Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA306 09 0500
Apply for RFA306 09 0500
- The Afghanistan USAID Kabul in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Afghan Womens Empowerment through a Sub Grant Umbrella Mechanism (AWESUM)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.001 USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2009 and posted on Nov 25, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 29, 2009. (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 $26,300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Afghan Womens Empowerment through a Sub Grant Umbrella Mechanism (AWESUM) is a USAID Kabul funding opportunity structured as a three-year cooperative agreement intended to strengthen women-led and women-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) in Afghanistan. The program is grounded in the reality that, while Afghanistan's Constitution formally recognizes equal rights for women and includes quotas for womens representation in Parliament, everyday enforcement of those rights has historically lagged behind the legal framework. The opportunity frames Afghan womens unequal status as the result of overlapping pressures such as poverty, poor health outcomes, low literacy, discriminatory customary practices, harmful traditional norms, and persistent physical and emotional abuse. In that context, the solicitation positions capable womens CSOs as essential actors for advocacy, service delivery, resource mobilization, and practical development work that can measurably improve womens lives.
AWESUM is designed as an "umbrella" mechanism built around subgrants, meaning the prime awardee is expected to run a structured subgrant program that channels resources to eligible Afghan organizations while also building their capacity. The central objective is not only to fund activities that benefit women and girls, but to leave recipient organizations stronger and more sustainable by improving how they assess needs, design interventions, implement programs, and manage core organizational functions. The opportunity makes clear that many womens CSOs need support across a broad set of competencies, including operations, financial management, human resources, alliance-building and networking, strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluation, alongside technical capacity in whatever thematic sectors they operate.
Programmatically, AWESUM aims to support women-specific activities in four main areas. First, it supports initiatives that improve the status, safety, and well-being of Afghan women and girls, including attention to human rights, legal rights, and livelihoods. Second, it prioritizes direct service delivery that responds to the social, political, and economic needs of women and girls. Third, it seeks to expand womens participation in development not only as beneficiaries, but also as implementers and change agents, reinforcing womens leadership and visibility in community and national development processes. Fourth, it emphasizes the creation or strengthening of channels through which women can access information, build networks, and pursue personal and professional development opportunities, recognizing that information access and connectivity are major constraints in many settings.
Applicants are expected to propose a practical approach for implementing several required activity components tied to these objectives. A core requirement is awarding subgrants that support both technical and organizational capacity building for eligible organizations, including the possibility of providing equipment, as well as funding for the organizations own women-focused activities. Another key component is conducting assessments of organizational and technical capacity needs and then designing interventions that directly respond to those findings, rather than offering generic training or one-size-fits-all assistance. The prime implementer must also oversee subgrant implementation to ensure that projects are delivered effectively and that institutional strengthening and technical skills development actually occur within subgrantee organizations. In addition, the program requires a comprehensive communications plan to generate broad interest among womens CSOs, promote awareness of the subgrant opportunity, and manage an information campaign that keeps other stakeholders informed about the program and its goals.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number RFA306 09 0500 and is categorized under Business and Commerce, using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically implies substantial involvement by the funding agency during implementation. The total program ceiling is listed at approximately $26.3 million (with the narrative referencing $26.7 million), with an expected single award and no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation. The original posting date was November 25, 2008, with a closing date updated to January 29, 2009, and an archive date of March 29, 2009. The CFDA number is 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas, and the opportunity directs applicants to grants.gov for full application instructions and official solicitation materials. Contact points listed in the notice include Ousay Wahaj and Gregory Taitt, with an associated USAID email address for the RFA.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Afghan Womens Empowerment through a Sub Grant Umbrella Mechanism (AWESUM)
1) What is AWESUM?
AWESUM (Afghan Womens Empowerment through a Sub Grant Umbrella Mechanism) is a USAID Kabul funding opportunity designed to strengthen women-led and women-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) in Afghanistan through a three-year cooperative agreement.
2) What kind of award is this?
The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means USAID is expected to have substantial involvement during implementation compared to a standard grant.
3) How long is the AWESUM program expected to run?
The program is intended to be implemented over three years.
4) What is the main purpose of AWESUM?
The central purpose is to support and strengthen women-led and women-focused Afghan CSOs by operating an umbrella subgrant mechanism that provides funding and builds organizational and technical capacity. The goal is not only to fund women- and girl-focused activities, but also to leave recipient organizations stronger and more sustainable.
5) Why does this opportunity focus on Afghan women and women-led organizations?
The solicitation is grounded in the stated reality that legal recognition of womens rights has not consistently translated into everyday enforcement. It describes womens unequal status as shaped by overlapping pressures including poverty, poor health outcomes, low literacy, discriminatory customary practices, harmful traditional norms, and persistent physical and emotional abuse. Within that context, women-focused CSOs are positioned as essential actors for advocacy, service delivery, resource mobilization, and practical development work.
6) What does it mean that AWESUM is an "umbrella" subgrant mechanism?
It means the prime awardee is expected to run a structured subgrant program that channels resources to eligible Afghan organizations (subgrantees). The prime is also expected to strengthen those organizations through capacity-building support.
7) Is USAID planning to make one award or multiple awards?
The notice indicates an expected single award.
8) What is the total funding amount for this opportunity?
The total program ceiling is listed at approximately $26.3 million, with the narrative also referencing about $26.7 million.
9) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation.
11) What are the main program areas AWESUM aims to support?
AWESUM supports women-specific activities in four main areas:
- Improving the status, safety, and well-being of Afghan women and girls (including attention to human rights, legal rights, and livelihoods).
- Direct service delivery responding to the social, political, and economic needs of women and girls.
- Expanding womens participation in development as beneficiaries, implementers, and change agents, reinforcing womens leadership and visibility.
- Creating or strengthening channels for women to access information, build networks, and pursue personal and professional development opportunities.
12) What are the required activity components applicants must address?
Based on the notice, applicants are expected to propose a practical approach that includes:
- Awarding subgrants to eligible organizations to support technical and organizational capacity building, including the possibility of providing equipment, and funding for women-focused activities.
- Conducting assessments of organizational and technical capacity needs and designing interventions that respond to those findings (rather than generic or one-size-fits-all support).
- Overseeing subgrant implementation to ensure effective delivery and that institutional strengthening and technical skills development occur within subgrantees.
- Developing a comprehensive communications plan to generate broad interest among womens CSOs, promote awareness of the subgrant opportunity, and keep stakeholders informed about program goals.
13) What types of capacity building does AWESUM expect to strengthen in women-focused CSOs?
The opportunity notes many womens CSOs may need support across a broad set of competencies, including operations, financial management, human resources, alliance-building and networking, strategic planning, and monitoring and evaluation. It also highlights technical capacity related to the thematic sectors in which CSOs operate.
14) Does AWESUM allow equipment to be provided as part of support to subgrantees?
Yes. The notice states the subgrant approach may include providing equipment as part of technical and organizational capacity building.
15) Is the program only about funding activities, or also about organizational sustainability?
It is explicitly about both. The notice emphasizes strengthening organizations so they become more capable and sustainable, improving how they assess needs, design interventions, implement programs, and manage core organizational functions.
16) Are applicants expected to tailor capacity-building support to each organization?
Yes. The opportunity requires assessments of organizational and technical capacity needs and interventions designed to respond directly to those findings, rather than generic training.
17) What is the role of the prime awardee during implementation?
The prime awardee is expected to run the subgrant program, assess subgrantee needs, provide capacity-building interventions, and oversee subgrant implementation to ensure projects are delivered effectively and that skills and institutional strengthening actually occur.
18) Is a communications plan required?
Yes. The program requires a comprehensive communications plan to generate broad interest among womens CSOs, promote awareness of the subgrant opportunity, and manage an information campaign to keep other stakeholders informed.
19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for AWESUM?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA306 09 0500.
20) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 98.001, USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas.
21) What category is this opportunity listed under?
The notice categorizes it under Business and Commerce.
22) Where can applicants find the official solicitation and application instructions?
The notice directs applicants to grants.gov for full application instructions and the official solicitation materials.
23) What are the key dates listed in the notice?
- Original posting date: November 25, 2008
- Closing date (updated): January 29, 2009
- Archive date: March 29, 2009
24) Who are the contact points listed for this RFA?
The notice lists Ousay Wahaj and Gregory Taitt as contact points, along with an associated USAID email address for the RFA.
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