Deadline: 25-Apr-22
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan is pleased to announce an open competition for grant proposals, contingent on funding availability, through the Public Diplomacy Grants Program.
This project aims to address the declining rate of women in the Pakistani labor force and directly support and grow women-owned businesses in Pakistan while exposing these potential entrepreneurs to U.S. ideas on start-ups, financing, business development, and the business case for increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Objectives
- Equip at least 100 Pakistani women at the two established university incubators to launch their business ideas by providing access to training, resources, networks, and investors.
- Connect women participants with the United States-Pakistan Women’s Council to leverage its network and identify potential female mentors and other resources.
- Leverage female business leaders to serve as role models and share their success stories to inspire other women. These could be women who are members of the Pakistan U.S. Alumni Network and participated in programs such as the Startup Cup, Accelerator Program for Women Entrepreneurs, the Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership program, or the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs.
- Provide seed funding to the top three aspiring women entrepreneurs at each Pakistani incubator involved in the project to launch their businesses.
- Support, through the two existing business incubation centers, at least 100 female entrepreneurs at the two established university incubators to set up their businesses and enhance their self-confidence through training and mentoring. Support these two incubation centers to achieve gender equity in the startups they host.
- Virtually connect female entrepreneurs with female entrepreneurship organizations in the United States through incubation centers. Execute an in-person exchange visit to the United States for approximately 50 participating entrepreneurs, to gain knowledge and learn from the entrepreneurial community in the United States.
- Promote financial literacy, strengthen management and leadership skills, and facilitate access to financial opportunities and investors to initiate business ventures.
- Assist in establishing a new incubation center at an all-women university to create an environment for women-led enterprise and entrepreneurship. This will include the provision of equipment, training resources, and limited exchange opportunities.
Project Goals
- This proposed two-year project aims to promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen the existing entrepreneurship ecosystem for women, and expand ties between entrepreneurial communities in the United States and Pakistan.
- It would reinforce both the vital roles that Pakistani women play in the country’s economic development, and help to build a more diverse workforce as an instrument to foster creativity, innovation, and job creation.
Project Audience(s)
- The U.S. Embassy intends to partner with an expert U.S. organization, established incubation center, or university that will bring its expertise to incubate and support female-led businesses at two existing Pakistani incubation centers located in higher education institutions in Islamabad and establish a new incubation center at an all- women’s university in Rawalpindi. The U.S. organization will focus on developing, launching, and supporting women-led businesses at all three centers.
- Prospective Pakistani Implementing Partners within Higher Educational Institutions:
- National University of Sciences and Technology Incubation center
- Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South
- University Incubation Center at COMSATS
- Bahria University Islamabad Business Incubation Center
- International Islamic University Islamabad
- Karakoram University Business Incubation Center
- Institute of Space and Technology Business Incubation Center
- Proposed All-Women’s University Incubation Center Establishment:
- Fatima Jinnah Women University
Funding Information
- Funding Mechanism Type: Cooperative Agreement
- Estimated Total Project Funding: $500,000
- Estimated Award Ceiling: $500,000
- Estimated Award Floor: $300,000
- Length of Project Period: 24 Months
- Anticipated Programs Start Date: October 2022
Eligibility Criteria
- Non-governmental organizations
- Civil society organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338626