NOFO: Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Program (Jordan)

The program will focus on growing participants’ business offerings and expanding their ability to promote sustainable and community-led experiential tourism (particularly in the eco-tourism and adventure tourism).  It aims to achieve this by incubating 12 existing experiential tourism small businesses and 12 emerging experiential tourism small businesses through a tailored six-month program that targets a total of 24 women entrepreneurs from 12 governorates and utilizes a Training of Trainers (TOT) capacity building model.

The program will be implemented in two cohorts over a period of six months, with staggered start dates to facilitate effective program management as well as provide a platform for knowledge transfer and skills development. The structure of the program will be as follows:

• Cohort 1: two months, with a total of 8 training sessions taking place on Saturdays
• Cohort 2: two months, with a total of 8 training sessions taking place on Saturdays
• Intensive bootcamp for all program participants
• Final showcase and pitch competition

The implementer should use a hybrid model of online and in-person sessions to accommodate the diverse needs of geographically dispersed participants. The focus will be on maximizing in- person engagements, collaboration, and networking opportunities at partner locations, as well as locations of the businesses led by the participants across Jordan.

Focus Areas

• The program should use DreamBuilder as the primary online training platform. Trainers will leverage DreamBuilder at all training sessions with a focus on building the capacity of the participants in the following areas:
  • Business Acumen
    • Train the participants on topics in entrepreneurship, experiential tourism, and related fields
    • Workshops on marketing, branding, and pitching
    • Workshops on supply chain management and product development
  • Mentorship and Coaching
    • Pair experienced women entrepreneurs with mentees for one-on-one guidance.
    • Provide coaching sessions to address specific business challenges and foster personal growth.
    • Organize group mentorship meetings to encourage networking and mutual learning.
  • Access to Finance and Microgrants
    • Workshops on financial management for MSMEs
    • Collaborate with local financial institutions to educate the participants about funding options.
    • Establish a microgrant program to provide seed funding for the top three business ideas pitched in the final showcase event.
      • $5,000.00 – Seed fund/microgrant given to 1st place winner after the pitch at the final showcase event
      • $3,000.00 – Seed fund/microgrant given to 2nd place winner after the pitch at the final showcase event
      • $2,000.00 – Seed fund/microgrant given to 3rd place winner after the pitch at the final showcase event
    • Assist entrepreneurs in preparing funding proposals and connecting with investors/donors.

Funding Information

• Total available funding: $39,976
• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $39,976.00
• Length of performance period: 6 to 10 months

Participants and Audiences

• 12 existing experiential tourism small businesses and 12 emerging experiential tourism small businesses for a total of 24 women entrepreneurs

Eligibility Criteria

• The following U.S. or Jordanian organizations are eligible to apply:
  • Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/nongovernmental organizations.
  • Public and private educational institutions.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.