Deadline: 24-Feb-23
The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to train women entrepreneurs based in South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is a program of the U.S. Department of State and Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. It is centered on the online training program, DreamBuilder, developed through a partnership between Thunderbird and global copper mining company FreeportMcMoRan.
Program Goal: Promote economic prosperity, including equitable economic development opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups and individuals
Objectives
- Provide a resource for women entrepreneurs to engage in online education with guided facilitation and localization;
- Foster networks that support participants’ access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States;
- Provide access to a range of educational programs tailored to women’s economic empowerment to expand the effects of participation.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: 12 months
- Number of awards anticipated: One
- Award amounts: $70,000
- Total available funding: $70,000
Priority Region: Project activities will take place in five cities across South Africa, one city in Lesotho, and one city in Eswatini.
Participants
- Young women (aged 21–35).
- Early-stage entrepreneurs, or aspiring entrepreneurs with a viable business idea that has a community improvement or other social impact, such as pursuing green technology or social entrepreneurship ventures.
- Citizen/legal resident and residing in the country where the participant’s cohort is based.
- Resident in urban, semi-urban, and semi-rural areas of Gauteng, Bloemfontein, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Western Cape, Lesotho and eSwatini: Pretoria (25 participants); Soweto (25 participants); Bloemfontein (20 participants); Cape Town (20 participants); Durban (20 participants); Maseru (20 participants); Mbabane (20 participants).
- Committed to an average of 5 hours per week to the AWE program.
- Basic computer skills and must have access to a laptop/computer with internet access
Audiences
- National, provincial, and municipal (or equivalent) government departments and agencies focused on economic development, women’s empowerment, and gender equity
- Non-governmental organizations and other civil society organizations focused on related topics and subject matter
- Investors and other entities focused on economic prosperity, trade and investment opportunity development, and other related subject matter.
Eligibility criteria
- Only non-profit South African or U.S. organizations are eligible to apply.
- This includes nonprofit think tanks, civil society/non-governmental organizations, and public and private educational institutions.
- Applicants may be asked to provide proof of their non-profit status if such status is unclear to the selection committee
For more information, visit Grants.gov.