Deadline: 12-Apr-21
The U.S. Mission in Uganda is pleased to announce the open competition to award a cooperative agreement for a new cohort in Uganda of the “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs” (or “AWE”).
The Public Affairs Office invites proposals from established, non-profit Ugandan associations, committed and organized civil-society organizations, and academic institutions to design and implement an intensive training program that would provide approximately 100 emerging female entrepreneurs (in four cohorts of 25 participants each) with critical skills for founding or scaling up their businesses and help develop a network among participants and trainers for future collaboration and support. U.S. and third-country organizations or nationals are not eligible for cooperative agreements under this program unless in partnership with a Ugandan organization.
The AWE program will target female Ugandan business owners and entrepreneurs, who are approximately 25 to 40 years old and who have 1 – 5 years of business experience.
The program will be held in Kampala and at three regional centers selected by the awardees in consultation with the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Office. The Kampala cohort will focus on entrepreneurship in the creative sector while the remaining cohorts will target entrepreneurs/businesswomen in the technology sector or whose enterprises utilize technology for a significant aspect of their work, including digital sales and marketing.
All AWE activities should have a strong American focus. To supplement the facilitated “Dream builder” online sessions, the Public Affairs Office will work with the awardees to identify and recruit relevant local American business experts and professors in Uganda, business experts from the Ugandan branches of American companies, and alumni of U.S. government exchange programs to provide complementary lectures and workshops. The Public Affairs Office will seek to include a substantial proportion of female role models among these experts. The Awardees will integrate these experts into the AWE curriculum and arrange and fund their travel and lodging.
Objectives
Each proposal should meet the following objectives, in addition to strengthening understanding of U.S. values, institutions, and precepts:
- Expand participants’ understanding of the fundamentals of developing and scaling up a business.
- Expose participants to U.S. models for business development and connect them with American entrepreneurship experts.
- Facilitate the development of an ongoing network of female entrepreneurs who can offer support and ongoing best practices while sustaining their relationship with the U.S. Embassy.
Funding Information
- A number of awards anticipated: one award.
- Approximate award amount: The amount will be a maximum of approximately $30,000. Projects for lesser or greater values will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Funding may be renewed for up to an additional two years on a non-competitive basis pending successful performance and availability of funds.
- Type of Funding: FY21 ECA Funds.
- The awardees should plan to end the project by July 2022 with dates to be set in coordination with the Embassy.
Eligibility Criteria
- Awardees will work closely with the Embassy’s Public Affairs Office to design and execute a facilitated program for 100 Ugandan female entrepreneurs (age 25 – 40). Activities should include workshops, mentoring, and other interactive sessions. The activities should be innovative and hands-on.
- A clear methodology of participant recruitment and selection should be detailed in the proposal.
- The cooperative agreement should cover the costs of venues for the training sessions and supplemental activities.
- The cooperative agreement should cover the costs of travel, lodging, and full board for facilitators, mentors, and guest expert speakers.
- The cooperative agreement should cover funding for any materials necessary for the promotion of the AWE program/recruiting participants and other materials for use in program activities.
- Awardees should be prepared to design and implement surveys, polls, or other methods for evaluating the institute’s effectiveness before, during, and after completion.
- The proposal should include information about how the awardees will identify and recruit local facilitators and experts.
- The proposal should contain a sample agenda of sessions and activities.
- Awardees should be available to participate in regular planning calls with the Embassy until the launch of the institute.
- Equipment cannot account for more than 10% of the total project cost.
- The cooperative agreement will be only awarded to non-profit associations, committed and organized civil-society organizations, and academic institutions that already have a final registration receipt and an established bank account at the time that they apply.
- Associations, civil-society organizations, and academic institutions applying to this program should have experience both in organizing large-scale programs as well as demonstrated knowledge of entrepreneurship and the business environment in Uganda.
- U.S. and third-country organizations or nationals who seek to apply for this funding opportunity are encouraged to do so in partnership with a Ugandan NGO.
- All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy by Monday, April 12, 2021. No late proposals will be considered.
For more information, visit https://ug.usembassy.gov/nofo-academy-for-women-entrepreneurs-2021-afkam-pas-fy21-2-closing-monday-april-12-2021/