Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 006 SCA 04202012
Apply for SCAKAB 12 AW 006 SCA 04202012
- The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Kabul Women s Economic Participation Research Project" 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 Apr 20, 2012 and posted on Apr 20, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 30, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 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.
- U.S., Afghan, and international organizations or companies are eligible to submit proposals 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 U.S. Embassy Kabul Women's Economic Participation Research Project is a discretionary U.S. government grant (funded by the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs under CFDA 19.501, Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan) designed to support a single, nationwide research effort on Afghan women's economic activity. The central aim is to produce a thorough, countrywide picture of the full range of work Afghan women do, including formal and informal participation, across different regions and sectors. Rather than funding multiple small studies, the opportunity is structured to produce one comprehensive study that can serve as a reference point for policy, programming, and stakeholder coordination.
The expected output is three concrete deliverables. First, the grantee must produce a map that identifies key geographic areas where women participate economically, which implies a spatial or location-based analysis that highlights hubs, regional patterns, and concentrations of women's work. Second, the grantee must deliver a detailed written report that synthesizes findings and provides substantive analysis of women's economic participation nationwide. Third, the project must generate a practical directory of businesses that are either owned by Afghan women or employ large numbers of Afghan women, which suggests the final product should be usable by implementers, investors, NGOs, and development actors looking to connect with women-led or women-employing enterprises.
Proposals are expected to show that the applicant has the operational reach and organizational capacity to conduct research throughout Afghanistan. In practice, that means the application should explain how fieldwork will be conducted across multiple provinces or regions, how data will be collected reliably in diverse settings, and how the team will manage logistics, staffing, quality control, and security constraints that can affect nationwide research. The announcement explicitly asks applicants to describe their methodology, and it signals a preference for an approach that blends original research (such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or field verification) with analysis of existing studies and official or reputable statistics. The overall intent is not just to repackage prior work, but to combine new data collection with a careful review of what is already known, filling gaps and reconciling inconsistencies where possible.
The funder also places weight on demonstrated research credentials. Applicants are encouraged to include samples of previous work, particularly anything in economics, market research, or related analytical fields, and to provide resumes or CVs for key research and administrative personnel. This emphasis indicates that selection will likely consider both technical competence (research design, data analysis, sector knowledge) and managerial competence (project administration, coordination, deliverable production on schedule). Because the award is expected to be one grant, the competition is effectively for a single implementing organization or consortium that can credibly execute an end-to-end national study.
In terms of funding and award structure, the opportunity anticipates one award with an estimated total funding level of $300,000. The typical award size is framed by a floor of $150,000 and a ceiling of $350,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding instrument is listed as a cooperative agreement or grant, which generally means the U.S. government may have more involvement than in a standard grant if it is made as a cooperative agreement, particularly around coordination, deliverable expectations, or review of products, though the specific level of involvement would normally be detailed in the full announcement.
Eligibility is broad and described as unrestricted, with U.S., Afghan, and international organizations or companies eligible to apply. Even with that openness, the announcement states a clear preference for local Afghan NGOs or partnerships that build Afghan capacity. Competitive proposals are expected to show how Afghan NGOs or Afghan employees will be engaged, and they should include plans for transferring programs to sustainable local management. In other words, strong applications would not only deliver the research products but also demonstrate a pathway for local ownership, skill-building, and continuity beyond the life of the study.
Key administrative details include the original posting date of April 20, 2012, with a closing date of May 30, 2012, and an archive date of June 29, 2012. The funding opportunity number is SCAKAB 12 AW 006 SCA 04202012. For access issues or assistance with the full announcement, the contact listed is Cynthia Rafferty, Grants Manager, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan, with submissions and inquiries handled through the embassy's grants channel as indicated in the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the U.S. Embassy Kabul Women's Economic Participation Research Project?
It is a discretionary U.S. government grant opportunity to fund a single, nationwide research effort focused on Afghan women's economic activity. The project is funded by the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs under CFDA 19.501 (Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan) and is intended to produce a comprehensive national reference for policy, programming, and stakeholder coordination.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The central purpose is to produce a thorough, countrywide picture of the full range of work Afghan women do, including both formal and informal economic participation, across different regions and sectors. The opportunity is structured to support one comprehensive study rather than multiple small studies.
How many awards are expected under this opportunity?
The opportunity anticipates one award. The competition is effectively to select a single implementing organization or a consortium capable of executing an end-to-end national study.
What are the required deliverables for the project?
There are three expected deliverables: (1) a map identifying key geographic areas where women participate economically, (2) a detailed written report synthesizing findings and providing substantive nationwide analysis, and (3) a practical directory of businesses that are owned by Afghan women or that employ large numbers of Afghan women.
What does the mapping deliverable need to show?
The map is expected to identify key geographic areas where Afghan women participate economically. This implies a spatial or location-based analysis that highlights hubs, regional patterns, and concentrations of women's work.
What is expected in the written report deliverable?
The written report is expected to provide a detailed synthesis of findings and substantive analysis of Afghan women's economic participation on a nationwide basis, spanning regions and sectors and reflecting both formal and informal activity.
What is the purpose of the business directory deliverable?
The directory is intended to be a practical, usable product listing businesses that are either owned by Afghan women or employ large numbers of Afghan women. It is described in a way that suggests it should be useful to implementers, investors, NGOs, and development actors seeking to connect with women-led or women-employing enterprises.
Does the project require nationwide field coverage?
Yes. Proposals are expected to show that the applicant has the operational reach and organizational capacity to conduct research throughout Afghanistan, including the ability to conduct fieldwork across multiple provinces or regions.
What kinds of operational details should applicants be prepared to address?
The opportunity expects applicants to explain how fieldwork will be conducted across different areas of Afghanistan, how data will be collected reliably in diverse settings, and how the team will manage logistics, staffing, quality control, and security constraints that can affect nationwide research.
What methodology does the funder prefer for this research project?
The announcement signals a preference for a methodology that blends original research (such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or field verification) with analysis of existing studies and official or reputable statistics.
Is the project intended to only summarize existing studies?
No. The stated intent is not just to repackage prior work. The opportunity emphasizes combining new data collection with a careful review of what is already known, filling gaps and reconciling inconsistencies where possible.
What kind of prior experience should applicants demonstrate?
The opportunity places weight on demonstrated research credentials. Applicants are encouraged to include samples of previous work, particularly related to economics, market research, or similar analytical fields.
What staffing documentation is encouraged in the application?
Applicants are encouraged to provide resumes or CVs for key research and administrative personnel, indicating that both technical research capacity and managerial/project administration capacity will likely be considered.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted. U.S., Afghan, and international organizations or companies are eligible to apply.
Is there a preference for any particular type of applicant?
Yes. While eligibility is broad, the announcement states a clear preference for local Afghan NGOs or partnerships that build Afghan capacity.
How should proposals address Afghan capacity-building and local participation?
Competitive proposals are expected to show how Afghan NGOs or Afghan employees will be engaged and to include plans for transferring programs to sustainable local management. Strong applications are expected to demonstrate a pathway for local ownership, skill-building, and continuity beyond the life of the study.
What is the estimated total funding level for this opportunity?
The opportunity anticipates an estimated total funding level of $300,000.
What is the typical award size range?
The typical award size is framed by a floor of $150,000 and a ceiling of $350,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What type of funding instrument will be used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding instrument is listed as a cooperative agreement or grant. This indicates the award could be structured with more U.S. government involvement than a standard grant if issued as a cooperative agreement, particularly regarding coordination and deliverable expectations (the specific level of involvement is typically detailed in the full announcement).
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The original posting date is April 20, 2012. The closing date is May 30, 2012. The archive date is June 29, 2012.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is SCAKAB 12 AW 006 SCA 04202012.
Who is the listed contact for access issues or assistance with the full announcement?
The contact listed is Cynthia Rafferty, Grants Manager, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan.
How are submissions and inquiries handled?
Submissions and inquiries are handled through the U.S. Embassy Kabul grants channel as indicated in the notice, with Cynthia Rafferty listed as the point of contact for access issues or assistance with the full announcement.
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