Open World is a ten-day program administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership that brings emerging leaders from Eurasia to the United States to engage with professional counterparts.
The program was established in 1999 to foster cultural and political ties with Russia but has since expanded outreach to other countries of the post-Soviet region.
The delegates home-stay with local families and participate in a series of meetings, interviews, presentations, and panel discussions with experts in their fields.
The agency is part of the U.S. legislative branch and is housed in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.[4] Every year, through the Senate and House Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations, U.S. Congress decides upon funding for COIL.
In addition, there are four individuals outside of the government who have an interest in improving relations between COIL's focus countries and the United States.