Deadline: 15-Feb-22
The U.S. Embassy Budapest, Public Diplomacy Section (PDS Budapest) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2022 program for participants from Hungary.
The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has established the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), as a program supporting women entrepreneurs around the world. AWE uses DreamBuilder, an online training program for women entrepreneurs that was developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan, which teaches women to create their own business plans, understand how to raise capital, and connect with networks of successful business owners.
Program Objectives
- The goal of the project is to empower women in Hungary to fulfill their economic potential, and in doing so, create conditions for a more stable, secure, and prosperous society. The objective of the project is to engage a maximum of 25 Hungarian women entrepreneurs in an educational program designed to equip them with skills for successful development of their business ideas.
- All 25 participants for the program must come from outside of Budapest and Pest county.
- The awardee will develop a program aimed at increasing the entrepreneurial capacity of AWE beneficiaries and will integrate the DreamBuilder (dreambuilder.org) online course as one of its key components. The program will encompass facilitated viewing sessions that will provide the participants an opportunity to discuss the topics and to network. The modules may be augmented to localize the context, and to accommodate the topics of guest speaker talks.
- Applicants are encouraged to build a comprehensive program in support of the skills gained through the sessions, which may include mentorship activities, partnerships with business incubators, speed-networking, and/or pitch competitions.
- Applicants should also make sure their proposal contains elements to involve AWE 2021 alumni in innovative ways. Participants of this program should be comfortable taking a course and completing assignments in the English language.
- Awardee should be able to demonstrate extensive experience in organizing entrepreneurship or business programs and should have an established network of entrepreneurs, businessmen, and investors throughout the country.
Funding Information
- Number of awards anticipated: 2 awards (dependent on amounts)
- Award amounts: up to a maximum of $75,000.00
- Total available funding: maximum $75,000.00 (Subject to availability of funds)
Participants and Audiences
- The target audience for this program is women living outside of Budapest and Pest county, between the ages of 25 and 55, with limited or zero experience in business. Participants should have a great entrepreneurial idea already in mind. Selected participants should have intermediate English skills, basic computer skills, and should be able to dedicate 7 hrs/week of their time to the AWE program. The participants must have access to a computer workstation and stable internet connection for the duration of the program.
- Facilitators proposed for the program should have:
- Extensive previous mentoring experience
- Demonstrated success in the entrepreneurship world
- Educational background in a relevant field (e.g. marketing, accounting, business management, etc.)
- A good network of investors, other start-uppers, entrepreneurs
Priority Region
Project activities must take place in Hungary and be directed at Hungarian audiences/participants.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations registered in Hungary are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations, including associations, civil-society, non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- U.S. or third-country organizations are not eligible for cooperative agreement under this program unless in partnership with a Hungarian entity.
- Applicants must have organizational representation (i.e. an existing office) in Hungary.
- Individual applicants are not eligible under this program. Organizations with extensive experience in business or entrepreneurship, focusing especially on women and start-ups, and with an established network, all preferably in Hungary, will have priority among applicants.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337338