U.S. Mission to India seeking Proposals for Global Links Impact Investment Forum

Deadline: 15 May 2020

The U.S. Consulate General, Public Affairs Section in Kolkata (PAS Kolkata) is soliciting proposals for its “Global Links Impact Investment Forum”.

Consulate Kolkata’s work providing support for women-led entrepreneurial initiatives and teaming them with student communities for academic coaching through the Global Links Alumni Connect program has accomplished the following:

Built collaborative net works of women entrepreneurs, academics and students.
Trained one hundred fifty students and women entrepreneurs.
Established an entrepreneurship office at Calcutta University where professors of business administration are matched with women who run micro-businesses.
Educated twenty women entrepreneurs on how to secure loans.
Facilitated the development of businesses run by more than fifty women entrepreneurs who participated in the programs. They are now supported by the Entrepreneurs Development Institute (EDI) of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and showcase their products in government-supported business fairs.

This funding opportunity seeks to build the “Global Links Impact Investment Forum,”headquartered in Kolkata, starting with a committee of academics, alumni, and business entities that will be self-sustainable in the future. The forum will commence with an inaugural event followed by a week-long training session conducted by experts from the United States and India on organizational design for an independent business-networking entity. The participants will be coached to administer the forum and build capacity for women entrepreneurs. The forum will develop a calendar of events for the next one year and seek membership from women entrepreneurs, business faculty members, and business students. The forum will also invite academics to work with members to implement new trends in business research and development.

Project Goals

Reinforce and broaden networks and outreach to local women entrepreneurs.
Support the growth of business enterprises run by women in east India.
Promote financial inclusion and stability for women entrepreneurs in society.

Project Objectives

This project will create a forum for women entrepreneurs and business students that will serve as a networking tool and launch pad to showcase new business models to policy makers and influencers such as local and central government leaders, senior business executives, academics, and media. The forum will provide support, expertise, and a platform for West Bengal’s fertile startup ecosystem.

Project Audience

Female Entrepreneurs, Students, and Academics, age 20-60, in East India.

Project Deliverables

In year one, the program will create a database of women entrepreneurs and students and will design academic modules in accordance with the existing Global Links Women Entrepreneurship model created by Rollins College (FL) that helps scale up micro-businesses.

Award Information

Minimum Award Amount: $25,000
Maximum Award Amount: $78,000

Eligibility Criteria

The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Think tanks
- Public and private educational institutions
- Individuals
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
Please choose organization nationality and type: International Not-for-Profit Organization.
Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.
Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.
Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.