Opportunity Information: Apply for PD LAO 2019 002
The YSEALI Regional Workshop: Agri-Biz Incubator (Funding Opportunity Number PD LAO 2019 002) is a U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Laos grant competition announced by the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane to fund one organization to design and run a five-day, in-country regional workshop in Laos focused on agriculture-related entrepreneurship. The program is part of YSEALI, the U.S. government initiative aimed at building a cross-border network of emerging Southeast Asian leaders who collaborate on shared challenges. The workshop is intended to convene about 50 participants ages 18 to 35 from ASEAN countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) plus Timor-Leste, and to strengthen their ability to launch or grow responsible, sustainable agri-business ventures.
At its core, the opportunity is looking for an implementing partner that can run the workshop like a practical incubator for youth-led agri-business ideas. The Embassy emphasizes a blend of theory and hands-on learning that helps participants translate sustainable agriculture concepts into viable small and medium enterprise (SME) models. The stated long-term goal is to support innovative, sustainable agricultural SMEs that create jobs, improve local livelihoods, and potentially open new areas for U.S. trade and investment across ASEAN, aligning with broader public diplomacy goals around inclusive economic growth and prosperity in the East Asia and Pacific region.
The funding notice grounds the workshop in the Lao and Mekong context: agriculture remains central to the Lao economy, yet malnutrition remains a serious problem, affecting nearly one third of Lao children. At the same time, the region has seen increasing cooperation and research on low-impact, environmentally sound production methods that can raise yields while supporting community health and sustainability. Examples mentioned include rain-fed agriculture, intercropping, and organic or low-chemical approaches. The opportunity also points to the growth of functional farm businesses and cooperatives in southern Laos that use simple, innovative technologies to boost production, increase revenues, reduce operating costs, and create local jobs. These local examples are treated as a living laboratory that workshop participants can learn from and adapt to their own countries.
Program design is expected to include three integrated components. First, a classroom-based segment led by experts should cover key topics such as trends in agri-business SMEs, practical technologies and techniques applicable in the region, and comparative discussion so participants can share models from their home countries. Second, a field-based segment should include site visits to successful local SMEs and farm businesses where participants can directly observe operations, sustainability practices, community participation approaches, and the real-world constraints SMEs face. Third, a mentoring component should guide participants as they develop their own projects or business models, ideally working in teams to shape realistic micro-initiatives, business plans, or outreach and training concepts that strengthen existing SMEs or support new startups when they return home.
The preferred workshop location is Champasak in southern Laos, though other locations may be considered. Champasak is highlighted as a strong fit because it is a known agricultural production area, sits near the Thailand and Cambodia borders, and has sufficient tourism infrastructure (hotels and logistics) to support a regional event. The implementing organization is expected to have demonstrated capacity in youth leadership and social entrepreneurship, with agriculture experience described as a plus. Beyond technical content, the program is also expected to emphasize sustainable business models that build local skills and labor, improve health and livelihoods, and strengthen market linkages for youth-led enterprises, including better competitiveness and more effective marketing of farm products.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and allows awards via either a grant or a cooperative agreement. It falls under CFDA 19.040 and spans several activity areas including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, employment and training, environment, food and nutrition, and natural resources. Eligible applicants include U.S. or non-U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, and other entities as further clarified in the full eligibility guidance. The award ceiling listed is $250,000, with one expected award, and the competition was originally posted May 20, 2019 with an original closing date of July 31, 2019, contingent on the availability of FY2019 funds.Apply for PD LAO 2019 002
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Laos in the agriculture, business and commerce, community development, employment, labor and training, environment, food and nutrition, income security and social services, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "YSEALI Regional Workshop: Agri-Biz Incubator" 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 May 20, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 2019. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled YSEALI Regional Workshop: Agri-Biz Incubator and is identified by Funding Opportunity Number PD LAO 2019 002.
Who is offering this grant competition?
The competition is offered by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Laos, and it was announced by the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane.
What is the purpose of the grant?
The grant is intended to fund one organization to design and run a five-day, in-country regional workshop in Laos focused on agriculture-related entrepreneurship, structured like a practical incubator for youth-led agri-business ideas.
How does this opportunity relate to YSEALI?
The workshop is part of YSEALI (the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative), a U.S. government initiative that aims to build a cross-border network of emerging Southeast Asian leaders who collaborate on shared challenges.
What type of program is being funded?
The program is a five-day regional workshop in Laos designed to function as an agri-business incubator, combining theory and hands-on learning to help participants develop viable, responsible, and sustainable agri-business concepts and SME models.
How many participants is the workshop expected to convene?
The workshop is intended to convene about 50 participants.
Who is the intended participant audience?
The intended participants are young leaders ages 18 to 35 from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, with an emphasis on building their ability to launch or grow responsible, sustainable agri-business ventures.
Which countries are included for participant recruitment?
Participants are expected from the ASEAN countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, plus Timor-Leste.
What are the long-term goals of the workshop?
The long-term goal is to support innovative, sustainable agricultural SMEs that can create jobs, improve local livelihoods, and potentially open new areas for U.S. trade and investment across ASEAN, aligning with public diplomacy goals around inclusive economic growth and prosperity in the East Asia and Pacific region.
Why is Laos and the Mekong context emphasized?
The notice highlights that agriculture remains central to the Lao economy, while malnutrition remains a serious problem, affecting nearly one third of Lao children. It also points to growing regional cooperation and research on low-impact, environmentally sound production methods that can raise yields while supporting health and sustainability.
What types of sustainable agriculture approaches are referenced?
Examples mentioned include rain-fed agriculture, intercropping, and organic or low-chemical approaches.
What kinds of local examples are participants expected to learn from?
The opportunity references the growth of functional farm businesses and cooperatives in southern Laos that use simple, innovative technologies to boost production, increase revenues, reduce operating costs, and create local jobs. These examples are treated as a living laboratory for participants to learn from and adapt in their home countries.
What are the required program components?
The workshop design is expected to include three integrated components: (1) a classroom-based expert-led segment, (2) a field-based segment with site visits, and (3) a mentoring component to guide participant project or business model development.
What is expected in the classroom-based segment?
The classroom-based portion should be led by experts and cover topics such as trends in agri-business SMEs, practical technologies and techniques applicable in the region, and comparative discussion so participants can share models from their home countries.
What is expected in the field-based segment?
The field-based portion should include site visits to successful local SMEs and farm businesses so participants can observe operations, sustainability practices, community participation approaches, and the real-world constraints SMEs face.
What is expected in the mentoring component?
The mentoring component should guide participants as they develop their own projects or business models, ideally working in teams to produce realistic micro-initiatives, business plans, or outreach and training concepts that strengthen existing SMEs or support new startups after participants return home.
Where is the workshop expected to take place?
The preferred location is Champasak in southern Laos, although other locations may be considered.
Why is Champasak identified as a preferred location?
Champasak is highlighted because it is a known agricultural production area, is near the Thailand and Cambodia borders, and has sufficient tourism infrastructure (hotels and logistics) to support a regional event.
What kind of organization is the funder looking for to implement the workshop?
The implementing partner is expected to have demonstrated capacity in youth leadership and social entrepreneurship. Agriculture experience is described as a plus.
Beyond technical training, what themes should the workshop emphasize?
The program is expected to emphasize sustainable business models that build local skills and labor, improve health and livelihoods, and strengthen market linkages for youth-led enterprises, including improved competitiveness and more effective marketing of farm products.
What is the award type for this opportunity?
Awards may be issued as either a grant or a cooperative agreement.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.040.
What activity areas does the opportunity cover?
The notice spans activity areas including agriculture, business and commerce, community development, employment and training, environment, food and nutrition, and natural resources.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. or non-U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, as well as other entities as further clarified in the full eligibility guidance.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates one expected award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The listed award ceiling is $250,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The competition was originally posted on May 20, 2019, with an original closing date of July 31, 2019, contingent on the availability of FY2019 funds.
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