The Workshop will bring together 80 participants in total from across South East Asia.

You must be no younger than 22 years of age and no older than 35 years of age on June 22, 2020.

Exceptions can be made with respect to the age requirements. 

While most qualified candidates will have strong academic backgrounds – bachelors, masters and even PhDs in relevant areas – the program acknowledges that strong leadership potential, relevant professional experience, and thematic knowledge can be demonstrated without the presence of a formal degree. At this time, there is no degree requirement for this program. 

Yes the applicant should have relevant experience and/or interest in areas related to Human Trafficking, Wildlife Trafficking and Environmental Sustainability. We seek candidates who can demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and professional competencies, and much of this typically derives from experience in dynamic working environments. 

In general, YSEALI seeks Southeast Asian professionals who have a deep familiarity with their respective country or region. For this reason, only citizens or resident nationals of Southeast Asia are eligible to apply. Applicants must be able to provide official documentation proving their citizenship or nationality, ideally in the form of a passport. While we do not require copies of these documents to be submitted during the online application, applicants should be prepared to provide such documentation upon being designated as a finalist during the selection process.

A resident national is the equivalent in each Asian country of a "Permanent Resident" in the U.S. (or "Landed Resident" in some countries with a strong British influence). That is, the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a country of which he or she is not a citizen. We do not have an exhaustive list of the types of documents needed to prove resident national status. Potential applicants therefore have a small amount of discretion as to whether or not documents in their possession will meet the above mentioned criteria.

No. You can only apply if you are a resident of South East Asia.

Yes. The program welcomes candidates from diverse professional disciplines with demonstrable experience in tourism, sustainable development and entrepreneurship. While participants will typically be social entrepreneurs, environmentalists, NGO and civil society leaders, government officials and policymakers, journalists, and academics, we still encourage highly talented and dedicated individuals from other disciplines to apply. 

While the program does not have a formal English proficiency requirement (for example, TOEFL exam results), selected participants must have enough English language skills to participate in the program. Much of the program and its content are interactive and international in nature. Exceptional language skills are desirable, but they are not a prerequisite for this program. 

We ask that you do not apply to this program unless you are absolutely certain you are able to attend. In the case of an emergency or unforeseeable circumstances that preclude your participation, please notify staff as soon as possible. 

Yes, we encourage you to apply again. 

Applicants may still apply by entering information from their expired passport. However, you must have your new valid passport before the final selection 

All expenses are covered, including costs for airfare and local transportation, lodging and meals, and health and accident insurance. However, all participants must arrive at the main international airports in their respective regions.

Since virtually all program expenses are covered, we do not require any proof of financial means.

The program does not provide support for family members and family members may not accompany the participants in the hotel.

The hotel is located in the heart of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. Participants will be matched two to a room to promote bonding across disciplines and countries.

The application period takes place February 21st – March 21st, 2020.

We do not accept applications by global mail or fax. All application components must be submitted electronically.

We do not require these documents during the application process itself, however you may be required to send copies of these documents to verify that you meet the nationality requirements should.

All applications are evaluated by Biji-Biji Initiative staff at the initial reviewing stages and will be narrowed down to a final selection pool. Thereafter, a selection committee comprising of U.S. Department of State, YSEALI and Biji-Biji Initiative personnel will be charged with evaluating finalists and determining the 2020 YSEALI Regional Workshop Sabah participants. 

The final selection will be announced in April 2020.

All participants will become part of an active and engaged alumni network – through web and social media platforms, as well as substantive program intersections – that will encourage ongoing collaboration and the sharing of ideas, resources, and support throughout their professional careers.