Deadline: 30-May-23
The U.S. Embassy in Singapore is pleased to announce the open competition to award a cooperative agreement for a recently launched program, the “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs” (or “AWE”).
The Public Affairs Section invites proposals from established Singaporean associations, committed, and organized civil-society organizations, and academic institutions, to design and implement a six-month entrepreneurship program in partnership with the Embassy that would provide approximately 30 emerging female entrepreneurs with knowledge, networks, and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses. U.S. and third-country organizations or nationals are not eligible for cooperative agreements under this program unless in partnership with a Singaporean entity.
Through this entrepreneurship program, participants will take part in facilitated training sessions featuring an online curriculum on business fundamentals (“DreamBuilder” and/or “100 Million Learners”) that will be provided by the State Department through the University of Arizona. These sessions should be highly interactive, extend learning beyond the virtual course material, and add value in a local context. The program should enhance local entrepreneurs’ business acumen as well as their capacity to expand. Coursework should be supplemented by engaging and educational in-person talks and workshops, including from successful Singaporean entrepreneurs and alumni of U.S. government exchange programs. Awardees must facilitate all the virtual and in-person sessions or work with facilitators with a background in education, entrepreneurship, and training.
One key focus of the program will be enhancing the technology capabilities of female entrepreneurs when feasible. In close coordination with Embassy staff, the awardee will recruit participants, plan the program schedule (taking into account participants’ schedules), and coordinate supplemental site visits, guest speakers, and other networking sessions and events that enhance the technical capabilities of the entrepreneurs.
The AWE program will target Singaporean women ages 23-45 who are ready to launch their business or have done so within the past 5 years and are looking to scale up or grow. It will particularly benefit business owners who need to increase their technical capabilities through exposure to American tech experts and companies. Participants
The program will be held at a variety of locations across Singapore, selected by the awardee in consultation with U.S. Embassy Singapore
Program Objectives
- Each proposal should meet the following objectives, in addition to strengthening understanding of U.S. values, institutions, and precepts:
- Expand participant’s understanding of the fundamentals of launching and scaling up a business.
- Expose participants to U.S. models for business development and connect them with American entrepreneurship experts.
- Incorporate a mentorship program and 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, to include utilizing the alumni from the AWE Singapore 2022 pilot program.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $25,000
- Award Ceiling: $25,000
- Award Floor: $25,000
Eligibility Criteria
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Public and private educational institutions
- For-profit organizations (only if allowed by appropriation – not for PD funds)
- Individuals
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
- Cost Sharing or Matching
- There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost share required for this competition. However, they encourage applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing in support of its proposal. Please note that in the event of a tie among applications with equivalent scores after evaluation against all other factors, cost-share amounts will be used to break the tie.
Guidelines
- Awardees will work closely with the Embassy’s Public Affairs Office to design and execute an intensive, six-month facilitated program for 30 Singaporean female entrepreneurs. Activities should include workshops, mentoring, and other interactive sessions. The activities should be innovative, hands-on, and support participant’s growth in the local business environment.
- Awardees should recruit participants from across Singapore. A clear methodology of participant recruitment and selection should be detailed in the proposal, including efforts to ensure geographic and socio-economic inclusion. Embassy staff will help select participants.
- The cooperative agreement should cover the costs of venues, facilitators, expert speakers, any necessary supplies, etc.
- 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 the program’s completion. The plan for monitoring and evaluating the program should be included in the proposal.
- The proposal should include information about how the awardee will identify and recruit facilitators and experts.
- The proposal should contain a detailed sample agenda of sessions and activities.
- Awardees should be available to participate in weekly planning calls with the Embassy from 3 months before the program’s launch until program completion.
- Equipment cannot account for more than 10% of the total project cost.
- The cooperative agreement will be only awarded to Singaporean 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.
- Singaporean 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 the entrepreneurship and business environment in Singapore.
- U.S. and third-country organizations or nationals are not eligible for awards under this program unless in partnership with a Singaporean organization.
- All proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy by May 30, 2023. No late proposals will be considered.
- All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by mid-June 2023, subject to the availability of funds.
For more information, visit Embassy in Singapore.