The 2025 Young Trilateral Leaders (YTL) eSports Competition is a funding opportunity announced by the U.S. Embassy Seoul, under the U.S. Department of State's Public Diplomacy Section. This program is designed to foster cross-border collaboration among youth aged 20-39 from the United States, Republic of Korea (ROK), and Japan through a combination of virtual and in-person activities centered on an eSports competition. The program is part of a broader initiative to strengthen trilateral relations, promoting cooperation among young leaders from the three countries. The total funding available for this initiative is $100,000, with a single award anticipated. The performance period for the project is 12 months, starting in January 2025. The deadline for applications is December 2, 2024, 11:59 p.m. GMT+9.

The primary objective of the YTL eSports Competition is to create trilateral teams of young leaders who will compete in an eSports tournament to be held in the Republic of Korea in the first half of 2025. The program is designed to go beyond just gaming, incorporating training on critical skills such as cross-cultural communication, teamwork, strategic thinking, and conflict resolution. Participants will also explore how eSports can be used for social good, focusing on values like sportsmanship, healthy competition, and combating discrimination in digital spaces. The program aims to build a cohort of young leaders who can work together across national boundaries and promote broader trilateral cooperation.

The funding will cover the recruitment of participants, virtual engagements, and the logistics of the final in-person competition. The successful applicant must include a robust plan for recruiting participants from diverse backgrounds and ensuring virtual and in-person engagement opportunities. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate a strong monitoring and evaluation plan to measure the program’s impact. The program’s success will be measured by how well it fosters trilateral collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, and skills development among the participants. Proposals must include an American element, connecting the program to U.S. organizations, experts, or institutions, and the competition itself should feature games developed by Korean, Japanese, or American companies.

Eligible applicants for this grant are not-for-profit organizations, public and private educational institutions, and governmental or international organizations from the U.S., Republic of Korea, and Japan. For-profit entities are not eligible. Although cost-sharing is not required, proposals may include cost-sharing elements to strengthen the application. Organizations must be registered with SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Each organization may only submit one proposal, and any organization submitting more than one proposal will be disqualified from consideration.

The application must include various required forms, including the SF-424 family forms available on Grants.gov, a 10-page maximum proposal that outlines the project goals, objectives, activities, and timeline, as well as key personnel and partners. Proposals should also include a detailed budget justification that accounts for all project costs. The application must be submitted via email to SeoulPDGrants@state.gov by the deadline, and any incomplete or non-compliant submissions will be deemed ineligible.

Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and feasibility of the proposed program, the applicant’s organizational capacity and track record with previous grants, and the degree to which the proposal aligns with the objectives of the YTL program. A strong emphasis will also be placed on the applicant’s ability to engage diverse and underserved communities. A review committee will assess the proposals, and award notices will be sent by December 2024. Recipients are required to report regularly on financial and programmatic progress throughout the duration of the grant.