In response to President Tsai's statement on “Taiwan should be the role model of international citizens, fulfill our responsibility as member of Earth, and make concrete contributions on diplomatic and global issues”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Department of NGO International Affairs has annually carried out various training projects in order to enhance the responsive capacity and international participation of domestic NGOs and youth & students on global issues and public affairs. These projects include:
International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Project
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has carried out the “International Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program” since 2009 by selecting outstanding university students as youth ambassadors to visit nations that Taiwan has diplomatic relations with and other friendly nations, in order to demonstrate the passion and creativity of young Taiwanese people. They introduce Taiwan from the perspective of a new generation of youth and present Taiwan's positive role in the international society.
The theme of 2024 International Youth Ambassador Exchange Program was “Youth Diplomacy, Taiwan Forges Ahead.” From August 20 to 31, the young ambassadors visited Belize and Guatemala—Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Central America. On the trip, the delegation met with key political figures including Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, First Lady Lucrecia Peinado, and Deputy Foreign Minister María Luisa Ramírez, as well as Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Education, Culture, Science and Technology Francis Fonseca. The group promoted quality coffee and tea from Taiwan and gave cultural and artistic performances wherever they went, winning praise from all quarters and successfully completing their mission.
NGO International Training Program
NGO International Training Program
Staring from 2004, MOFA holds the “NGO International Training Program” every year to train NGO workers, students and people who are interested in international affairs. About 3,700 people in total attended the program.
2024 NGO International Affairs Talent Training Program focused on how Taiwanese NGOs can adapt and seek new opportunities amid the changing geopolitical landscape. Two-day training sessions were held separately in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung from late October to early November. Speakers included young leaders from NGOs in Southeast Asia who were in Taiwan on the 2024 NGO Fellowship Program as well as leaders of local NGOs such as World Vision Taiwan, Tzu Chi, and Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps. The program demonstrated how NGOs can promote values-based diplomacy, increase Taiwan’s international visibility, and bring the world to Taiwan.
NGO Leaders Forum
MOFA has held the annual NGO Leaders Forum since 2020. The initiative highlights the results of cooperation on international participation between the public and civic sectors. Through face-to-face exchanges and interactions, the forum has continued to be a mechanism for dialogue between the government and its NGO partners to strengthen Taiwan’s capacity to engage internationally. Over the past four years around 800 people have participated, including Taiwanese NGO leaders, officials of relevant government agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, and corporate representatives.
The fifth NGO Leaders Forum held on November 29, 2024, took place under the theme of “NGOs and the Challenges of Convergence between Digital Technology and Intelligence—Enhancing Partnerships between Government and Civil Society through Integrated Diplomacy.” Participants discussed how Taiwanese NGOs could take advantage of the opportunities and challenges provided by technology. The aim of the event was to explore ways to deploy the creativity and energy of civil society in concert with government resources to advance Taiwan’s international participation and increase its global influence. Dr. James Hodson, CEO of the AI for Good Foundation, was invited to Taiwan from the United States to address the forum. Around 200 leaders of Taiwanese NGOs, representatives of international NGOs and the corporate sector, and frontline workers engaged in a lively exchange of opinions.
In order to assist domestic NGOs with taking part in international affairs and training international affair talents to build up their capacity, the MOFA has carried out the project on sending NGO executives abroad for training since 2005. About 70 NGO leaders in total attended the program.
Four leaders undertook internships in Netherlands、Thailand、Nepal and United States in 2024. The interns helped promote bilateral exchanges and interactions between Taiwan NGOs and INGOs.
MOFA project to select and send Taiwanese youths to undertake internships at INGOs
In order to train local young people to engage in NGO international affairs and build their capacity, MOFA has carried out the program since 2019 to sponsor Taiwanese youths to undertake internships at international NGOs (INGOs). The program provides aspiring young people with opportunities to be overseas interns and learn about INGO operational practices, as well as building up a local pool of talents with experience in NGO international affairs. So far, 9 interns have been selected and sent overseas. Among the applicants, six interns went to United Kingdom、South Africa、Japan and Palau in 2024. The exchanges helped establish partnerships with INGOs.
Women's Empowerment Diplomacy Program
MOFA has promoted the women's empowerment diplomacy program since 2020. The program is jointly planned with the Foundation of Women's Rights Promotion and Development. Parallel to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)—a major annual meeting for women around the world—MOFA organizes a Taiwan Gender Equality Week as part of the women's empowerment diplomacy program.
MOFA has promoted the women's empowerment diplomacy program since 2020. The program is jointly planned with the Foundation of Women's Rights Promotion and Development. Parallel to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)—a major annual meeting for women around the world—MOFA organizes a Taiwan Gender Equality Week as part of the women's empowerment diplomacy program.
On March 13, MOFA held the Taiwan Main Stage and Cultural Night in New York, parallel to the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Key political figures from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and leaders of NGO partners took part in the discussion. Taiwanese female entrepreneurs and indigenous representatives shared good practices in promoting community economic development, breaking through gender stereotypes in industry, and participating in financial decision-making. At the Gender Innovation Night on March 14, young representatives from the Taiwanese NGO One-Forty and US-based NGOs the Human Rights Foundation, Pencils of Promises, Ruth Health, and Islex Consulting engaged in a panel discussion. Nearly 70 youths from NGOs and INGOs that focus on gender and human rights issues from Taiwan and New York took part in the event. At this year’s CSW, a total of 31 Taiwanese NGOs and three local governments successfully held 33 parallel events (20 face-to-face, 11 online), which was a record high. The meetings were live streamed on YouTube, taking advantage of Taiwan’s strengths in online technology and using a digital platform established by the Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion. The initiative gained over 23 million hits on social media.
