U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2024

AWE is a flexible educational opportunity with no-cost online learning platforms that combines localized coaching and mentoring with the online platform DreamBuilder, created through a partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School for Global Management and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.

Program Goal

• AWE aims to prepare women for leadership roles through a flexible educational platform, fostering connections with peers, and facilitating mentorship opportunities with accomplished female leaders in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Project Objectives

• AWE participants have the opportunity to engage in U.S-style online education with local guided facilitation from U.S. Exchange alumni, local business leaders, academics and other local partners.
• Women have access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States. Engage U.S. Exchange alumni also serve as mentors, facilitators, and contacts for participants.
• AWE alumni have access to a wide range of on-going programs tailored to women’s economic empowerment.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 12 months or less
• Number of awards anticipated: one award
• Total available funding: Up to $40,000
• Anticipated program start date: July 1, 2024

All proposals should

• Address how the project will contribute to one or more of the objectives listed above;
• Identify specific outputs and outcomes with quantifiable targets to be achieved by the end of the grant period, using the Monitoring & Evaluation Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP);
• If applicable, describe involvement of American participants, expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s;
• Clearly specify the audiences to be reached and the geographic locations of program activities. Programs proposed in multiple locations should explain how that will be accomplished. The grantee must demonstrate capacity to implement activities in locations and with audiences proposed;
• Describe how elements of the project will have a multiplier effect or be sustainable beyond the life of the grant;
• Include a traditional and/or social media plan for marketing or advertising program activities and outcomes;
• Demonstrate competency to manage all financial and oversight aspects of the project, including participant costs and transparent arrangements of sub-grant relationships with partner organizations, if applicable.

Project Audience(s): Bangladeshi aspiring women entrepreneurs planning to develop their own businesses.

Eligible Applicants

• The following organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations
  • Civil society/non-governmental organizations
  • Think tanks
  • Public and private educational institutions
  • Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh.