Opportunity Information: Apply for OES OCC 12 002
Apply for OES OCC 12 002
- The Ocean and International Environmental Scientific in the energy environment other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Program in support of the Partnership on Womens Entrepreneurship in Renewables (wPOWER)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017 Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2012 and posted on Jun 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 9, 2012 No Explanation. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligibility is limited to non profit/nongovernmental organizations subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code, or similar entities, foreign non profit organizations, educational institutions, and public international organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Program in support of the Partnership on Womens Entrepreneurship in Renewables (wPOWER) is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity designed to expand womens leadership and participation in clean energy access as a practical climate and development strategy. Administered through the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change (S/SECC) and the Office of Global Change (OES/EGC), the program is framed around the idea that increasing sustainable energy access and improving related natural resource management can move faster and reach more communities when women are intentionally included as entrepreneurs, distributors, and local leaders. The focus is especially on turning womens involvement into measurable market outcomes by connecting them directly to jobs and small business opportunities linked to renewable and clean energy solutions.
Geographically, the grant is aimed at projects that increase energy access in East Africa (specifically Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda) and/or Nigeria. The announcement notes that this effort complements a separate, parallel wPOWER program being developed for India, but this particular Request for Applications centers on Africa and Nigeria. A key emphasis is the "last mile" challenge in energy access: getting affordable, small scale clean technologies into households and communities that are hardest to reach through conventional distribution networks. The program intends to address that gap by supporting women as the local sales force, service providers, and entrepreneurs who can distribute, market, and maintain these products within their communities.
The Department planned to fund one award under this opportunity, using FY 2011 funding, through a cooperative agreement (meaning the government expects to remain more actively involved than under a standard grant). The anticipated maximum funding level is up to $1,000,000, with no stated minimum award amount, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted in June 2012, with an application deadline of July 9, 2012, and it was later archived in August 2012.
Program activities are structured around four main pillars. First, the project must directly integrate women into the energy access value chain, with a strong preference for entrepreneurship models tied to last mile sales and distribution. Second, it should provide business and technical training that equips women to succeed in the clean energy marketplace; this includes training not only on energy access products and services, but also on related sustainable forest and natural resources management topics, reflecting the link between energy use, biomass dependence, and environmental outcomes. Third, the program seeks to raise public awareness at the local level about the role women play in expanding energy access and driving green growth, suggesting that communications and community engagement components are expected rather than optional. Fourth, applicants are asked to improve data collection and strengthen the evidence base by documenting the economic and environmental benefits of integrating women into energy access markets, which implies a meaningful monitoring, evaluation, and learning approach that can produce credible results beyond anecdotal success stories.
The stated goals align closely with these pillars. The program aims to build and strengthen markets for small scale clean technologies by linking women to economic opportunities and capacity building related to energy access. It also aims to integrate women into the value chain in tangible, income generating roles, especially through last mile distribution entrepreneurship. Another explicit goal is increasing public understanding of why womens participation matters for energy access and local green growth, signaling that the initiative is not just about training individuals but also about shifting community norms and perceptions about women in business and in the energy sector. Finally, the program prioritizes data and evidence building, underscoring the Department's interest in results that can be tracked, analyzed, and used to inform future policy and programming.
Eligibility is limited primarily to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations with 501(c)(3) status (or comparable entities), foreign nonprofit organizations, educational institutions (including public, state controlled, and private institutions of higher education), and public international organizations. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs) and is categorized under energy and environment with a gender emphasis, reflecting its dual purpose of expanding clean energy access while advancing womens economic empowerment and leadership in climate related solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity supporting the Partnership on Womens Entrepreneurship in Renewables (wPOWER). It is designed to expand womens leadership and participation in clean energy access as a practical climate and development strategy, with an emphasis on turning womens involvement into measurable market outcomes.
What is the main purpose of the wPOWER program described here?
The program aims to increase sustainable energy access and improve related natural resource management by intentionally including women as entrepreneurs, distributors, and local leaders. A central objective is connecting women directly to jobs and small business opportunities linked to renewable and clean energy solutions.
Who is administering this opportunity within the U.S. Department of State?
The opportunity is administered through the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change (S/SECC) and the Office of Global Change (OES/EGC).
Which countries and regions are eligible for project focus?
The grant is aimed at projects that increase energy access in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda) and/or Nigeria.
Does this opportunity include India?
No. The announcement notes a separate, parallel wPOWER program being developed for India, but this particular Request for Applications centers on East Africa and/or Nigeria.
What does the program mean by the "last mile" challenge?
"Last mile" refers to the difficulty of getting affordable, small scale clean technologies into households and communities that are hardest to reach through conventional distribution networks. The program intends to address that gap by supporting women as local sales forces, service providers, and entrepreneurs who can distribute, market, and maintain clean energy products within their communities.
How many awards did the Department plan to make?
The Department planned to fund one award under this opportunity.
What is the funding mechanism?
The award is expected to be made through a cooperative agreement, meaning the government anticipates being more actively involved than it would be under a standard grant.
What is the maximum award amount?
The anticipated maximum funding level is up to $1,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated in the information provided.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
What is the funding source and fiscal year referenced?
The opportunity references FY 2011 funding.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted in June 2012, and the application deadline was July 9, 2012.
What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The information provided states the opportunity was later archived in August 2012, indicating it is no longer an active solicitation.
What are the main pillars or activity areas the project is expected to include?
Program activities are structured around four pillars: (1) directly integrating women into the energy access value chain, with a preference for entrepreneurship models tied to last mile sales and distribution; (2) providing business and technical training for womens success in clean energy markets, including topics related to sustainable forest and natural resources management; (3) raising local public awareness about womens role in expanding energy access and driving green growth; and (4) improving data collection and strengthening the evidence base by documenting economic and environmental benefits of integrating women into energy access markets.
Is womens entrepreneurship specifically preferred?
Yes. The program expresses a strong preference for entrepreneurship models, particularly those connected to last mile sales and distribution of small scale clean technologies.
What types of training are expected under this program?
The program expects business and technical training that equips women to succeed in the clean energy marketplace. Training is described as covering energy access products and services as well as related sustainable forest and natural resources management topics, reflecting connections between energy use, biomass dependence, and environmental outcomes.
Are public awareness and communications activities required?
The program indicates that raising public awareness at the local level about womens role in energy access and green growth is a core pillar, suggesting communications and community engagement components are expected rather than optional.
What monitoring, evaluation, or evidence building expectations are included?
The program prioritizes data collection and evidence building by documenting the economic and environmental benefits of integrating women into energy access markets. This implies a meaningful monitoring, evaluation, and learning approach that produces credible results beyond anecdotal success stories.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve in markets and livelihoods?
The goals include building and strengthening markets for small scale clean technologies by linking women to economic opportunities and capacity building, and integrating women into the energy access value chain in tangible, income generating roles, especially through last mile distribution entrepreneurship.
Does the program also aim to change community norms or perceptions?
Yes. One explicit goal is increasing public understanding of why womens participation matters for energy access and local green growth, indicating an intent to influence community norms and perceptions about women in business and in the energy sector.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited primarily to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations with 501(c)(3) status (or comparable entities), foreign nonprofit organizations, educational institutions (including public, state controlled, and private institutions of higher education), and public international organizations.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs).
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under energy and environment with a gender emphasis, reflecting its dual purpose of expanding clean energy access while advancing womens economic empowerment and leadership in climate related solutions.
What role do natural resources and forests play in this energy access program?
The program links energy access to sustainable forest and natural resources management, reflecting the relationship between energy use (including biomass dependence) and environmental outcomes. As a result, related natural resource topics are included within the expected training and program design.
What is meant by integrating women into the "energy access value chain"?
In this opportunity, integrating women into the value chain means positioning women in practical, income generating roles tied to clean energy access, such as entrepreneurs, distributors, local sales agents, service providers, and community leaders involved in distributing, marketing, and maintaining small scale clean energy technologies.
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