Grants / Department of State / U.S. Mission to Tajikistan

STI-400-25-CA-0001: Implementation of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

Closed Closed January 20, 2025 Opportunity STI-400-25-CA-0001 ☆ 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 Tajikistan notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$35,000
• Award floor$25,000
• Total funding$35,000
• 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)

The following not for profit organizations are eligible to apply: • Non-profit organizations • Civil society/non-governmental organizations • 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 $35,000 per award.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

Project Background, Goals, and Objectives The U.S. Embassy Dushanbe’s Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) announces an open competition to implement the second cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Tajikistan. The AWE program, established by the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in 2019, aims to provide women with the knowledge, networks, and access needed to launch or scale successful businesses. The program uses the no-cost, online DreamBuilder platform, developed in partnership with Arizona State University and Freeport-McMoRan. The DreamBuilder platform teaches 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. By promoting women’s economic opportunities and ensuring that women have the capabilities and resources to participate in the economy, the AWE program directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality. The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and Khatlon regions of Tajikistan have significant potential for economic development, particularly through the empowerment of women entrepreneurs. Despite recent progress, women in these regions face numerous challenges, including limited access to financial resources, business training, and market opportunities. Cultural and social barriers also hinder women’s participation in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These regions have been particularly associated with a large population of labor migrants. Approximately 30% of the working-age population in GBAO and 25% in Khatlon are engaged in labor migration, primarily to Russia and other neighboring countries. This migration trend significantly impacts the local economy and the availability of human resources, particularly affecting women who often remain behind to manage households and seek alternative income sources. Project Goal: Increase participation of women entrepreneurs in Tajikistan’s GBAO and Khatlon regions’ local economy by offering a U.S.-style online education facilitated and localized by State Department exchange alumni and local partners. The project aims to foster networks for peer-to-peer mentorship, business partnerships, and scale opportunities with regional and U.S. businesses. Project Objectives: Project proposals may address one or more of the project themes listed below.

Category: Other.

Applying now

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