YSEALI Regional Workshop: Countering Online Disinformation and Hate Speech

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Rangoon of the U.S. Department of State announce an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Regional Workshop on Countering Online Disinformation and Hate Speech in Southeast Asia.

This workshop will bring together young civil society activists, communicators, educators, journalists, social media representatives and policymakers interested in finding new ways to address the disinformation and propaganda problem in Southeast Asia. Special attention in the program will be given to the situation in Myanmar and how it is being portrayed within ASEAN. The main element of the program will be a three-day workshop to be held in Thailand.

Program Objectives

• YSEALI is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage emerging leaders in Southeast Asia. The program aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. Through a variety of programs and engagements, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture a community of leaders who work across borders to solve shared issues.

• YSEALI is open to young leaders ages 18-35 who are both citizens and residents of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) or Timor-Leste. Responding to priorities from youth in the ASEAN region, YSEALI programs focus on four themes (Civic Engagement, Economic Empowerment and Social Entrepreneurship, Education and Environmental Issues).

• One component of YSEALI is the annual Regional Workshops held across Southeast Asia on strategic topics. This workshop examines the critical role that social media play in promoting peace and enhancing access to information, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16.10) which calls for ensuring public access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms.

• Technology advancements have altered how individuals connect with one another and seek out, receive, and impart knowledge globally. Instead of just being passive consumers of material and information, social media empowers users to become producers of both. There is no denying the importance of those developments, yet the effects can be diverse. Thus, social media's influence and ability in producing violent or peaceful social and political change have come under closer investigation in recent years.

• On the one hand, social media is being utilized to boost civic engagement and make information more accessible, enabling people to organize significant, nonviolent political movements across continents, either in response to political issues or to particular thematic concerns.

• On the other hand, it is also being used to polarize society, manipulate through micro targeting, disseminate, and magnify false information and propaganda, foster intolerance, and even to fan the flames of hatred and war, posing fresh dangers to peace and stability.

• The workshop will bring together participants and speakers for three full days in May 2024 in Thailand and three virtual training sessions, with proposed activities fitting into three buckets of interrelated objectives:

  • Increase awareness and understanding of the disinformation and propaganda problem in Southeast Asia. Activities will include expert speakers and a panel discussion comprised of experts from the United States, Myanmar, Thailand, and other ASEAN countries and follow-up interactive breakout sessions where participants will discuss challenges and concerns as well as possible practical solutions to address regional and national issues. These discussions should include participation from relevant stakeholders on these issues within ASEAN.

  • Develop regional campaigns and approaches to counter disinformation and hate speech. Participants will exchange local perspectives and speakers will examine and address the best ways to stop online harmful content while preserving freedom of expression and boosting the promotion of peace.

  • Build communication skills and further knowledge of available social media tools. Activities will include hands-on, participatory sessions to develop communication skills and learn about available social media tools, including those that can be utilized to protect the user’s safety and security. Special focus should be given to the situation in Myanmar.

Funding Information

• Award amounts: Award may range from $150,000 to $250,000

• Total available funding: $250,000

• Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. The workshop must be a minimum of three full days not including travel days.

Participants and Audiences

• The recipient will coordinate with U.S. Embassy Rangoon to recruit and select participants. Budgets should be prepared anticipating 50-60 participants representing all ten ASEAN countries and Timor Leste, but the final number and geographic distribution of program participation will be decided in consultation with U.S. Embassy Rangoon. U.S. Embassy Rangoon will approve further recruitment criteria in consultations with U.S. embassies in ASEAN and Timor Leste. Participants must be between the ages of 18-35 and all participants must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Priority Region: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.