Engaging the USG Alumni community to solve the "Gender Gap"

U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe’s Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for proposals to engage in the capacity building of U.S. government program alumni, through alumni-driven projects or programs that facilitate alumni leadership development and the development of networks necessary to pursue and protect American interests abroad. 1. Priority Region: Japan (Kansai, Hokuriku, Shikoku, and Chugoku) 2. Program Objectives: Qualified women in Japan are underemployed and overlooked for leadership roles because of bias in the workplace and deep-rooted social norms. Giving alumni of United States Government sponsored programs the tools and resources to share their experience and find solutions will provide the U.S. Mission to Japan with better advocates for the U.S.-Japan alliance and continued support for American values. The program will be planned and executed in collaboration with USG Alumni in Kansai, Hokuriku, Shikoku, and Chugoku area, with the goal of strengthening the network of the USG alumni community in these areas to address the issue of gender equality in Japan. The U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe welcomes proposals that strengthen the network of U.S. Government sponsored exchange program alumni in Japan, promotes exchanges among alumni, and explores innovative and creative ways to address the issue of “Gender Equality”. A comprehensive program proposal that provides alumni with opportunities to learn from experts on the issue of gender equality in Japan and the United States is desirable. Please include elements in your proposal that focus on cooperative efforts between the United States and Japan. Through this program, the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe would like to support the following goals: · Strengthen U.S. Department of State ties to Japanese alumni by offering opportunities to allow them to expand upon their exchange experiences and use the skills they developed abroad to address shared global challenges. · Alumni from the Kansai, Hokuriku, Shikoku, and Chugoku regions will have the opportunity to engage experts on the issue of gender equality in Japan and the United States. Japanese and American experts should be active in various fields such as politics, economics, and education.