INTERNATIONAL VISITOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
Expanding mutual understanding, sharing knowledge, and promoting public diplomacy.
Hosted by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Launched in 1940, IVLP seeks to expand mutual understanding between Americans and individuals from other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in various fields experience this country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts.
In 2023, the World Affairs Council of Maine:
- Hosted 9 delegations with leaders from 18 different countries
- Hosted 71 visitors
- Hosted 12 State Department Liaisons
- Met with 5 Maine colleges and universities
- Met with representatives of 12 Maine business, including two tech start-ups
- Met with 6 state agencies
- Met with 5 state and local officials
- Met with over a dozen community services organizations
In addition to sharing the best of Maine, we estimate these groups brought roughly $125,000 into Maine’s economy – 75% of which came during the “off-season.” In 2024, WAC has already welcomed 58 visitors from 26 different countries.
