Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA OAA 12 000013
Apply for RFA OAA 12 000013
- The Agency for International Development in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WOMENS LEADERSHIP IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (WLSME) PROGRAM" 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 Jun 18, 2012 and posted on May 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 21, 2012 Final Due Date for Questions is 400 P.M. (EDT) on Monday May 21st, 2012. Closing Date is Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 1200 P.M. NOON (EDT).. (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 $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applicants must be able to (1) demonstrate an established capacity to provide the technical services and expertise to support the proposed program (2) have a proven track record in working on women s empowerment and/or entrepreneurship and (3) partner with a local organization for the proposed program, if they are not one themselves, in the spirit of USAID s Implementation and Procurement Reform. Additionally, Applicants from any U.S. non governmental or non U.S. non governmental organization that meet the above eligibility requirements may apply. For further details, please read SECTION III ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Womens Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises (WLSME) Program is a pilot research grant opportunity from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), issued through its Microenterprise and Private Enterprise Promotion office (USAID/MPEP). The program is designed to support practical, field-based approaches that can be expanded beyond a single pilot, with a clear emphasis on helping women strengthen their leadership and success in small and medium enterprises in developing countries. For this opportunity, an SME is broadly defined as a business employing between 5 and 250 people, and the definition applies whether or not the enterprise is formally registered, which opens the door to work in contexts where informality is common.
The core purpose is twofold. First, applicants are expected to propose innovative and scalable interventions that directly increase the entry, performance, and growth of women-owned and/or women-managed SMEs. That includes efforts that help women start SMEs, move into higher-growth sectors, expand operations, increase revenue and employment, improve management, access new markets, or overcome barriers that prevent businesses from scaling. Second, projects must be designed to participate in a rigorous impact evaluation that is funded separately by USAID. In other words, USAID is not only looking to fund a program that claims it will help women-led SMEs, but also to generate credible evidence about what actually works, under what conditions, and why, so that the broader development and private sector field can learn from tested models rather than assumptions.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically means USAID expects substantial engagement during implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity is categorized under Business and Commerce and is tied to CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas). The award ceiling listed is $1,500,000, with no stated award floor, suggesting proposals could vary in size up to that maximum depending on scope, design, and ambition. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants are not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of eligibility, though proposals can still include leveraged resources if that strengthens the approach.
Eligibility is open to U.S. and non-U.S. nongovernmental organizations, as long as they meet specific capacity and experience requirements. Applicants must be able to demonstrate an established ability to deliver the technical services and expertise needed to carry out the proposed program. They also need a proven track record working on womens empowerment and/or entrepreneurship, indicating that USAID is prioritizing organizations with relevant operational experience rather than newcomers. A notable requirement is partnership with a local organization when the applicant is not itself a local entity, aligning with USAIDs implementation and procurement reform goals that encourage local ownership, local capacity, and stronger in-country collaboration rather than externally driven projects.
In terms of timing and process, the announcement was posted May 7, 2012, with amendments issued later (noted as Amendments 01, 02, and 03). The final due date for questions was set for May 21, 2012 at 4:00 P.M. EDT. The closing date was extended from the original to a current closing date of June 21, 2012 at 12:00 P.M. noon EDT. The listing shows an archive date of July 23, 2012, which generally indicates the solicitation is no longer open, but the details remain useful as a reference for the type of programming and evidence-focused design USAID was seeking.
Overall, WLSME is best understood as a competitive USAID pilot that blends program implementation with learning. It funds interventions intended to measurably improve outcomes for women who own or manage growth-oriented SMEs, while simultaneously building strong evidence through an impact evaluation structure backed by USAID. The emphasis on scalability, practical impact on womens enterprise growth, and participation in rigorous evaluation are the defining features of this opportunity.
Womens Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises (WLSME) Program: FAQs
What is the WLSME Program?
The Womens Leadership in Small and Medium Enterprises (WLSME) Program is a pilot research grant opportunity from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), issued through USAID's Microenterprise and Private Enterprise Promotion office (USAID/MPEP). It supports practical, field-based approaches that aim to strengthen women's leadership and success in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries.
What is USAID trying to achieve through this opportunity?
The program has two core aims: (1) fund innovative, scalable interventions that increase the entry, performance, and growth of women-owned and/or women-managed SMEs, and (2) generate credible evidence about what works by requiring participation in a rigorous impact evaluation funded separately by USAID.
What types of interventions does WLSME want to fund?
WLSME is focused on interventions that directly improve outcomes for women who own or manage SMEs. Examples described in the opportunity include approaches that help women start SMEs, move into higher-growth sectors, expand operations, increase revenue and employment, improve management, access new markets, or overcome barriers that prevent firms from scaling.
What does USAID mean by "scalable" in this opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes practical, field-based approaches that can be expanded beyond a single pilot. Proposals are expected to go beyond a one-off activity and be designed in a way that could be replicated or scaled to broader contexts.
Does the program focus on women-owned businesses, women-managed businesses, or both?
Both. The solicitation highlights women-owned and/or women-managed SMEs, with the goal of strengthening women's leadership and success in SMEs.
What is the definition of an SME under this program?
For this opportunity, an SME is broadly defined as a business employing between 5 and 250 people.
Do SMEs need to be formally registered to be included?
No. The definition applies whether or not the enterprise is formally registered, which allows work in contexts where informality is common.
Where are projects expected to operate?
The program is aimed at SMEs in developing countries.
What makes this opportunity different from a typical grant?
In addition to implementing a pilot intervention, applicants must design their projects to participate in a rigorous impact evaluation that is funded separately by USAID. The goal is not only to deliver results, but also to produce credible evidence about effectiveness, conditions for success, and why an approach works.
Who funds the impact evaluation?
USAID funds the impact evaluation separately from the program award.
What funding mechanism is used for WLSME?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates that USAID expects substantial engagement during implementation rather than a hands-off relationship.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $1,500,000.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No award floor is stated in the information provided, suggesting proposals could vary in size up to the $1,500,000 ceiling depending on scope and design.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement as a condition of eligibility.
Can an applicant still include leveraged resources even if cost share is not required?
Yes. While cost sharing is not required, the description notes that proposals can include leveraged resources if that strengthens the approach.
What is the program category and CFDA listing?
The opportunity is categorized under Business and Commerce and is tied to CFDA 98.001 (USAID Foreign Assistance for Programs Overseas).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is open to U.S. and non-U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as long as they meet the stated capacity and experience requirements.
What capacity and experience are applicants expected to demonstrate?
Applicants must show an established ability to deliver the technical services and expertise needed for the proposed program, along with a proven track record working on women's empowerment and/or entrepreneurship.
Are applicants required to partner with local organizations?
Yes, when the applicant is not itself a local entity. The opportunity notes a requirement to partner with a local organization in those cases, aligning with USAID goals around local ownership and in-country collaboration.
When was the opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on May 7, 2012.
Were there amendments to the solicitation?
Yes. Amendments are noted as Amendments 01, 02, and 03.
What was the deadline to submit questions?
The final due date for questions was May 21, 2012 at 4:00 P.M. EDT.
What was the proposal closing date?
The closing date was extended to June 21, 2012 at 12:00 P.M. (noon) EDT.
Is this opportunity still open?
The listing shows an archive date of July 23, 2012, which generally indicates the solicitation is no longer open.
What is the main theme of WLSME in plain terms?
WLSME is a competitive USAID pilot that blends implementation with learning. It supports interventions meant to measurably improve outcomes for women who own or manage growth-oriented SMEs, while building strong evidence through an impact evaluation structure backed by USAID.
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