring together alumni of the IVLP to coincide with the program’s 70th anniversary in Japan in 2023. Program contents will be designed to strengthen IVLP alumni’s sense of identity as U.S. Government exchange program alumni and as leaders in support of the U.S.-Japan relationship. The award recipient should schedule program activities in coordination with the U.S. Mission to Japan.

The program should connect Japanese IVLP alumni across years and program themes by highlighting contributions of those alumni who are applying tools or knowledge gained through their IVLP experiences in activities that dovetail with support for Mission goals. Facilitated workshops or speaker sessions in the program would empower alumni by providing them with training/skills development and/or enhanced knowledge of resources and tools to pursue professional or personal goals. Specific topical themes to be explored during the program could include empowerment of women in political and economic spheres, diversity, inclusion and equity, climate change, the security alliance, etc.

Program activities should take place in Japan and should multiply the effects of participants’ exchange experience by positively impacting communities in Japan. Applicants from outside Japan are strongly encouraged to collaborate and coordinate with project partners in Japan to implement the activities.

IVLP alumni have varying levels of English language proficiency. The applicant should budget for interpretation and translation if needed to successfully conduct program activities.

Many, but not all, Japanese IVLP alumni are based in the Kanto area. Ideally, the program activities will be held in-person and engage alumni from regions throughout Japan. Applicants may budget some grant funds to pay for a portion of alumni travel to participate in program activities.

Participants and Audiences: Program activities must engage Japanese audiences, with a focus on IVLP alumni.