U.S Embassy in Botswana: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) gives enterprising women the knowledge, networks, and access they need to launch and scale successful businesses. By promoting women’s economic opportunities and ensuring that women have the capabilities and resources needed to participate in the economy, the AWE program directly supports the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.

AWE uses a hybrid model that combines the online platform DreamBuilder (developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan) with in-class mentoring and facilitation. Through AWE, participants learn core business skills, then get together as a class to discuss the material with experienced implementers, local mentors, and U.S. Exchange Alumni. Partnerships with local NGOs, universities, and chambers of commerce offer women the opportunity to amplify their newly learned business skills and network with other business people through speed mentoring, pitch competitions, and entrepreneurship fairs.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 3 months to 6months
• Award amounts maximum: $20,000.00
• Anticipated program timeframe: April 2024 to September 2024

Participants and Audiences for AWE

• Women aged between 18 years and 40 years.
• Have started a business (home-based qualifies), with at least one-year experience selling their product or service.
• Must have basic computer skills.
• Able to commit an average of five hours per week to AWE.
• Must have basic English Language proficiency.

Eligible Applicants

The following are eligible to apply:

• Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations.
• Alumni of any U.S. government funded exchange programs.

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