U.S. Department of State’s AWE Grant: Building Capacity for DRC Women Entrepreneurs

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program was established by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to support women entrepreneurs around the world. The AWE program provides female entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and networks needed to launch and scale businesses within an inclusive learning community. In its third iteration in the DRC, the AWE program will train and enhance the capacity of 100 women entrepreneurs in five cities who have been running businesses for at least one year. The program consists of three phases: completion of an online curriculum (DreamBuilder); interactive sessions with business leaders; and a business plan competition, in which the top 20 participants will pitch their business ideas in Kinshasa. Ten finalists will have the opportunity to travel to Harvard Business School in the United States for advanced training. Through AWE, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa aims to strengthen and professionalize existing entrepreneurial networks by leveraging alumni contacts in five key provinces Alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs will play a central role as primary facilitators, collaborating with local NGOs that focus on sustainable management solutions. These facilitators will engage with participants through the American Spaces network across the country.

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program was established by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) to support women entrepreneurs around the world. The AWE program provides female entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and networks needed to launch and scale businesses within an inclusive learning community. In its third iteration in the DRC, the AWE program will train and enhance the capacity of 100 women entrepreneurs in five cities who have been running businesses for at least one year. The program consists of three phases: completion of an online curriculum (DreamBuilder); interactive sessions with business leaders; and a business plan competition, in which the top 20 participants will pitch their business ideas in Kinshasa. Ten finalists will have the opportunity to travel to Harvard Business School in the United States for advanced training. Through AWE, the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa aims to strengthen and professionalize existing entrepreneurial networks by leveraging alumni contacts in five key provinces Alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs will play a central role as primary facilitators, collaborating with local NGOs that focus on sustainable management solutions. These facilitators will engage with participants through the American Spaces network across the country.