Academy for Women Entrepreneurs LESA

Academy for Women Entrepreneurs LESA (Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa) The U.S. Mission to South Africa announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, a 5-month program to train women entrepreneurs based in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a program of the U.S. Department of State and Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs LESA (Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa) program is centered on the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative, an accredited online global management and entrepreneurship certificate consisting of five world-class courses and available to learners across the globe. Applicants for this notice of funding opportunity will support cohorts of women entrepreneurs in seven cities – five in South Africa and one each in Lesotho and Eswatini. The cohorts will attend virtual and in-person events at American Spaces in each location. For participation in the 100 Million Learners program, the applicant will work with the U.S. Embassy to identify an in-person alumni facilitator in each city to lead the participants. The AWE LESA program focuses on the 18-module foundation course which has particular focus on global entrepreneurship and innovation. Facilitators will also lead in-person discussions and serve as mentors for program participants. There are a total of 18 sessions taking place on a weekly basis. Facilitators may be alumni of related U.S. government programs and should be selected in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General. Facilitators will attend pre-program training and orientation. The eventual implementing partner will also need to run a program launch, graduation event as well as a pitch practice session in each city. Upon graduation, the implementing partner will work with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to administer the USADF (United States Africa Development Fund) funding competition to graduates of the program who wish to apply and support the application review process. This competition is run on an annual basis and is subject to the availability of funds. ----------------------------------------Please read the full announcement-------------------------------------------