Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
CyberSafe ASEAN: Equipping Young Leaders to Outsmart Scammers
U.S. Mission to ASEAN, U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh
U.S. Department of State
Opportunity number: SUSMAS25CA0013
Application deadline: September 5, 2025
Basic Information
Overview
Funding Opportunity Title: CyberSafe ASEAN: Equipping Young Leaders to Outsmart Scammers
Funding Opportunity Number: SUSMAS25CA0013
Announcement Type: Initial announcement
Deadline for Applications: September 5, 2025
Assistance Listing Number: 19.040 Public Diplomacy Program
Length of performance period: 12 months
Number of awards anticipated: One award
Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $100,000 to $200,000
Total available funding: $200,000 pending availability of funds
Type of Funding: Pending availability of FY2024 funds
Anticipated project start date: October 2025
Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement.
Project Performance Period: Projects should finish in one year or less.
The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.
This notice is subject to availability of funding. The Department of State reserves the right to terminate the grant at any time, and recipients should keep this possibility in mind when planning and implementing activities.
Executive Summary
Priority Region: Southeast Asia (Cambodia/Indonesia)
U.S. citizens are frequent victims of the Southeast Asian scam industry. According to CSIS, in 2023 Americans lost an estimated $3.5 billion to scams specifically operating from Southeast Asia and the losses to Americans are increasing.
Globally, scams involving online shopping, investment, cryptocurrency, gambling, employment, and other areas affect people in every age range, whether young or old. Some victims not only experience financial losses, they also become trafficking victims when the scammers kidnap them and force them to carry out these same scams.
This Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional workshop series will contribute toward the international effort to combat transnational crime – specifically online scams, which fall under cybercrime, international economic crime, trafficking in persons, economic migration, and more –directly affecting the United States, the 10 ASEAN members states, and observer Timor-Leste. High-profile transnational crime from Southeast Asia has defrauded Americans and Southeast Asians out of billions of dollars, trafficked thousands of people to work in scam call centers, induced thousands more to migrate illegally for financial reasons, and funded drug cartels and other criminal organizations, especially in Myanmar, Cambodia, China, and Laos. Online scams and fraud pose significant challenges to individual security, economic stability, and societal trust within and between ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste, and the United States.
In Cambodia alone, there are an estimated 150,000-200,000 people “working” in scam compounds, of which a significant portion are young adults from ASEAN countries, China, and South Asia. The United States and the ASEAN Secretariat acknowledge online scam centers are one of ASEAN’s biggest challenges, and we are committed to working together to address the issue.
This regional workshop will help participants to avoid becoming scamming fraud and trafficking victims by teaching them cybersecurity best practices and helping them understand the complexities and challenges affecting different member states. It will also foster region-wide cooperation to promote the rule of law, strengthen relevant legal and regulatory systems in ASEAN member states, learn best practices from the United States, and ultimately prevent the victimization of Americans.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
U.S. not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations U.S. public and private educational institutions International not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations International public and private educational institutions
Cost Sharing or Matching
There is no cost sharing requirement.
Other Eligibility Requirements
All organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued via SAM.gov as well as a valid registration in SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.
Applicants may only submit one proposal per organization. If an organization submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that institution will be ineligible for funding.
Program Description
Goals and Objectives
This YSEALI regional workshop will take place in Phnom Penh and/or Sihanoukville, Cambodia, or Jakarta, Indonesia.
Teach Young Leaders to Avoid Scams, Enlist them to Spread the Message, Curb Scam Proliferation: Criminals target digitally-engaged youth from Southeast Asian countries not just to defraud them but also to trick them into becoming scammers, making them victims twice over and growing the scam industry. As online scams become more sophisticated with the help of AI, these young people are more exposed but in many ways are the most prepared to receive this training. They are also the most effective messengers to their peers. Once they have learned, they can use their digital influence to highlight how to identify and avoid scams, the personal dangers of accepting the “lucrative employment” offers that pervade this kind of crime, and the social and economic costs to countries that don’t go all in on shutting down these scams
Participants will be better able to combat the proliferation of online scams that that victimize Americans, as they gain increased awareness of how criminals recruit potential victims to unwittingly perpetuate online fraud, and receive cross-border collaborative opportunities to work together against this scourge.
Weaken Scams, Strengthen America: Fostering a cohort of informed and proactive young leaders makes America safer by strengthening the digital resilience of future leaders and their communities against transnational cybercrime. Promoting measures to protect against digital fraud has the secondary benefit of supporting the economic growth and stability of these countries, fostering a stable and trustworthy marketplace for American investments, and enabling these countries to invest in the United States. The workshop will also broaden individual perspectives to consider how false or fraudulent jobs that enable and support scams affect legitimate job markets and harm economic strength and development.
Key Objectives
Raise Awareness: Educate digitally engaged youth from Southeast Asian countries on how criminals target them with false offers of lucrative employment to defraud and/or traffic them to participate in online scams. Prepare Young Leaders: Provide young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and strategies to become effective mouthpieces, informing their peers about the dangers and tactics of cybercriminals. Highlight Personal and Societal Costs: Emphasize the personal dangers and societal costs of involvement in online scams, including the inability to predict personal negative outcomes and the broader impact on countries that allow scammers to flourish. Foster Collaboration: Create a network of informed and proactive young leaders who can spread awareness and develop cross-border solutions to combat online scams.
Program Details
This intensive YSEALI Regional Workshop, “CyberSafe ASEAN: Equipping Young Leaders to Outsmart Scammers,” will bring 60 youth (aged 20-35) from all ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to Phnom Penh and/or Sihanoukville, Cambodia, or Jakarta, Indonesia, for a three-to-five-day workshop that will include the following components:
a) Classroom Sessions
Objective: Provide a structured learning environment with expert-led sessions in cybersecurity, digital forensics, criminology, social psychology, and the law, delivering comprehensive overviews of key topics and themes related to online scams and fraud on how criminals lure youth into becoming victims of scams, the tactics used, and the personal and societal costs involved.
Activities: Engaging presentations, interactive case studies, and skill-building exercises to understand the evolving threat landscape, tactics used by perpetrators, and the principles of digital self-defense.
b) Field Trips/Site Visits
Objective: Offer experiential learning opportunities through direct observation and hands-on experience in a simulation environment. Activities: Visits to organizations and government entities involved in addressing online scams, including law enforcement agencies, consumer protection organizations, non-governmental institutions, and financial institutions’ fraud prevention units. In Sihanoukville, briefings from journalists or other engaged parties to understand how the city’s economy has changed as a result of scams and how the city’s leaders are trying (and struggling) to recover. Hands-on demonstrations such as 1) how scammers use AI to simulate fake voices/faces/text conversations in foreign languages they don’t speak by partnering leaders who are native speakers of the target language; 2) how crypto is used to launder money by buying/redeeming tiny amounts of crypto for cash at the various exchanges to see the lack of customer protections and transparency/reliability
c) Workshop Sessions
Objective: Foster collaboration, critical thinking, and practical application of learned knowledge.
Activities: Panel discussions with experts in various fields, collaborative project development sessions focused on scam prevention initiatives, and simulation exercises to give participants a chance to practice workshop skills. Participants will develop solutions and actionable plans to implement in their communities, creating a network of proactive “Digital Shields.”
Expected Outcomes
Enhanced Awareness: Participants will gain a critical understanding of the tactics criminals use to target youth with fraudulent pretenses, including fake job offers. Increased Digital Resilience: Young leaders will develop robust personal protection strategies and insights into reporting mechanisms and legal frameworks, breaking the cycle of victimization and scam network growth. Community Impact: Participants will become effective communicators and educators within their communities, creating a ripple effect of awareness and prevention across ASEAN and Timor-Leste. Regional and International Impact: A strong network of digitally savvy YSEALI members and their communities will contribute to a safer and more secure digital future for the broader region, stemming the tide of scams that target Americans.
Participants and audiences
The grant recipient will coordinate with the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh to coordinate arrangements, manage travel logistics for, and recruit approximately 60 dynamic youth leaders (aged 20-35) from all ten ASEAN member countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and Timor-Leste to participate in “CyberSafe ASEAN: Equipping Young Leaders to Outsmart Scammers.” Participants must be residing in an ASEAN member state when applying and when attending the workshop.
Ideal participants will be youth who are eager to take action to build safer digital communities and demonstrate a combination of foundational digital literacy, a strong interest in combating online scams, and active engagement in community or youth initiatives. They should exhibit leadership potential, experience in peer education or awareness campaigns, strong understanding of social media, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and effective communication abilities.
All participants must be proficient in written and spoken English.
The recipient will be responsible for, but not limited to, arranging participant travel, logistics, call for applications, communications plan, seeds grants, and more.
Speakers and Partners
Including or partnering with YSEALI alumni organizations as local implementing partners would be an advantage.
By incorporating American expertise in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and consumer protection, the workshop will also highlight American excellence and leadership in addressing these global challenges. The goal is to safeguard individuals, organizations, and countries from the threats that online scams pose, thereby promoting economic stability and trust.
The workshop should also have a full range of expert speakers from across the region and who work on transnational crime including but not limited to the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence.
Website
The grant cannot be used to create a new website. Recipient should use an existing website to promote this program.
Substantial Involvement
This award will be a cooperative agreement and will have substantial involvement from the U.S. Mission to ASEAN and U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh.
Application Contents and Format
Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.
Content of Application
Please ensure:
The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. dollars All pages are numbered All documents are formatted to fit 8 ½ x 11 paper, and All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.
The following documents are required:
Mandatory application forms
SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at here SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at here SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at here (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals, organizations exempt from registration, and for organizations not required to fully register in SAM.gov)
Summary Page (optional)
Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.
Proposal (20 pages maximum)
The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.
Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.
Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the State Department and/or U.S. government agencies.
Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
Project Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
Project Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
Project Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?
Project Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable.
Budget Justification Narrative
After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate file to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section I. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.
Attachments
1-page Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, include your latest NICRA as a PDF file. Official permission letters, if required for program activities.
Submission Requirements and Deadlines
Address to Request Application Package
Application forms required above are available at grants.gov.
Department of State Contacts
If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: sugandai@state.gov.
Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)
Required Registrations
All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration in SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. An applicant must maintain an active registration while it has a proposal under review by the Department and must continue to keep the registration active for the entire duration of the period of performance of any Federal award that results from this NOFO.
The 2 CFR 200 requires subrecipients to obtain a UEI. Please note the UEI for subrecipients is not required at the time of application but will be required before an award is processed and/or directed to a subrecipient.
Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.
Organizations based in the United States or that pay employees within the United States will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov. Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a UEI prior to registering in SAM.gov. Organizations based outside of the United States that do not intend to apply for U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awards are no longer required to have a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code to apply for non-DoD foreign assistance funding opportunities. If an applicant organization is mid-registration and wishes to remove an NCAGE code from their SAM.gov registration, the applicant should submit a help desk ticket (“incident”) with the Federal Service Desk (FSD) online at www.fsd.gov using the following language: “I do not intend to seek financial assistance from the Department of Defense. I do not wish to obtain an NCAGE code. I understand that I will need to submit my registration after this incident is resolved in order to have my registration activated.”
Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO NOT plan to do business with the DoD should follow the below instructions:
Step 1: Proceed to SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and complete the SAM.gov registration process. SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.
Organizations based outside of the United States and that DO plan to do business with the DoD in addition to Department of State should follow the below instructions:
Step 1: Apply for an NCAGE code by following the instructions on the NSPA NATO website linked below:
NCAGE Homepage: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/sc/CageList.aspx
NCAGE Code Request Tool (NCRT): NCAGE Code Request Tool (nato.int)
Exemptions
An exemption from the UEI and sam.gov registration requirements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis. See 2 CFR 25.110 for a full list of exemptions.
Organizations requesting exemption from UEI or SAM.gov requirements must email the point of contact listed in the NOFO at least two weeks prior to the deadline in the NOFO providing a justification of their request. Approval for a SAM.gov exemption must come from the warranted Grants Officer before the application can be deemed eligible for review.
Submission Dates and Times
Applications are due no later than September 7, 2025 at 11:59 PM Jakarta time.
Funding Restrictions
Funding Restrictions for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
None of the funds awarded resulting from this Notice of Funding Opportunity may be made available for subawards, direct financial support, or otherwise used to provide any payment or transfer to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Certification Regarding Compliance with applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws
None of the funds awarded under this agreement may be used for any initiatives or programs, or any activities that do not comply with Executive Order 14173 titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.
By signing the SF-424 or SF-424I Application for Federal Assistance, the Applicant certifies the following:
Its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code and;
It does not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.
Other Submission Requirements
All application materials must be submitted by email to sugandai@state.gov
Application Review Information
Review Criteria
The review committee will evaluate and rate each application based on the criteria below.
Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 30 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 20 points: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. This includes a financial management system and a bank account.
Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 15 points: Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program approach is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results.
Budget – 10 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.
Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points: Applicant demonstrates ability to measure program success against key indicators and provide milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.
Sustainability – 10 points: Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program.
Review and Selection Process
A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications.
Risk Review
i. Risk factors
Under the merit review as required by 2 CFR 200.206, prior to making a Federal Award the Department will review and consider the following risk factors:
Financial stability Management systems and standards History of performance Audit reports and findings Ability to effectively implement requirements
ii. Responsibility/Qualification Information in SAM.gov
The Federal awarding agency, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the U.S. government designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313)
An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov.
Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, the Department will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov.
Award Notices
The Grants Officer will write, sign, award, and administer the award or cooperative agreement . The award agreement is the authorizing document, and the recipient will receive a copy for review and counter-signature. The recipient may only start incurring project expenses beginning on the start date shown on the award document that the Grants Officer has signed.
If the Department of State selects a proposal, it has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.
Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.
Unsuccessful applicants: Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification by October 2025.
Payment Method:
Recipients must request payments by completing form SF-270—Request for Advance or Reimbursement and submitting the form to the Grants Officer.
Post-Award Requirements and Administration
Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.
These include:
In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s guidance located at 2 CFR part 200, all applicable Federal laws, and relevant Executive guidance, the Department of State will review and consider applications for funding, as applicable to specific programs, pursuant to this notice of funding opportunity in accordance with the following: NOTE:
Selecting recipients most likely to be successful in delivering results based on the program objectives through an impartial process of evaluating Federal award applications (2 CFR part 200.205),
Promoting the freedom of speech and religious liberty in alignment with Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty (E.O. 13798) and Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities (E.O. 13864) (§§ 200.300, 200.303, 200.339, and 200.341),
Providing a preference, to the extent permitted by law, to maximize use of goods, products, and materials produced in the United States (2 CFR part 200.322), and
Terminating agreements pursuant to the U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, including, to the greatest extent authorized by law, if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities (2 CFR part 200.340).
Reporting
Reporting Requirements: Recipients will have to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify what reports are required and how often these reports must be submitted.
The program reports should summarize the progress on the subaward projects, identifying key milestones, successes including success stories, and challenges. Include both qualitative and quantitative success metrics to measure the impact of each project on their community.
Foreign Assistance Data Review: As required by Congress, the Department of State must make progress in its efforts to improve tracking and reporting of foreign assistance data through the Foreign Assistance Data Review (FADR). The FADR requires tracking of foreign assistance activity data from budgeting, planning, and allocation through obligation and disbursement. Successful applicants will be required to report and draw down federal funding based on the appropriate FADR Data Elements, indicated within their award documentation. In cases of more than one FADR Data Element, typically program or sector and/or regions or country, the successful applicant will be required to maintain separate accounting records.
If the federal share of the award will include more than $500,000 over the period of performance, insert the following language:
Applicants should be aware of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2 CFR 200 Appendix XII—Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.
Other Information
Guidelines for Budget Justification
Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.
Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.
Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $10,000 per unit.
Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $10,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.
Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.
Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.
Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 15% of Modified Total Direct Costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.
“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.
Alcoholic Beverages: Please note that award funds cannot be used for alcoholic beverages.