U.S. Department of State IVLP Impact Awards
Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implements the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Awards Initiative. Nearly 250 Awardees, who are IVLP Alumni from across the world, administer community impact projects that build on their exchange experience and promote innovative solutions to shared challenges. Along with a series of programs varied by theme and region, the Initiative aims to engage alumni, strengthen the IVLP network and support lasting community impact.
Our IVLP Impact Awardees in the World
Our IVLP Impact Awardees
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About the IVLP Impact Awards
The application process for the IVLP Impact Awards is now closed. Stay tuned for any future application information. The U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center accepted applications from 2021 IVLP Alumni and IVLP Alumni of the European and Central Asian Regions for community impact projects that address issues related to the war against Ukraine. This was a competitive process where project proposals could request funding up to $5,000 U.S. Dollars (USD). The U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center reviewed, evaluated and selected projects that met the below requirements and criteria.
Project Requirements:
Awardee's projects were:
- Developed in consultation with the local U.S. embassy or consulate**
- Specifically addressed issues related to the war against Ukraine. This could touch on any range of topics in the applicant’s home country and community, including but not limited to:
- Refugee integration, inclusion, and tolerance-building
- Women’s economic empowerment
- Workforce training and integration programs
- English language learning and acquisition
- Peace and security
- Health and wellness
- Cybersecurity
- Disarming disinformation
- Arms control and nonproliferation
- Journalism and documenting the humanitarian crisis
- Justice and accountability
- Advancing minority rights
- Disability rights and Inclusive education
- Entrepreneurship
- Freedom of expression and the arts
- Building resilience
- Combating domestic and gender-based violence
- Proposed and implemented an innovative solution to a community challenge
Selection Criteria:
Projects were evaluated based on:
- Community Impact
- Defined Goals and Measurable Outcomes
- Project and components are reasonable, allowable, cost-effective, and realistic
- Budget is reasonable, allowable, cost-effective, and realistic for the proposed project goals and activities
Preference was given to projects which leverage and share knowledge and connections gained during applicants' IVLP exchange experience.
If you would like to learn more or have any questions you can email us at IVLPImpactAwards@meridian.org.
For interested individuals who participated in IVLP, please visit the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Alumni website (https://alumni.state.gov/) for information on other opportunities available to you as exchange alumni, including the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund.
About IVLP
Each year nearly 5,000 exchange participants come to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). More than 200,000 International Visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government.
Launched in 1940, the IVLP helps strengthen U.S. engagement with countries around the world and cultivate lasting relationships by connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term visits to the United States. The majority of IVLP exchanges include visits to four U.S. communities over three weeks, although projects vary based on themes, Embassy requests and other factors. Participants meet with professional counterparts, visit U.S. public and private sector organizations related to the project theme and participate in cultural and social activities.
Learn more about IVLP at Meridian
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Project summary
| U.S. Department of State IVLP Impact Awards | |
|---|---|
| Regions: | Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Eurasia, Near East and North Africa, South and Central Asia, Western Hemisphere |
| Program Areas: | Global Leadership |