Opportunity Information: Apply for STI 400 25 CA 0001
The U.S. Mission to Tajikistan, through the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe Public Diplomacy Section, is offering a discretionary grant competition to implement the second cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Tajikistan. AWE is a U.S. State Department initiative launched by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in 2019 to help women entrepreneurs gain practical business knowledge, build professional networks, and access resources needed to start or grow businesses. The core training tool for this cohort is DreamBuilder, a free online entrepreneurship platform created with Arizona State University and Freeport-McMoRan, which teaches small-business essentials from a U.S. business education perspective, including marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping, and guides participants through developing a business plan using an integrated business plan generator. The opportunity is framed as supporting broader U.S. policy priorities, including the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, by expanding women s economic opportunities and strengthening their ability to participate meaningfully in the economy.
The project is focused specifically on the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and Khatlon, two regions with strong economic development potential but persistent barriers for women entrepreneurs. The Embassy notes that women in these areas often face limited access to financing, business training, and market linkages, alongside cultural and social constraints that can reduce participation in entrepreneurship. The program context also highlights high levels of labor migration in both regions, with roughly 30 percent of working-age residents in GBAO and 25 percent in Khatlon engaged in labor migration, largely to Russia and neighboring countries. This migration pattern can strain local labor availability and household economies and can leave women managing households while also seeking income-generating options, increasing the relevance of locally grounded entrepreneurship support.
The central goal of the grant is to increase women s participation in local economies in GBAO and Khatlon by delivering a U.S.-style online entrepreneurship education that is facilitated and localized by State Department exchange alumni and local partners. Beyond training alone, the project is expected to build practical networks that enable peer-to-peer mentorship, potential business partnerships, and pathways to scaling, including connections with regional and U.S. businesses where feasible. Applicants can design proposals around one or more themes, but they are encouraged to include all objectives tied to the theme(s) they choose, with clear performance targets and follow-up timeframes.
Under the training and skills development theme, the program is expected to measurably improve participants confidence and motivation to pursue and expand their businesses, targeting a 90 percent improvement in self-reported confidence by the end of the training. It also aims for tangible business outcomes: at least 50 percent of participants should either launch a registered business or scale up an existing business within six months after completing the program. A strong emphasis is placed on technology adoption, with a target that at least 90 percent of participants actively use two or more digital tools in their businesses, such as e-commerce platforms, social media marketing tools, and financial management or bookkeeping software.
A second major theme centers on increasing awareness of business opportunities and improving access to funding. The program aims for at least 90 percent of participants to apply for at least one business opportunity within three months of finishing the training, signaling that the curriculum and mentorship should lead directly to action in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of a subset of participants (roughly 15 to 20 women entrepreneurs) to pursue funding opportunities such as grants, loans, or investments. Performance targets include at least 50 percent of participants applying for funding within six months after the program and 50 percent receiving funding approval to support business growth, indicating the Embassy is looking for implementers who can provide practical coaching on applications, pitch preparation, and navigating local finance channels.
The intended participants are women aged 18 to 45 from Khatlon or GBAO who have at least a high school education (university education is also acceptable), around 1 to 2 years of business experience, and clear motivation to start or scale a long-term business or entrepreneurial activity. The cohort should be drawn from diverse backgrounds within the two regions. Because the program relies on an online platform, participants should have at least intermediate computer skills. The Embassy also signals a preference for women with demonstrated leadership and, ideally, community volunteering experience. Some English is preferred but explicitly not required, implying implementers should be prepared to localize content and support participants in the language(s) most accessible to them while still leveraging DreamBuilder s structure.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. Embassy is likely to remain engaged during implementation rather than providing a fully hands-off award. The funding opportunity number is STI 400 25 CA 0001 under CFDA 19.022, with a single expected award and an award ceiling of $35,000. The original closing date listed is January 20, 2025. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit entities, including non-profit organizations, civil society or non-governmental organizations, and public or private educational institutions. The full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is referenced as a PDF attachment for additional requirements, selection criteria, and compliance details.Apply for STI 400 25 CA 0001
- 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 2024-12-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-20. (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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant competition from the U.S. Mission to Tajikistan, through the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe Public Diplomacy Section, to implement the second cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Tajikistan.
What is AWE (Academy for Women Entrepreneurs)?
AWE is a U.S. Department of State initiative launched by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) in 2019. It is designed to help women entrepreneurs gain practical business knowledge, build professional networks, and access resources needed to start or grow businesses.
Which cohort is being funded under this opportunity?
This competition supports implementation of the second cohort of AWE in Tajikistan.
Who is funding and overseeing the program?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe (Public Diplomacy Section) under the U.S. Mission to Tajikistan. The opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the Embassy is likely to remain engaged during implementation.
What is the main goal of the project?
The central goal is to increase womens participation in local economies in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and Khatlon by delivering a U.S.-style online entrepreneurship education that is facilitated and localized by State Department exchange alumni and local partners.
Which regions are targeted by the program?
The project focuses specifically on two regions of Tajikistan: the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and Khatlon.
Why are GBAO and Khatlon specifically prioritized?
They are described as regions with strong economic development potential but persistent barriers for women entrepreneurs, including limited access to financing, business training, and market linkages, along with cultural and social constraints that can reduce womens participation in entrepreneurship. The program context also highlights high labor migration in both regions, increasing the relevance of locally grounded entrepreneurship support for women managing households while seeking income-generating opportunities.
What training platform will be used for the core curriculum?
The core training tool is DreamBuilder, a free online entrepreneurship platform created with Arizona State University and Freeport-McMoRan.
What does DreamBuilder teach participants?
DreamBuilder teaches small-business essentials from a U.S. business education perspective, including marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping. It also guides participants through developing a business plan using an integrated business plan generator.
Is DreamBuilder free for participants?
Yes. DreamBuilder is described as a free online entrepreneurship platform.
What broader policy priorities does the grant support?
The opportunity is framed as supporting broader U.S. policy priorities, including the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, by expanding womens economic opportunities and strengthening their ability to participate meaningfully in the economy.
What are the major program themes applicants can propose under?
Applicants can design proposals around one or more themes. Two major themes described are: (1) training and skills development, and (2) increasing awareness of business opportunities and improving access to funding.
Do applicants need to include all objectives?
Applicants may propose one or more themes, but they are encouraged to include all objectives tied to the theme(s) they choose, along with clear performance targets and follow-up timeframes.
What outcomes are expected under the training and skills development theme?
Expected outcomes include measurable improvement in participants confidence and motivation to pursue and expand businesses, tangible business launch or scale results after the program, and strong adoption of digital tools for business operations and growth.
What is the confidence improvement target?
The program targets a 90 percent improvement in self-reported confidence by the end of the training.
What business creation or growth target is expected after the program?
At least 50 percent of participants should either launch a registered business or scale up an existing business within six months after completing the program.
What is expected regarding technology and digital tool adoption?
The program emphasizes technology adoption, targeting that at least 90 percent of participants actively use two or more digital tools in their businesses (for example, e-commerce platforms, social media marketing tools, and financial management or bookkeeping software).
What outcomes are expected under the business opportunities and funding access theme?
The program aims to increase awareness of business opportunities, prompt participants to take concrete actions in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, and build the capacity of a subset of participants to pursue funding opportunities such as grants, loans, or investments.
What is the target for applying to business opportunities after training?
The project aims for at least 90 percent of participants to apply for at least one business opportunity within three months of finishing the training.
How many participants are expected to receive additional support for pursuing funding?
The project seeks to strengthen the capacity of a subset of participants, described as roughly 15 to 20 women entrepreneurs, to pursue funding opportunities (such as grants, loans, or investments).
What are the funding application and approval targets?
Performance targets include at least 50 percent of participants applying for funding within six months after the program, and 50 percent receiving funding approval to support business growth.
Who are the intended participants?
The intended participants are women aged 18 to 45 from Khatlon or GBAO with at least a high school education (university education is also acceptable), around 1 to 2 years of business experience, and clear motivation to start or scale a long-term business or entrepreneurial activity.
Are there any skill requirements for participants?
Because the program relies on an online platform, participants should have at least intermediate computer skills.
Is English required for participants?
Some English is preferred but explicitly not required. This implies the program should be localized and supported in the language(s) most accessible to participants while still leveraging DreamBuilders structure.
Is leadership experience preferred for participants?
Yes. The Embassy signals a preference for women with demonstrated leadership and, ideally, community volunteering experience.
What kind of networking or partnerships should the project build?
Beyond training, the project is expected to build practical networks that enable peer-to-peer mentorship, potential business partnerships, and pathways to scaling, including connections with regional and U.S. businesses where feasible.
What type of award is this?
This opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates the U.S. Embassy may remain involved during implementation rather than providing a fully hands-off award.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA?
The funding opportunity number is STI 400 25 CA 0001 under CFDA 19.022.
How many awards are expected?
A single award is expected.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $35,000.
When is the application closing date?
The original closing date listed is January 20, 2025.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are not-for-profit entities, including non-profit organizations, civil society or non-governmental organizations, and public or private educational institutions.
Where can applicants find additional requirements and selection criteria?
The full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is referenced as a PDF attachment, which contains additional requirements, selection criteria, and compliance details.
Does the opportunity mention required performance tracking or timelines?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to include clear performance targets and follow-up timeframes, and the opportunity includes specific follow-up windows such as three months and six months after training for certain outcomes.
What follow-up timeframes are referenced for key outcomes?
Examples include: business opportunity applications within three months of finishing training; business launch/scale within six months of completing the program; and funding applications and approvals within six months after the program.
What barriers facing women entrepreneurs does the Embassy highlight in the target regions?
The Embassy notes limited access to financing, business training, and market linkages, as well as cultural and social constraints that can reduce womens participation in entrepreneurship.
How does labor migration relate to the need for this program?
The opportunity notes high labor migration in both regions (roughly 30 percent of working-age residents in GBAO and 25 percent in Khatlon). This can strain local labor availability and household economies and can leave women managing households while seeking income-generating options, making local entrepreneurship support particularly relevant.
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