The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term exchanges with Citizen Diplomats in the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields develop lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States. IVLP participants are nominated and selected by diplomats at U.S. missions abroad.
Since 1940, the IVLP, with the help of Citizen Diplomacy International and a dedicated network of partner organizations in the Global Ties U.S. network., has introduced over 225,000 participants to communities throughout the United States.
Each year Citizen Diplomacy International coordinates programming for 300-500 IVLP participants. Participants meet with professional counterparts, visit U.S. public and private sector organizations related to the project theme, and participate in cultural and social activities. Individuals volunteer as “Citizen Diplomats" to carry out quality experiences for participants including professional meetings, cultural activities, and home hospitality.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF IVLP?
» More than 500 IVLP participants have become heads of state or government and thousands of others have become leaders in their respective fields, evidence that the IVLP is an opportunity for American communities and policymakers to develop relationships with emerging leaders and build long-term influence through networking.
» Through visits to a variety of U.S. communities, the IVLP enables meaningful people-to-people interactions between foreigners and Americans, building cultural bridges and strengthening citizen diplomacy.
» The IVLP allows participants to explore issues in the U.S. context, meet American professional counterparts, learn more about U.S. society, and understand American values.
