Grants / Department of State / U.S. Mission to South Africa

PAS-ZAF-FY25-03: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs

Closed Closed March 14, 2025 Opportunity PAS-ZAF-FY25-03 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of U.S. Mission to South Africa notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$69,000
• Award floor$25,000
• Total funding$69,000
• Expected awards1
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeCooperative Agreement

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Only non-profit South African or U.S. organizations are eligible to apply. This includes non-profit think tanks, civil society/non-governmental organizations, and public and private educational institutions.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Appropriation Overseas Grants awards averaged $17,021; this notice allows up to $69,000 per award.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to train 100 women entrepreneurs based in South Africa (60), Lesotho (20), and Eswatini (20). The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is a program of the U.S. Department of State, using a hybrid model that combines online learning with in-class mentoring and facilitation. The program in South Africa is centered on the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative, an online course spearheaded by the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. Applicants for this notice of funding opportunity will support cohorts of women entrepreneurs in up to seven cities – five in South Africa and one each in Lesotho and Eswatini. The cohorts will attend virtual, hybrid, and in-person events at American Spaces or Embassy partner locations in each city. For participation in the Najafi 100 Million Learners course, the applicant will work with the U.S. Embassy to identify an in-person U.S. government program alumni facilitator in each city to lead the participants. The coursework features eighteen modules/themes key to global entrepreneurial success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The program aims to provide entrepreneurs with proven 21st Century strategies for creating value through innovation in existing enterprises across the private, nonprofit and public sectors. Facilitators will also lead in-person discussions and serve as mentors for program participants. Facilitators will be alumni of related U.S. government programs and will be selected in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. Facilitators will attend a pre-program training and orientation provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The eventual implementing partner will need to run program launch, pitch and graduation events. These sessions are to be held in-person. The implementing partner will also work in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy to host online masterclasses led by industry experts.

Category: Other.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.