Implementation of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Executive Summary: U.S. Embassy Dushanbes Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition to implement the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Tajikistan, a program that seeks to elevate the economic livelihood of 25 women in Panjakent District. The Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a global program that was established by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 2019 to provide women with the knowledge, networks, and access to launch or scale successful businesses. By promoting womens economic opportunities and ensuring that women have the capabilities and resources needed to participate in the economy, the AWE program directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. Background: Due to the high rate of male labor migration and unemployment, more Tajik women are considering how to financially support their households. However, womens entrepreneurial activities are highly dependent on the effectiveness of the business environment in the country. Successful small business development creates new employment opportunities in Tajikistan and helps women support themselves and their families. Small businesses are fast becoming the main source of income for women in Tajikistan. Panjakent, a former trading city on the ancient Silk Road, is located in a strategic geographic area bordering Uzbekistan. After a 25-year hiatus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have restrengthened bilateral ties, and both countries are working to expand trade and economic cooperation with each other. In this manner, they have established free economic zones where businesspeople can put their ventures to work. The city of Panjakent and its surroundings is home to unique natural beauty, newly recognized UNESCO cultural heritage sites, and agricultural projects - all of which makes it a strategic location to empower women to advance economic and human development. The skills that women will learn through AWE will not only be valuable to establish stronger economic independence for themselves but also to contribute to more cross-border trade with neighboring Uzbekistan. Project Audience(s): The primary audience is approximately 25 Tajik women in Panjakent District who have some entrepreneurial skills, either with the capacity to scale-up current ventures in hospitality management, eco-tourism, and trade, or with experience working at local markets, such as in the areas of agricultural products, handicrafts, artisan products, or in service industries such as beauty parlors and sewing. Recruitment Criteria: a) Women aged 18 to 45. b) Holding high school and/or university degrees. c) Approximately 1-2 years business experience. d) Motivation to engage in long-term business or entrepreneurial activity. e) Must reside in the district of Panjakent or nearby villages. f) Womens leadership experience. g) Community service experience. h) Some English proficiency preferred, but not a requirement. In coordination with PDS Dushanbe, the implementer will organize informational meetings to spread the word about the project, its goals, objectives, and vision, and identify current or aspiring entrepreneurs in Panjakent District. This could include information sessions at American Space Panjakent and other relevant NGO offices and entities, but also outreach with flyers provided to target women working in local markets in the specified fields. Project Goal: To elevate the economic livelihood of current or aspiring women entrepreneurs in hospitality management, eco-tourism, trade, and handicrafts in Panjakent to support the tourism infrastructure of Panjakent District. Project Objectives: Objective 1: Improve women entrepreneurs confidence and motivation in pursuing and growing their businesses. Objective 2: Increase the ability of women from the Panjakent region to create and grow their businesses in hospitality management, eco-tourism, and trade through targeted training and mentorship activities. Training topics may include but are not limited to: U.S. small business best practices, business plan development, marketing, accounting, financial management, investment and financing, leadership, strategic planning, business registration, and more. Objective 3: Increase women entrepreneurs awareness and knowledge of tourism initiatives and business opportunities in Panjakent. Objective 4: Increase women entrepreneurs abilities to apply for funding opportunities, including grants, loans, and investments, to fuel their business growth and attract potential investors. Project Activities: Select 25 women entrepreneurs for the AWE project in Panjakent. Provide women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and access to launch or scale successful businesses in Panjakent through online and in-person trainings. This could include a mentoring program or other form of connection with the business community. Use the online training platform DreamBuilder to teach participants the fundamentals of starting or growing a small business from a U.S. perspective, offering modules on marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping, and includes a built-in business plan generator. Organize sessions to increase entrepreneurs understanding of the tourism potential of the region; this could include a three-day business tour to the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, which holds high potential for cross-border tourism and trade. Organize and hold a final pitch event, inviting potential investors to provide feedback. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: 12 months Number of awards anticipated: 1 Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of Total available funding: $39,504 Award Ceiling: $39,504 Award Floor: $25,000 Type of Funding: ECA Anticipated program start date: September 1, 2024 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Cooperative agreements are different from grants in that Embassy staff are more actively involved in the grant implementation. The Department of State will be substantially involved in carrying out the following aspects of this cooperative agreement: 1) Selection of AWE personnel. 2) Selection of AWE participants. 3) Monitor AWE programming. 4) Connect recipient with the U.S. Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT) 5) Connect regional AWE alumni with the first cohort of 25 Tajik women entrepreneurs. 6) Publish a press release on project completion. 7) Produce a video on project accomplishments. Recipient Responsibilities: 1) Collaborate with PDS Dushanbe in selecting the participants for AWE programming. 2) Coordinate all logistics for the events including promotion, venue arrangements, set up and take down, monitoring and evaluation of the events. 3) Engage ECA exchange alumni in AWE programming. 4) Translate Dreambuilder Online Learning Platform from English into Tajik to conduct mentoring and facilitation in local languages (fundamentals of starting or growing a small business from a U.S. perspective, offering modules on marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping, and includes a built-in business plan generator.) 5) Strengthen communication, media, and outreach plans in collaboration with USANT. 6) Connect AWE alumni across the globe with dynamic U.S. experts who can engage both virtually and in person on entrepreneurship and innovation-related topics.t 7) Submit 2024-2025 AWE alumni data to PDS Dushanbe. Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State. Support for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA): All programs should consider strategies for expanding the pool of individuals/organizations/beneficiaries to afford opportunities for as diverse and inclusive population as is feasible to bring diverse perspectives based on religion, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics, national origin, and age to implementation of the program. The Public Diplomacy Section reserves the right to award less or more than the funds described under circumstances deemed to be in the best interest of the U.S. government, pending the availability of funds and approval of the designated Grants Officer. C. ELIGIBILTY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants The following not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations Civil society/non-governmental organizations Public and private educational institutions Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity, but is encouraged, as well as potential public private partnerships.