Description
The Public Diplomacy Sections of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid and the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona (referred to collectively as “PD Spain”) announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program for participants in Spain. The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has established the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) as a program supporting women entrepreneurs around the world. AWE uses DreamBuilder, an online training program for women entrepreneurs that was developed through a partnership between Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Management and global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan to teach women how to create their own business plans, understand how to raise capital, and connect with networks of successful business owners. Additional information is available at the following link: https://eca.state.gov/awe Priority Region: Project activities may take place in any Spanish or Andorran city or rural area. Program Objectives: Entrepreneurship is a means to respond to new economic challenges, create jobs, and fight social and financial exclusion. The goal of this project is to share lessons and practices from the United States with new businesses operating in the Spanish and Andorran entrepreneurial ecosystems and prepare them for potential collaboration with U.S. clients, customers, and investors. The project also aims to empower women entrepreneurs in Spain and Andorra to fulfill their economic potential, and in doing so, create conditions for a more prosperous society. The objective of the project is to engage English-speaking Spanish/Andorran or non-U.S. foreign resident female entrepreneurs in Spain and Andorra with different profiles and backgrounds in an educational program to equip them with the skills needed for the successful development of their business ideas. The awardee will develop a program aimed at increasing the entrepreneurial capacity of AWE beneficiaries that integrates the English-language DreamBuilder (dreambuilder.org) online course as one of its key components. A single AWE program must encompass at least five facilitated in-person sessions that will provide the participants with an opportunity to discuss the topics addressed in each of the DreamBuilder modules, and to build a network of like-minded entrepreneurs amongst the participants. The modules may be augmented to target relevant specific challenges faced by Spanish and Andorran entrepreneurs, and to accommodate the topics of guest speaker talks. Applicants are encouraged to build a comprehensive program in support of the skills gained by participants through the DreamBuilder sessions. These may include mentorship activities, guest speaker talks, partnerships with business incubators, speed-networking, and/or pitch competitions. Participants of this program should be comfortable taking a course and completing assignments in English. Awardee should be able to demonstrate extensive experience in organizing entrepreneurship or business programs and should have an established network of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors throughout Spain or Andorra. Responsibilities of the Awardee: The awardee will be responsible for: The recruitment of AWE participants between the ages of 20 and 45, who have recently started a business or have demonstrated interest and progress in developing an entrepreneurial idea. Selected participants should feel comfortable speaking in English, and be willing to commit up to 4 hours a week for participation in the AWE program. The design, publication, and promotion of the call for applications through traditional and/or social media platforms and organizational networks that will maximize the number of women reached. Review applications and preselect program participants. The awardee will organize and conduct final interviews for selection of participants and alternates. The awardee may determine additional selection criteria beyond the basic eligibility parameters. Designing the format, locations, target regions/audiences, number of cohorts and participants per cohort, within the established framework, as well as the overall coordination and logistics of the project. Structure partnerships with entities, experts, NGOs, foundations, or academic institutions for enrichment of the program. The awardee may identify joint programming opportunities to maximize the project impact. Adequate staffing of facilitated AWE events and relevant travel arrangements. The awardee may propose additional, country-specific teaching modules to complement the DreamBuilder course. These additional modules should target relevant specific challenges faced by Spanish and Andorran entrepreneurs. The recruitment and selection of at least two entrepreneurs or business leaders who will act as facilitators and will coordinate and be in charge of all logistics all virtual and in-person gatherings that will follow the completion of each DreamBuilder module. These facilitators will become mentors and trainers of the AWE participants. Identify and provide an appropriate AWE location with sufficient space and internet bandwidth. Monitor attendance and participation of AWE beneficiaries, maintaining regular communication with the participants to troubleshoot and resolve any unexpected issue. Report program’s progress to PD Spain in a timely fashion, per guidelines and reporting periods identified in the award. Execute a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Plan consisting of a series of data collection and assessment activities during the program, and after the program completion to evaluate the effectiveness of this AWE Spain or Andorra program. PD Spain welcomes proposals which incorporate participants of former AWE programs in Spain and Andorra or other alumni of U.S. government sponsored programs in their projects. Participants and Audiences: The target audience for the program should be women with newly-created businesses or those with an advanced business idea aged between 20 and 45, with sufficient English skills and computer literacy to complete the English-language version of the DreamBuilder curriculum. Ideal participants will be women who have recently started a business without a structured business plan or have a demonstrated interest in developing a business idea. Participants must be energetic and available to commit up to seven hours a week for studying the course content, participating in discussions, networking opportunities and other events as part of the program. PD Spain will welcome projects incorporating migrant/refugee female entrepreneurs or would-be entrepreneurs resident in Spain or Andorra who are citizens or nationals of other countries (excluding U.S. Citizens). These projects should detail initiatives and ideas to provide migrant/refugee female entrepreneurs with knowledge and skills relevant to their experiences, an environment where their businesses can flourish and grow, and offer solutions to the more usual problems that they confront. . The number of participants per cohort ranges between a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION Eligible Applicants: The following organizations registered in Spain or Andorra are eligible to apply: Registered public or private non-profit organizations, such as business associations, foundations, and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience. Non-profit or governmental educational institutions; and Governmental institutions For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply. U.S. or third-country organizations are not eligible for a grant under this program unless in partnership with a Spanish or Andorran entity. Applicants must have organizational representation (i.e. an existing office) in Spain or Andorra. Organizations with extensive experience in business or entrepreneurship and with an established network, all preferably in Spain or Andorra, will have priority among applicants. Cost Sharing or Matching. Although cost share is not required, it is strongly encouraged. When cost sharing is offered, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its proposal. Other Eligibility Requirements. In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier and valid registration on www.SAM.gov, as well as a NCAGE code. Please see the grants section of the website for more detailed instructions. Only organizations having valid SAM.gov registration will be considered as eligible applicants. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding. Applications are accepted in English only, and final grant agreements will be concluded in English