Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 010 SCA 05232012
Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 010 SCA 05232012
- The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Connecting Women and Markets Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 23, 2012 and posted on May 23, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2012. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- The U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section encourages applications from all sectors committed and organized civil society organizations, private sector companies, local representatives of civil society, think tanks, non governmental organizations, academic institutions, and individuals. U.S. NGOs may apply but preference is given to local NGOs or to partnerships that develop capacity with Afghan NGOs or employees and include plans to transfer programs to sustainable local management.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Connecting Women and Markets Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, administered through the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS) under the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. It is designed to strengthen women-led economic activity in Afghanistan by helping existing women-owned and/or majority women-employing small businesses work together rather than operating in isolation. The core idea is to encourage collaboration among Afghan businesses that are in similar market positions, so they can pool resources, improve competitiveness, and access larger and more sustainable markets.
The program specifically supports the creation or strengthening of cooperative-style umbrellas that bring multiple small businesses together. Funded projects are expected to benefit groups of businesses, not a single company, and proposals that primarily help only one business are explicitly not eligible. Applicants must clearly explain how they will identify, recruit, and select beneficiaries, since the ability to transparently and effectively form a cohort of participating businesses is a central requirement of the opportunity.
Allowable activities are practical and market-facing, aimed at helping women-run enterprises improve their products and successfully sell them. Grant funds may be used for training (such as business skills, management, quality standards, or export readiness), product design and development to meet customer preferences, marketing and branding support, industry networking and relationship-building, and central business advocacy support that can represent the interests of the cooperative members. The program also allows support for virtual and physical retail space, with the intent of expanding sales opportunities in domestic Afghan markets and potentially overseas markets as well. The overall emphasis is on creating pathways to market access and sustainable commercial growth for women-centered businesses through shared services and collective action.
Funding levels range widely depending on project scope. The award floor is $10,000 and the award ceiling is $1,000,000, and the Embassy indicates that more than one project may be funded, depending on the size and quality of proposals received. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier to participation for local organizations that may not have access to substantial co-financing.
Eligibility is broad and open to organizations and individuals that can credibly deliver the program goals. The PAS encourages applications from committed and organized civil society organizations, private sector companies, local civil society representatives, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and individuals. U.S.-based NGOs may apply, but preference is given to local Afghan NGOs or to partnerships that build Afghan capacity, employ Afghans, and include a clear plan to transition the program to sustainable local management over time. This reflects an interest in long-term durability and local ownership rather than short-lived, externally managed projects.
Key dates for the opportunity were a posted date of May 23, 2012, with an application deadline of July 30, 2012, and an archive date of August 29, 2012. The program falls under CFDA number 19.501, listed as Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan. For access issues or submission inquiries, the listed point of contact is Cynthia Rafferty, Grants Manager, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Connecting Women and Markets Program?
The Connecting Women and Markets Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of State, administered through the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS) under the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. It is designed to strengthen women-led economic activity in Afghanistan by helping women-owned and/or majority women-employing small businesses collaborate to improve competitiveness and access larger, more sustainable markets.
What problem is this grant trying to address?
The program targets the challenges small women-centered businesses face when operating in isolation. Its core idea is to encourage businesses in similar market positions to work together so they can pool resources, improve market readiness, and expand market access through shared services and collective action.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to create pathways to market access and sustainable commercial growth for women-centered businesses in Afghanistan by supporting cooperative-style umbrellas that bring multiple small businesses together.
What kinds of business groups does the program support?
The program supports the creation or strengthening of cooperative-style umbrella structures that unite multiple small businesses. These umbrellas are intended to help members collaborate, share services, and compete more effectively in domestic Afghan markets and potentially overseas markets.
Do projects have to benefit more than one business?
Yes. Funded projects are expected to benefit groups of businesses, not a single company. Proposals that primarily help only one business are explicitly not eligible.
What does the program mean by businesses working together "rather than operating in isolation"?
It refers to organizing businesses into a cohort or cooperative-style structure where they can collectively access training, improve product quality and design, strengthen marketing and branding, build industry relationships, pursue shared retail opportunities, and represent their interests through central advocacy support.
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
The intended beneficiaries are existing women-owned and/or majority women-employing small businesses in Afghanistan that can be brought together under a cooperative-style umbrella to expand market access and improve competitiveness.
Is the program limited to certain sectors or industries?
The opportunity description does not list specific sectors. It emphasizes businesses in similar market positions and focuses on practical, market-facing improvements that help women-centered enterprises sell successfully.
What activities can grant funds be used for?
Allowable activities are practical and market-facing and may include training (business skills, management, quality standards, export readiness), product design and development to match customer preferences, marketing and branding support, industry networking and relationship-building, central business advocacy support for cooperative members, and support for virtual and physical retail space intended to expand sales opportunities.
What types of training are allowable under this grant?
The program allows training such as business skills development, management training, quality standards training, and export readiness training.
Can grant funds be used for product development?
Yes. Product design and development activities are allowable when aimed at meeting customer preferences and improving the ability of women-run enterprises to sell successfully.
Can the grant support marketing and branding?
Yes. Marketing and branding support are explicitly listed as allowable activities.
Does the program support networking and relationship-building?
Yes. Industry networking and relationship-building are allowable activities, reflecting the program emphasis on connecting businesses to markets and commercial partners.
What is meant by "central business advocacy support"?
Central business advocacy support refers to support that can represent the interests of cooperative members as a group, helping to advance shared business needs and priorities on behalf of the umbrella structure.
Can the grant fund retail space?
Yes. The program allows support for virtual and physical retail space, with the intent of expanding sales opportunities within domestic Afghan markets and potentially overseas markets.
Does the program support access to overseas markets?
Potentially. The opportunity notes an intent to expand sales opportunities in domestic Afghan markets and potentially overseas markets as well, aligning with allowable activities such as export readiness training and market-facing support.
What is the funding range for awards?
The award floor is $10,000 and the award ceiling is $1,000,000, depending on project scope.
Will more than one award be made?
Possibly. The Embassy indicates that more than one project may be funded, depending on the size and quality of proposals received.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes organizations and individuals that can credibly deliver the program goals. Encouraged applicants include civil society organizations, private sector companies, local civil society representatives, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and individuals. U.S.-based NGOs may also apply.
Are local Afghan organizations preferred?
Yes. Preference is given to local Afghan NGOs or partnerships that build Afghan capacity, employ Afghans, and include a clear plan to transition the program to sustainable local management over time.
What does "transition to sustainable local management" mean in this opportunity?
It refers to including a clear plan for long-term durability and local ownership, so the program is not short-lived or externally managed indefinitely and can continue under Afghan management over time.
What is a key requirement regarding beneficiaries?
Applicants must clearly explain how they will identify, recruit, and select beneficiaries. The ability to transparently and effectively form a cohort of participating businesses is described as a central requirement.
What happens if a proposal mainly supports one business?
It is not eligible. The opportunity explicitly states that proposals primarily helping only one business are not eligible for funding.
Who administers the grant opportunity?
It is administered through the U.S. Embassy Kabul Public Affairs Section (PAS) under the U.S. Department of State, within the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA number 19.501, described as Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
The posted date was May 23, 2012. The application deadline was July 30, 2012. The archive date was August 29, 2012.
Who can applicants contact for access issues or submission inquiries?
The listed point of contact is Cynthia Rafferty, Grants Manager, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan.
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