FY2022 U.S. Embassy Tokyo Strategic Speaker Program | TOKYO PAS FY22 01 11

Opportunity Information: Apply for TOKYO PAS FY22 01 11

The FY2022 U.S. Embassy Tokyo Strategic Speaker Program is a competitive U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run through the Public Affairs Section at U.S. Mission Japan. Its purpose is to support an organization that can design and deliver a U.S. Speakers Program that brings U.S. citizen subject matter experts to engage audiences across Japan. The core idea is public diplomacy: using credible, dynamic American experts to share knowledge and perspectives in ways that strengthen U.S.-Japan ties, shape discussion on shared priorities, and build practical relationships between American specialists and Japanese professionals and students.

The program is built around speaker engagements that can reach both professional and student communities throughout the country, not just in Tokyo. Proposed activities can be in person or virtual, but because the opportunity was released during ongoing COVID-related uncertainty, applications are expected to include a realistic virtual engagement plan. A strong proposal would therefore outline how the program maintains impact even if travel is limited, including online formats that still allow interaction, Q and A, workshops, and networking opportunities rather than one-way lectures.

Content areas are explicitly tied to strategic priorities for the United States and Japan. The Embassy is looking for programming that can influence local audiences on regional security; strengthening PhD-level STEM education in Japan; cybersecurity; the intersection of climate and security; diversity, equity, and inclusion; advancing womens economic empowerment; supply chain protection; and research integrity. In practice, this means the implementing organization would likely be responsible for identifying and recruiting appropriate U.S. citizen experts, developing event themes and session designs suited to Japanese audiences, coordinating with local host institutions, and ensuring the speakers content connects to these themes in concrete and relevant ways.

Relationship-building is not treated as a side benefit but as an explicit goal. Beyond presentations, the program is intended to create tangible networking and contact-building opportunities between U.S. experts and Japanese participants. A competitive approach would describe mechanisms to make those connections durable, such as small-group roundtables, office hours, mentor-style sessions with students and early-career researchers, matchmaking with relevant industry or academic counterparts, and follow-on engagement that continues after a talk ends.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the Department of State, U.S. Mission to Japan, and it can be awarded as either a grant or a cooperative agreement. The total funding ceiling is $200,000, and the Embassy anticipated making one award, meaning applicants should plan for a single, cohesive national-level program rather than multiple unrelated projects. The activity categories span business and commerce, education, employment and workforce development, environment, and science and technology/research, reflecting the mix of policy, academic, and applied topics the speakers may cover. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and city or township governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not higher education institutions in that particular category). The opportunity was created February 21, 2022, with an original application deadline of April 15, 2022, under funding opportunity number TOKYO PAS FY22 01 11 and CFDA 19.040.

Overall, the opportunity funds one implementing partner to run a structured, theme-driven speaker series that advances shared U.S.-Japan strategic priorities, reaches audiences nationwide, and produces meaningful professional connections, with a built-in capacity to pivot to virtual delivery when necessary.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Japan in the business and commerce, education, employment, labor and training, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2022 U.S. Embassy Tokyo Strategic Speaker Program" 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 Feb 21, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2022. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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.

Apply for TOKYO PAS FY22 01 11

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