Implementation of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) | STI400 24 CA 0004

Opportunity Information: Apply for STI400 24 CA 0004

The U.S. Mission to Tajikistan (U.S. Embassy Dushanbe, Public Diplomacy Section) is seeking one organization to implement the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Tajikistan, focused specifically on Panjakent District. AWE is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs initiative launched in 2019 to help women start or grow businesses by improving their skills, networks, and access to resources. In this Tajikistan iteration, the central aim is practical and local: strengthen the economic livelihood of 25 women entrepreneurs (or near-ready aspiring entrepreneurs) whose work can support Panjakent's tourism and related service economy while also positioning them to benefit from growing cross-border trade with Uzbekistan. The program is framed as supporting broader U.S. objectives on gender equity by increasing women's ability to participate meaningfully in the economy.

The opportunity is grounded in local economic realities. Tajikistan experiences high rates of male labor migration and unemployment, which increases the pressure on women to generate income and stabilize household finances. At the same time, women-owned micro and small businesses are becoming a major source of income, but they depend heavily on the strength of the local business environment and on whether entrepreneurs can access training, mentors, and financing. Panjakent is treated as a strategic location because of its border proximity to Uzbekistan, renewed bilateral trade ties after a long pause, the presence of free economic zones, and its tourism potential tied to natural attractions, agriculture, and newly recognized UNESCO cultural heritage sites. The grant is designed to build women entrepreneurs' capacity to take advantage of those conditions, including opportunities linked to tourism, hospitality, eco-tourism, and trade.

The primary target group is about 25 women in Panjakent District (and nearby villages) who already have some entrepreneurial experience or are positioned to scale quickly. The solicitation highlights women working in hospitality management, eco-tourism, and trade, as well as those active in local markets and small service sectors such as agricultural products, handicrafts and artisan goods, beauty services, and sewing. Recruitment is expected to prioritize women ages 18 to 45 with at least a high school education (university education is also acceptable), roughly 1 to 2 years of business experience, strong motivation to pursue longer-term entrepreneurship, and ties to the local community through leadership and service. English is described as helpful but not required, signaling that the training is intended to be accessible locally.

Program goals and objectives are structured around both mindset and tangible business outcomes. The first objective is to raise participants' confidence and motivation to pursue and grow a business, which is often a real barrier for early-stage entrepreneurs. The second objective centers on concrete business capabilities through training and mentorship, with suggested topics such as U.S.-style small business best practices, business plan development, marketing, accounting and financial management, investment and financing, leadership, strategic planning, and business registration. The third objective is to improve participants' understanding of tourism initiatives and the specific business opportunities developing in Panjakent. The fourth objective focuses on helping women compete for and secure funding, including grants, loans, and investments, so growth is not limited by lack of capital or weak investor readiness.

The required activities reflect a structured entrepreneurship pipeline. The implementer will select and train the cohort of 25 women, delivering a mix of in-person and online programming and building connections to mentors and the broader business community. A core element is the DreamBuilder online training platform, which teaches fundamentals like marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping and includes a built-in business plan generator. The program also calls for sessions tailored to the region's tourism potential, and it explicitly mentions the possibility of a three-day business tour to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to expose participants to cross-border tourism and trade opportunities and to help them see workable models they can adapt. The capstone activity is a final pitch event where participants present their businesses and receive feedback from potential investors, adding a practical, market-facing endpoint to the training.

Financially, this is a single-award cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. Funding is expected to fall between $25,000 (floor) and $39,504 (ceiling), with total available funding listed as $39,504. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2024, and the full performance period is up to 12 months. Because it is a cooperative agreement, the Embassy will be substantially involved throughout implementation. That involvement includes participating in the selection of AWE personnel and participants, monitoring the program, connecting the awardee to the U.S. Alumni Network of Tajikistan (USANT), linking Tajik participants with regional AWE alumni, and leading public-facing closeout products such as a press release and a video highlighting accomplishments.

The recipient organization is expected to handle operational delivery and local execution. Key responsibilities include coordinating with the Public Diplomacy Section on participant selection; managing logistics for events (promotion, venues, setup, takedown); building monitoring and evaluation into activities; and engaging alumni of U.S. exchange programs in the entrepreneurship programming. A notable technical requirement is translating the DreamBuilder platform content from English into Tajik so that mentoring and facilitation can be done in local languages. The implementer must also strengthen communications and outreach in collaboration with USANT, connect participants and alumni to U.S. experts who can contribute virtually or in person on entrepreneurship and innovation topics, and submit alumni data for the 2024-2025 AWE cohort to the Embassy.

Eligibility is limited to not-for-profit entities, including NGOs/civil society organizations and public or private educational institutions. Each organization may submit only one proposal; multiple submissions from the same organization make all of that organization's proposals ineligible. Cost sharing is not required, but it is encouraged, and the opportunity is open to public-private partnerships where appropriate. The solicitation also emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility considerations, encouraging applicants to broaden access and participation across different backgrounds and identities to the extent feasible.

Key administrative details from the listing include Funding Opportunity Number STI400 24 CA 0004, CFDA 19.022, opportunity category discretionary, and an original closing date of July 31, 2024. The award is described as subject to funding availability, and the Embassy reserves the right to award more or less than the stated amounts if it is deemed in the U.S. government interest and approved by the Grants Officer.

• The U.S. Mission to Tajikistan in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Implementation of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $39,504.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for STI400 24 CA 0004

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