About

The International Sports Programming Initiative (ISPI), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the U.S. Embassy Ulaanbaatar, provides a two-way exchange program designed to foster collaboration between sports and physical education professionals in the United States and Mongolia. Aligned with the themes of the Decade of Sport in America and the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, the program aims to develop advanced coaching methods, improve sports administration, and leverage sport as a tool for youth development.

The initiative features two 10-day exchange visits held three to six months apart, typically beginning in April or May and spanning two calendar years. Mongolian participants travel to the United States to engage with sports organizations, observe coaching and youth programs, attend professional workshops, and participate in cultural activities. Reciprocally, American participants travel to Mongolia to lead coaching sessions, collaborate with local sports organizations, and experience Mongolian sports traditions.

Eligible activities encompass professional workshops, collaborative coaching sessions, administrative training, community engagement, and the potential implementation of small community-based sports projects funded through modest follow-on grants. The funding scope covers all primary operational and travel expenses, ensuring that selected organizations and participants incur no direct financial obligations. The geographic focus centers on Mongolia and the United States, with target beneficiaries including non-elite coaches, sports administrators, and youth development professionals who apply acquired skills to strengthen local sports infrastructure in their home communities.

Eligibility

Applicants must be registered nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations operating within Mongolia's sports and physical education sector. Individual exchange participants selected through the partner organization must be non-elite coaches, sports administrators, or youth development professionals who are at least 23 years old at the time of the program.

Selection and evaluation considerations focus on an organization's proven capacity to manage international exchanges, its commitment to advancing local sports development, and its ability to mobilize and support participants who meet all age and professional criteria. Please note that submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee selection or funding.

Post Date: October 22, 2026