Deadline: 27-Jan-2025
The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S. OPA) has announced a limited competition for a grant through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) through Exchange opportunity is designed to partner with non-profit/non-governmental organizations to implement activities that advance the applicant’s goals and the U.S.OPA mission, including but not limited to:
- Empowering Palestinian women with the professional skills, networks, and access needed to launch or scale successful businesses.
- Promoting women’s economic opportunities by ensuring they have the capabilities and resources to participate fully in the economy.
AWE uses a hybrid model that combines the online platform DreamBuilder (developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan) with in-class mentoring and facilitation.
Objectives
- Professional and Educational Exchange
- All proposed projects must aim to advance the U.S.OPAPD mission goals stated above, and achieve at least one of the following specific objectives:
- Implement the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program with 25 Palestinian women in Jerusalem or the West Bank.
- Target participants: Women aged 22–50, with at least a high school education and intermediate to advanced English skills, who are ready to start or have recently started a small enterprise.
- Alumni will lead group viewings of DreamBuilder webinars, supplemented with educational sessions, mentoring, networking opportunities, and culminating in a final pitch and graduation event.
- Supplemental sessions will incorporate social entrepreneurship concepts, local speakers, peer-to-peer learning, and context-specific insights on regulations and the practical application of knowledge gained.
- Foster engagement with other alumni and private sector professionals as speakers.
- U.S. OPA PD expects the program aims to empower 25 Palestinian women from East Jerusalem or the West Bank to positively impact their communities by promoting sustainable social, economic, educational, and political development. This aligns with American values such as human rights and equality, democratic governance, diversity and inclusion, and environmental protection.
Funding Information
- Award amount: $35,000
- Number of awards anticipated: One (1) award satisfying the goals specified
- Length of performance period: Up to twelve (12) months
- Anticipated program start date: June 2025.
Geographical Focus
- Jerusalem and West Bank.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following types of applicants are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations.
For more information, visit U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs.