Funding Opportunity: Building a Community of Practice for Women in Strategic Trade (WiST) – United States

Deadline: 28-May-24

The U.S. Department of State, International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting application to implement a project aimed at advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities by supporting initiatives that make decision-making structures and processes in fragile, conflict, or crisis-affected contexts more reflective of and responsive to the needs and perspectives of partner states to ensure strategic trade control systems meet international standards and by engaging on bilateral, regional and multilateral levels with foreign governments to aid in the establishment of independent capabilities to regulate transfers of weapons of mass destruction, WMD-related items, conventional arms, and related dual-use items, and to detect, interdict, investigate, and prosecute illicit transfers of such items.

Project Goals

• The purpose of this NOFO is to create a professional network and community of practice to advance women working in strategic trade through sustained mentorship. Experienced international strategic trade experts and practitioners will guide early- or mid-career women in the strategic trade field through a sustained six-month mentorship. These early-to mid-career women will work with their mentor to develop a project that addresses a strategic trade-related issue in their institution or within their interagency. Through guided education, problem-solving, and mentorship, this partnership should yield a product relevant to the mentee’s institution and strategic trade operations. This can include a communication strategy for leadership buy-in, STC implementation roadmap, STC 101 course for field officers, industry outreach action plan and resource requirements, interagency coordination forum, etc. At the end of six months, the mentees will convene with a new cohort to present their projects to the mentors and receive feedback and identify follow up action. This event will start a new cycle of mentor/mentee engagement.
• EXBS may invite up to six of the mentees to present at an EXBS sponsored conference.
• Proposals should reflect a clear understanding of successful mentor and mentee relationships; and the nexus between gender equity and empowerment and strategic trade management.

Objectives 

• ISN/ECC expects that the Activities and Outcomes of this Award will work towards the following ISN Goals and EXBS Program Objectives:
  • ISN Bureau Objective(s)
    • Disrupt or Deter Proliferation by State or Non-State Actors that Threaten International Security
    • Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in Bureau Operations and Programs.
  • ISN/ECC Objective(s)
    • Strengthen Strategic Trade Management Capacity within EXBS Partner Countries.
      • National Capability: Laws and Regulations
        • Export Control
      • National Capability: Interagency/International Coordination
        • International Cooperation Mechanisms
        • Working-Level Coordination Mechanisms
        • Information Sharing Mechanisms
  • ISN ECC Objective 
    • Improve DEIA Principles within EXBS Assistance Provided to Partner Countries.
      • Capability: DEIA Advancement
        • Implementation of DEIA within Specific Assistance Projects

Funding Information

• Funding Ceiling: $641,225
• Funding Floor (if applicable): $443,925
• Period of Performance: 24 months
• Number of Awards: 1 award

Expected Outcomes

• This NOFO aims to bolster the Women in Strategic Trade Initiative’s objectives to recruit, retain, train, and promote women in STCs by providing professional and leadership development opportunities. In addition, it is an opportunity to share expertise and engage with a diverse community of stakeholders worldwide to share perspectives, best practices, and improve strategic trade implementation and enforcement. The intended approach is to pair an experienced, well-networked strategic trade control expert or practitioner with an early- to mid-career official to jointly execute projects targeted to enhance legal-regulatory frameworks, licensing capabilities, enforcement measures, outreach to industry and/or academia, or international cooperation/treaty adherence. This is a global initiative and can include partners from the Western Hemisphere, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South and Central Asia.
• Applicants should also design and implement a one-day Women in Strategic Trade Forum that highlights models to cultivate gender diversity in the workforce, capstone projects developed by mentors and mentees, and provide a forum to share experiences, best practices, and lessons learned to advance the field of strategic trade.

Deliverables

• ISN/ECC envisions that this award will produce the following deliverables:
  • Develop a mentorship framework to serve as a guide for the mentor/mentee relationship.
  • Enroll at least six mentees per cohort. There will be two cohorts under this award. Grantee will work with EXBS to identify and select appropriate candidates.
  • Identify at least six individuals from the strategic trade community, including exporters, industry, and academia, to serve as mentors.
  • Project concept and project completion (and roll out of project, as appropriate), presentation, and report from mentor/mentee pair.
  • At least two virtual check-in engagements with mentor/mentee pair.
  • One in-person workshop for at least 12 individuals (six mentors, six mentees).

Performance Indicators 

• Application proposals must include well-designed indicators that can be used to monitor project progress and measure actual results to assist ISN/ECC assess the success and impact of activities and project outcomes, as well as facilitate effective monitoring and evaluation.

Eligibility Criteria

• ISN/ECC welcomes applications from U.S.-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations with or without 501(c) (3) status of the U.S. tax code; foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO); Public International Organizations; Foreign Public Organizations; U.S.-based private, public, or state institutions of higher education; Foreign-based institutions of higher education, and domestic or foreign for-profit organizations or businesses.
• Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.