Opportunity Information: Apply for PDS DOS GEO FY25 004
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi (Public Diplomacy Section) is offering a discretionary grant to select one implementing partner to run the 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Georgia. AWE is a U.S. Department of State initiative launched in 2019 by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to help women gain the skills, networks, and confidence needed to start or grow successful businesses. The selected implementer will act as the main coordinator between the Embassy, AWE stakeholders, and participants, and will be responsible for delivering the program locally, keeping participants engaged through to completion, tracking results, reporting progress, and publicly promoting the program in a way that reinforces its broader goal of supporting women and economic prosperity in Georgia.
The program model is designed to be practical and flexible, using a hybrid approach that blends self-paced online business training with facilitated sessions and mentorship. Traditionally, AWE uses the DreamBuilder online platform, created through a partnership involving Arizona State Universitys Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan. Participants study core entrepreneurship content online and then come together through online or in-person meetings led by experienced facilitators, local mentors, and U.S. government exchange alumni. Implementers are also encouraged to build strong local partnerships with NGOs, universities, chambers of commerce, and private sector sponsors, creating opportunities like speed mentoring, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship fairs. As an alternative or supplement to DreamBuilder, applicants may incorporate the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative curriculum, in whole or in part, depending on what best fits the local context.
The opportunity emphasizes outcomes beyond training alone. Key objectives include providing English-speaking women entrepreneurs in Georgia access to U.S.-style entrepreneurship education with guided support; building durable networks that connect participants to peer mentors, business partners, and growth opportunities within the region and with U.S. businesses; and keeping alumni engaged after the cohort ends through volunteer, professional, and educational opportunities that encourage continued business expansion. Another stated goal is to share U.S. business lessons and practices to help Georgian startups and small businesses operate more effectively within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and become better prepared for future collaboration with U.S. clients, customers, and investors. Overall, the program frames womens entrepreneurship as a pathway to broader prosperity, aligning with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality by expanding womens economic participation and opportunities.
Eligible applicants include Georgia-based not-for-profit organizations (such as civil society organizations, NGOs, and think tanks) as well as individual alumni of any USG-funded or USG-sponsored exchange program who reside in Georgia. The award ceiling is $35,000, with one award expected. The funding opportunity is listed as PDS DOS GEO FY25 004 under CFDA 19.022, and the issuing agency is the U.S. Mission to Georgia.
Applications must be emailed as a proposal package to tbilisigrants@state.gov by January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. local time. Submissions sent directly to ECA will not be considered, so proposals need to go through the Embassy channel specified in the announcement.Apply for PDS DOS GEO FY25 004
- The U.S. Mission to Georgia in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Academy for 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 2025-01-08.
- 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 (FAQ)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi (Public Diplomacy Section) to select one implementing partner to run the 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Georgia.
2) What is the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)?
AWE is a U.S. Department of State initiative launched in 2019 by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It is designed to help women gain the skills, networks, and confidence needed to start or grow successful businesses.
3) Who is funding and issuing this opportunity?
The issuing agency is the U.S. Mission to Georgia, through the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi (Public Diplomacy Section).
4) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity is listed as PDS DOS GEO FY25 004 under CFDA 19.022.
5) How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
6) What is the maximum grant amount?
The award ceiling is $35,000.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include Georgia-based not-for-profit organizations (including civil society organizations, NGOs, and think tanks) as well as individual alumni of any USG-funded or USG-sponsored exchange program who reside in Georgia.
8) Can an individual apply, or does it have to be an organization?
Both can apply, as long as the individual is an alumnus/alumna of a USG-funded or USG-sponsored exchange program and resides in Georgia, or the applicant is a Georgia-based not-for-profit organization.
9) What is the main purpose of selecting an implementing partner?
The selected implementer will run the AWE program locally in Georgia and serve as the main coordinator between the Embassy, AWE stakeholders, and participants.
10) What are the implementer responsibilities described in the announcement?
The implementer is responsible for delivering the program locally, keeping participants engaged through completion, tracking results, reporting progress, and publicly promoting the program in a way that supports the broader goal of advancing women and economic prosperity in Georgia.
11) What is the program format?
The AWE model is described as practical and flexible, using a hybrid approach that combines self-paced online business training with facilitated sessions and mentorship. Facilitated sessions may be online or in-person.
12) What online training platform does AWE typically use?
Traditionally, AWE uses the DreamBuilder online platform, created through a partnership involving Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan.
13) Are alternatives to DreamBuilder allowed?
Yes. As an alternative or supplement, applicants may incorporate the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative curriculum, in whole or in part, depending on what best fits the local context.
14) What kinds of support do participants receive beyond online coursework?
Participants complete core entrepreneurship content online and also participate in meetings led by experienced facilitators, local mentors, and U.S. government exchange alumni.
15) Does the opportunity encourage partnerships in Georgia?
Yes. Implementers are encouraged to build strong local partnerships with organizations such as NGOs, universities, chambers of commerce, and private sector sponsors.
16) What types of events or activities are encouraged as part of implementation?
The announcement highlights opportunities such as speed mentoring, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship fairs.
17) What outcomes does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes outcomes beyond training alone, including skills development with guided support, network-building, long-term alumni engagement, and practical application of U.S. business lessons and practices within Georgia's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
18) Who is the program intended to serve?
The objectives specifically mention English-speaking women entrepreneurs in Georgia.
19) What are the stated objectives of the 2025 AWE program in Georgia?
Key objectives include: (1) providing English-speaking women entrepreneurs access to U.S.-style entrepreneurship education with guided support; (2) building durable networks connecting participants to peer mentors, business partners, and growth opportunities in the region and with U.S. businesses; and (3) keeping alumni engaged after the cohort ends through volunteer, professional, and educational opportunities that encourage continued business expansion.
20) How does this program connect to U.S. government priorities?
The program frames women's entrepreneurship as a pathway to broader prosperity and aligns with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality by expanding women's economic participation and opportunities.
21) What is expected regarding alumni engagement after the cohort ends?
The announcement states a goal of keeping alumni engaged after the cohort ends through volunteer, professional, and educational opportunities that encourage continued business expansion.
22) What is meant by "U.S.-style entrepreneurship education" in this announcement?
Based on the announcement, this refers to entrepreneurship education delivered through AWE's model, traditionally using the DreamBuilder curriculum and guided by facilitators, mentors, and exchange alumni, with an emphasis on sharing U.S. business lessons and practices.
23) What role does public promotion play in this grant?
The implementer is expected to publicly promote the program in a way that reinforces its broader goal of supporting women and economic prosperity in Georgia.
24) Where should applications be submitted?
Applications must be emailed as a proposal package to tbilisigrants@state.gov.
25) What is the application deadline?
The deadline is January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. local time.
26) Can proposals be submitted directly to ECA?
No. Submissions sent directly to ECA will not be considered. Proposals must be submitted through the Embassy channel specified in the announcement (tbilisigrants@state.gov).
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