Opportunity Information: Apply for EAP EAPAQM 16 009
Apply for EAP EAPAQM 16 009
- The DOS-EAP in the community development, employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women's Entrepreneurial Center, Laos" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.124.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 10, 2016 and posted on Apr 10, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 10, 2016. (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 $445,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Women's Entrepreneurial Center, Laos grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: EAP EAPAQM 16 009) is a U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (DOS-EAP) discretionary grant competition launched under the Lower Mekong Initiative. Its central purpose is to strengthen women's entrepreneurship in Laos by funding the creation of a dedicated, physical women's entrepreneurial center located in Vientiane. The project is designed to help women who want to start businesses as well as existing women-owned enterprises, including participants from both the formal economy and informal sector, where many women-led micro and small businesses typically operate.
At the core of the program is the establishment of a safe, supportive space where women can consistently access practical business support rather than one-time trainings. The funded center is expected to deliver skills-building and capacity development opportunities, connect participants to useful resources, and create an environment where women entrepreneurs can receive ongoing guidance as they refine ideas, solve operational problems, and pursue growth. A key feature is mentorship: the center will link women with a local network of mentors who can provide real-time, tailored feedback, helping participants make decisions grounded in local market realities. The overall development logic is that stronger women-owned businesses will translate into job creation and broader economic benefits, contributing to stronger local and national economies while directly addressing the barriers women business owners commonly face.
Although the center will be based in Vientiane, the opportunity explicitly allows for program activities that include or reach women entrepreneurs from other parts of Laos. This suggests the implementing organization can design programming that is nationally inclusive, such as outreach, regional cohorts, periodic trainings outside the capital, or mechanisms that bring participants from provinces to the center, as long as the anchor institution remains the Vientiane-based hub.
Funding is provided through FY2015 Economic Support Funds, and the legal authority for the award is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. The anticipated award structure is a single grant (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $445,500, indicating a focused, one-recipient implementation model rather than multiple smaller awards. The activity aligns with the funding activity category areas of community development, employment, labor, and training (CFDA 19.124), reflecting both the business-development and workforce/economic-growth dimensions of the center.
Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility language. The posting and creation dates are April 10, 2016, with an application deadline of June 10, 2016, meaning it was time-bound to that 2016 competition cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Women's Entrepreneurial Center, Laos (EAP EAPAQM 16 009)
1) What is the Women's Entrepreneurial Center, Laos grant opportunity?
The Women's Entrepreneurial Center, Laos grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: EAP EAPAQM 16 009) is a discretionary grant competition run by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (DOS-EAP) under the Lower Mekong Initiative. It funds the creation of a dedicated, physical women's entrepreneurial center in Vientiane, Laos, with the goal of strengthening women's entrepreneurship nationwide.
2) What is the central purpose of this grant?
The central purpose is to strengthen women's entrepreneurship in Laos by funding the establishment of a safe, supportive, and practical business-support hub where women can access ongoing guidance and resources (not just one-time training).
3) Where must the center be located?
The funded project is expected to create a dedicated, physical women's entrepreneurial center located in Vientiane, Laos. Vientiane serves as the anchor hub for the program.
4) Can the project include women entrepreneurs from outside Vientiane?
Yes. While the center must be based in Vientiane, the opportunity explicitly allows program activities that include or reach women entrepreneurs from other parts of Laos. Applicants may design nationally inclusive approaches (for example, outreach beyond the capital, regional cohorts, periodic trainings outside Vientiane, or ways to bring provincial participants to the center), as long as the anchor institution remains the Vientiane-based hub.
5) Who is the intended target audience for the center's services?
The center is intended to support women who want to start businesses as well as existing women-owned enterprises. It is designed to include women working in both the formal economy and the informal sector, where many women-led micro and small businesses operate.
6) What kinds of support is the center expected to provide?
The center is expected to deliver skills-building and capacity development opportunities, connect participants to useful resources, and provide an environment for ongoing guidance. The emphasis is on consistent, practical support that helps entrepreneurs refine ideas, solve operational problems, and pursue growth over time.
7) Is this grant mainly for one-time trainings or ongoing support?
The program is designed around ongoing support. A core concept is providing a consistent place where women can access practical business support repeatedly, rather than relying on one-off trainings.
8) What role does mentorship play in this program?
Mentorship is described as a key feature. The center will link women entrepreneurs with a local network of mentors who can offer real-time, tailored feedback and guidance grounded in local market realities.
9) What outcomes is the grant trying to achieve?
The underlying logic is that stronger women-owned businesses can lead to job creation and broader economic benefits. The project is also meant to help address common barriers faced by women business owners, contributing to stronger local and national economies.
10) What is the funding source for this opportunity?
Funding is provided through FY2015 Economic Support Funds.
11) What legal authority supports the award?
The legal authority for the award is the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
12) How many awards were expected under this competition?
The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1), indicating a one-recipient implementation model rather than multiple smaller awards.
13) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $445,500.
14) What is the CFDA number and activity category for this grant?
The opportunity aligns with CFDA 19.124 and falls within activity category areas including community development, employment, labor, and training. This reflects both business development and workforce/economic growth dimensions.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. It includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, U.S.-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, and other eligible entities as further clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility language.
16) When was the opportunity posted, and what was the application deadline?
The posting and creation dates are April 10, 2016. The application deadline was June 10, 2016, meaning this was a time-bound competition for the 2016 cycle.
17) Is this opportunity still open based on the dates provided?
Based on the information provided, the deadline was June 10, 2016. That indicates the opportunity was tied to the 2016 competition cycle and is not open under that original deadline.
18) Which U.S. government office administered this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (DOS-EAP).
19) What initiative is this grant associated with?
This grant competition was launched under the Lower Mekong Initiative.
20) Does the opportunity emphasize support for micro and small businesses?
Yes. The description highlights inclusion of women entrepreneurs from the informal sector, where many women-led micro and small businesses typically operate, alongside women operating in the formal economy.
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