Opportunity Information: Apply for USUNESCO 17 NOFO 001
The grant opportunity titled "Leveraging UNESCO Networks to Address the STEAM Gender Gap in Africa" is a U.S. Department of State-funded initiative administered through the U.S. Mission to UNESCO (USUNESCO). It seeks a single organization to design and run a three-year, grantmaking program focused on finding, strengthening, and scaling grassroots-led efforts that help close the long-standing gender gap in science, technology, engineering, arts/design, and math (STEAM) across Africa. The core idea is to use UNESCO-related networks and connections to surface high-potential local initiatives, support their growth, and help them reach more women and girls with effective pathways into STEAM education, training, and careers.
The program is specifically oriented toward measurable progress toward gender parity in STEAM over time, with a clear emphasis on empowerment and economic opportunity. It frames STEAM participation not only as access to schooling or training, but as a way for women and girls to gain the socioeconomic benefits that come with in-demand technical and creative skills. A key theme in the description is shifting women and girls from being primarily consumers of technology to becoming creators and innovators, meaning the supported initiatives are expected to build real agency, capability, and representation in fields where women remain underrepresented.
Geographically, the planned grants program targets a defined set of African countries: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. While the administering entity may be based elsewhere (depending on eligibility rules), the grassroots initiatives ultimately supported through the sub-grants are intended to operate within these countries, reflecting local leadership and locally grounded solutions.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: USUNESCO 17 NOFO 001; CFDA 19.801) under the Department of State, Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues. The award structure anticipates one primary awardee (Expected Awards: 1) who would be responsible for the overall program design and management across the three-year period, including identifying grantees, administering sub-awards, and overseeing performance and results. The maximum federal funding available for the main award is listed as an award ceiling of $493,750, which implies that the selected organization must manage the program strategically, balancing grant support to grassroots initiatives with the operational needs of administering a multi-country, multi-year portfolio.
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than universities), with additional eligibility details referenced in the full opportunity text. The funding activity categories associated with the opportunity span arts, humanities, education, employment and training, community development, and regional development, which matches the interdisciplinary nature of STEAM and the broad set of barriers that commonly keep girls and women from entering and staying in these fields (such as access to quality learning, mentoring, job pathways, community support, and enabling environments).
In terms of timing, the opportunity was created on November 14, 2016, with an original application deadline of January 31, 2017. Even though those dates indicate the competition window for this specific posting, the summary content captures the program model and priorities: a single implementing partner running a three-year, UNESCO-network-informed grants program that elevates proven grassroots solutions, expands what works, and ultimately increases the number of African women and girls who can study, work, and lead in STEAM fields.Apply for USUNESCO 17 NOFO 001
- The Department of State, Secretarys Office of Global Womens Issues in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), community development, education, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Leveraging UNESCO Networks to Address the STEAM Gender Gap in Africa" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.801.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 14, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 31, 2017. (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 $493,750.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Leveraging UNESCO Networks to Address the STEAM Gender Gap in Africa."
Who funds and administers this opportunity?
It is funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered through the U.S. Mission to UNESCO (USUNESCO).
What is the main goal of the program?
The program is designed to help close the long-standing gender gap in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts/design, and math) across Africa by finding, strengthening, and scaling grassroots-led efforts that support women and girls.
What type of applicant is the opportunity looking for?
The opportunity seeks a single organization to design and run a three-year grantmaking program. That organization would serve as the main awardee and would administer sub-grants to grassroots initiatives.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipates one primary award (Expected Awards: 1).
How long is the program period?
The implementing partner is expected to run a three-year program.
What is the role of the selected organization (the primary awardee)?
The selected organization is responsible for overall program design and management over the three-year period. This includes identifying grassroots initiatives to support, administering sub-awards, overseeing performance, and tracking results.
What does "grantmaking program" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, a "grantmaking program" means the primary awardee will run a sub-grants process: surfacing grassroots initiatives, selecting grantees, issuing sub-awards, and managing a portfolio of initiatives across multiple countries.
What is the maximum federal funding available for the main award?
The award ceiling for the main federal award is $493,750.
Does the award ceiling cover both grants and program administration?
The description indicates the selected organization must balance support to grassroots initiatives with the operational needs of administering a multi-country, multi-year portfolio within the total award ceiling of $493,750.
What does the program prioritize: access to education, careers, or something else?
The program emphasizes measurable progress toward gender parity in STEAM over time and links STEAM participation to empowerment and economic opportunity. It frames participation as pathways into STEAM education, training, and careers.
What does "measurable progress toward gender parity" imply for supported work?
It implies the program is oriented toward tracking performance and results over time, with an emphasis on outcomes that reflect movement toward gender parity in STEAM participation.
What does the opportunity mean by moving women and girls from "consumers" to "creators and innovators"?
The opportunity signals that supported initiatives should build real agency, capability, and representation in STEAM fields, helping women and girls develop in-demand technical and creative skills and participate as makers, creators, and innovators.
How does UNESCO factor into the program model?
The core idea is to leverage UNESCO-related networks and connections to identify high-potential local initiatives, support their growth, and help them reach more women and girls with effective STEAM pathways.
Which countries are targeted for the grassroots initiatives supported through sub-grants?
The sub-grants are intended for grassroots initiatives operating in the following African countries: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Can the primary awardee be based outside the listed African countries?
The summary notes that the administering entity may be based elsewhere depending on eligibility rules, while the grassroots initiatives supported through sub-grants are intended to operate within the listed target countries.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply as the primary awardee?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than universities). Additional eligibility details are referenced in the full opportunity text.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What are the official identifiers for this funding opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USUNESCO 17 NOFO 001, and the CFDA number is 19.801.
Which U.S. Department of State office is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Department of State, Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues.
What program areas or activity categories does this opportunity cover?
The funding activity categories span arts, humanities, education, employment and training, community development, and regional development, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of STEAM and the range of barriers affecting participation.
What kinds of barriers to women's and girls' participation in STEAM does the opportunity recognize?
The description references common barriers such as access to quality learning, mentoring, job pathways, community support, and enabling environments, which align with the broad activity categories included in the opportunity.
What is the application timeline listed in the opportunity summary?
The opportunity was created on November 14, 2016, and the original application deadline is listed as January 31, 2017.
Do the listed dates reflect the original competition window for this posting?
Yes. The dates provided indicate the competition window for the specific posting, even though the summary also describes the underlying program model and priorities.
Is the program focused on local leadership?
Yes. The program model emphasizes grassroots-led efforts, local initiatives, and locally grounded solutions within the target countries.
What is the expected approach to scaling impact?
The summary describes an approach centered on identifying high-potential grassroots initiatives, strengthening them, and scaling what works so more women and girls can access effective pathways into STEAM education, training, and careers.
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