U.S. Embassy Seoul is offering a grant to advance Trilateral Women in Security cooperation between the U.S., Korea, and Japan.

Funding Opportunity Title: Trilateral Women in Security

Funding Opportunity Number: PD-SEOUL-FY24-06

Deadline for Applications: August 12, 2024, 11:59 p.m. GMT+9

CFDA Number: 19.040

Total Amount Available: $180,000

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The United States is deeply committed to advancing gender equity and equality as a critical element of peace and security. The security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region depends on the meaningful integration of women security experts, particularly in the joint cooperation between the United States, Korea, and Japan.  To promote this vital cooperation, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul seeks proposals from organizations (preferably Korea-based or in collaboration with a Korea-based organization) to gather five female-identifying experts from both Korea and Japan (a total of ten) to explore the importance of trilateral cooperation in achieving mutual prosperity and security in the region. The selected grantee will coordinate closely with the U.S. embassies in Seoul and Tokyo to design and implement this two-way exchange program to encourage discussion on shared security priorities and effective trilateral engagement. The grantee will also facilitate the publication of any key outcomes following the program, targeting security and foreign policy experts in both countries.   

Key Themes

This program represents the second year of Embassy Seoul’s Trilateral Women in Security Program (TWIS). While the 2023-2024 iteration of the program focused broadly on trilateral U.S.- Korea-Japan security cooperation, this iteration of the program should promote themes related to trilateral U.S.-Korea- Japan security cooperation on the below issues:

o  Maritime security.

o  Critical and emerging technologies: Safeguarding responsible usage of critical and emerging technologies like cyber and space.

o  AI and Disinformation: Countering the weaponization of Artificial Intelligence and addressing the increasing national security threats posed by foreign information manipulation.

Outputs/Outcomes 

Ten opinion leaders from Korea and Japan will participate in this year-long grant program, including virtual topic-based discussions, exchange activities in Korea and Japan, and the publication of advisory papers and articles detailing lessons learned from the program for secondary audiences.

Details/Logistics 

This is a cooperative agreement.  The selected grantee will work closely with U.S. Embassy Seoul and U.S. Embassy Tokyo to develop and manage the program schedule, identify participants, and design on-the-ground exchange activities.  The program participants are expected to gather virtually once a month to develop a forward-looking agenda for U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation.  Program participants should represent women in security, including experts in economic security, emerging technologies, Indo-Pacific Strategy and foreign policy.  At the end of the program, participants should draft policy advisory papers, implement press interviews, publish columns in newspapers, and/or conduct public outreach programs to share their findings.

Grantee Expectations  

Think tanks, research institutions, and academic associations are encouraged to apply.  This project will facilitate in-depth discussions between Korean and Japanese participants and site visits to organizations in both countries, including ministries of foreign affairs, local research institutes, and other relevant sites. The grantee is expected to have close relations with stakeholders in Korea and Japan for effective communication, planning, and execution.

Note: Not mandatory, but you may use the templates provided here:

Proposal Template / Budget Template

All application materials must be submitted by email to SeoulPDGrants@state.gov