Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced four new International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) projects during the Quad Foreign Ministers Ministerial in Australia. The IVLP is the Department of State’s premier professional exchange program and allows foreign participants to engage with cross-sectoral counterparts, including from civil society, government, and academia from across the United States. Projects will focus on countering disinformation, government transparency and public accountability, cybersecurity, and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Strengthening the Quad is essential to ensuring the Indo-Pacific remains free and open, and becomes ever more resilient, prosperous, secure, and interconnected.
In 2022, @StateIVLP will conduct new exchange projects that will strengthen our security partnerships in the #IndoPacific. Emerging foreign leaders from Australia, India, and Japan will experience the U.S. firsthand and build lasting relationships with American counterparts. pic.twitter.com/6bGbP1KX7W
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 12, 2022
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will offer these four IVLP projects in 2022. The U.S. Embassies in Australia, India, and Japan will nominate potential participants. Participants must be fluent in English.
Identifying and Combating Disinformation in the Indo-Pacific
Examines current trends and technologies in detecting and combatting disinformation and deceptive news. The project seeks to demonstrate the seriousness of disinformation campaigns to domestic publics and highlight the need for fact-checking, investigative journalism, and specialized polling to counter misleading information. Participants will assess strategies designed to encourage greater public awareness of disinformation and will explore the role of government agencies, NGOs, academia, and traditional and social media in the fight against the proliferation of deceptive news and disinformation.
Transparency and Accountability in the Indo-Pacific
Examines how government transparency and public accountability throughout society can help ensure public trust in the integrity and fairness of elected officials, public servants, and the institutions of governance in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition to highlighting mechanisms for transparency in the United States, the project will address the roles of civil society and the media as watchdogs and catalysts for the creation and maintenance public accountability.
Promoting Cybersecurity in the Indo-Pacific
Highlights the importance of cybersecurity to U.S. economy and national security. Participants will examine how laws and policies on cybersecurity are created, and why they require constant updates to keep up with technological evolution. Project participants will explore initiatives aimed at increasing cybersecurity coordination between governmental agencies, the private sector, and academia.
Enhancing Regional Maritime Governance and Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
Examines how the maritime security of the Indo-Pacific region has developed, now including complex and shared political, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Participants will examine best practices and responses to maritime emergencies on a local, state, and federal level to enhance national and regional policies.
Follow the program on social media with #IVLP.
