NOFO: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Program (South Africa)

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.

Goal

• Promote economic prosperity, including equitable economic development opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups and individuals.

Objectives

• Provide a resource for women entrepreneurs to engage in online education with guided facilitation and localization;
• Foster networks that support participants’ access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States;
• Provide access to a range of educational programs tailored to women’s economic empowerment to expand the effects of participation.

Funding Information

• Grant amount: Up to $69,000
• Number of awards anticipated: 1
• Length of performance period: 8 to 12 months.

Participants

• Young women (aged 21–35).
• Early-stage entrepreneurs, or aspiring entrepreneurs with a viable business idea that has a community improvement or other social impact, such as pursuing green technology or social entrepreneurship ventures.
• Citizen/legal resident and residing in the country where the participant’s cohort is based.
• Resident in urban, semi-urban, and semi-rural areas of Gauteng, Bloemfontein, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Western Cape, Lesotho and eSwatini: Pretoria (25 participants); Soweto (25 participants); Bloemfontein (20 participants); Cape Town (20 participants); Durban (20 participants); Maseru (20 participants); Mbabane (20  participants).
• Committed to an average of 5 hours per week to the AWE program.  Basic computer skills and must have access to a laptop/computer with internet access.

Eligibility Criteria 

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • 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.
  • Applicants may be asked to provide proof of their non-profit status if such status is unclear to the selection committee.

For more information, visit Grant.gov.