U.S. Embassy Paramaribo is offering the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2025 Grant to empower female entrepreneurs in Suriname.

Program Objectives:

The proposals should meet the following objectives:

• Provide resources for women to engage in U.S.-style online education with guided facilitation and localization from ECA exchange program alumni, local women business leaders, or other local partners.
• Foster networks that support participants’ access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States.
• Build a network of female entrepreneurs that is committed to supporting and promoting relationships that help grow businesses and drive local partnerships, and
• Equip participants with skills and knowledge to build sustainable businesses
• Proposals should generally be no more than four (4) pages in length

Proposals submitted should clearly address program implementation showing the proposed activities and suggested speakers. Applicants should give a detailed recruitment strategy for the target population, clearly specifying how the Embassy would be involved. The proposal should include ideas for follow-up activities after program implementation to assess the impact of the program. Proposals with sustainability and/or cost sharing built in are preferred.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate extensive experience in organizing entrepreneurship or business programs and should have an established network of entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout Suriname.

Responsibilities of the Awardee:

The Recipient agrees to coordinate and administer the program and meet the specific objectives below:

• Recruitment of AWE participants ages 18 years and older, who have recently started a business or have demonstrated interest and progress in developing an entrepreneurial idea. Selected participants of this program should be comfortable taking a course and completing assignments in English and be willing to commit up to 4 hours a week for participation in the AWE.
• Design and promote the call for applications through traditional and/or social media platforms and organizational networks that will maximize the number of women reached, including women in underserved communities.
• Assume responsibility for receiving and reviewing applications and selecting the applicants/participants for this program.
• Arrange and identify all logistics related to hosting the opening and closing ceremonies as well as any other program events/activities.
• Identify a skilled and experienced facilitator who will lead class sessions, create content for the sessions that supports DreamBuilder program or 100 Million Learners’ Initiative content and is adaptable to reflect local practices and regulations in Suriname. The facilitator will be present for all sessions to provide program continuity.
• Assign a representative to review and provide guidance on participant’s business plans and pitch activities.
• Identify and contract external speakers for the workshop and the pitch competition.
• 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 program.
• Collaborate with the Embassy on the implementation of program/sessions
• Collaborate with the Embassy to identify external speakers for sessions from the network of ECA alumni of exchange programs.
• Provide quarterly updates on the execution of the project, inclusive of attendance records and relevant engagement surveys.
• Liaise with the Embassy and provide immediate updates on challenges or issues encountered
• Update the Embassy on program design.
• Maintain a register of AWE participants.
• Collect and share images and videos of the cohort for use as testimonials by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

PAS Paramaribo welcomes proposals that support initiatives such as opening new AWE cohorts, offering follow-on entrepreneurship programming to AWE alumni, and conducting AWE alumni engagement activities.

Participants and Audiences:

• Female citizens and residents from Suriname selected by a competitive application process. AWE participants should commit to complete the program, have proven computer skills, and have access to the Internet or a reliable data connection
• Ages 18 years and older
• Applicants from underserved communities
• Applicants’ business is not older than 2 years
• Applicants can also have a business idea

FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 6 to 12 months

Number of awards anticipated: one award (dependent on amounts)

Total available funding: $35,000.00

Type of Funding: FY25 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated program start date: August 01, 2025

Proposals should generally be no more than four (4) pages in length.

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.

Deadline for Applications: Januari 1, 2025

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

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 (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section Required Registrations for more information. Only organizations having valid SAM.gov registration will be considered as eligible applicants. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

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.

APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Content of Application

Please ensure:

• The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity
• All documents are in English
• All budgets are in U.S. dollars
• All pages are numbered
• All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper
• All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12 point Calibri font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins

The following documents are required:

Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program.

• Proposal (4 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below.
• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact.
• Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed
• Program Goals and Objectives:  The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives.
• Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate.
• Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline:  The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program?
• Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees.
• Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
• Media/Communications Plan: How will the applicant use traditional and social media to raise awareness about this project and its results?

Other Attachments:

• 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program
• If you have completed the SAM.gov process, a screenshot showing your active SAM.gov status, or if you still have not completed the SAM.gov registration, a screenshot from SAM.gov reflecting that you have started the process.

Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information.

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Use this budget category to describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Use this budget category to estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Use this budget category to describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: Use this budget category to list and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Use this budget category to describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Use this budget category to describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68.

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy.  It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

Required Registrations:

All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain a SAM registration in order to be eligible for a grant. (Registration is free of charge).

If an organization plans to issue a sub-contract or sub-award, those sub-awardees must also have a unique entity identifier (UEI number). Those entities can register for a UEI only at SAM.gov.

Note: The process of obtaining or renewing a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible.

Funding Restrictions

Award fund cannot be used to purchase alcoholic beverages or to settle personal expenses of the project implementer. Award funds cannot be used for construction.

Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to paramaribo-grants@state.gov

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Criteria

Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below:

• Strength and feasibility of program design – 20 points: The program idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline.
• Degree of ECA exchange alumni engagement in AWE programming – 20 points: A clear description of how applicant/organization will incorporate participants of former AWE program or other alumni of U.S. government sponsored programs in the program
• Strength of communication, media, and outreach plans – 20 points: The applicant/organization clearly describes the use of traditional and social media to raise awareness about this project and its results.
• Structure of monitoring and evaluation strategy – 20 points: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured.
• Budget feasibility and budget narrative – 20 points: The budget justification is detailed. Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities.

Review and Selection Process

A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications.

FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Federal Award Notices:

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

Payment Method: The standard form SF-270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement Payments may be submitted in the amounts required by the recipient to carry out the purpose of this award. Payments will be made in multiple installments.

Reporting:

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.  The disbursement of funds may be tied to submission of these reports in a timely manner.

FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: Paramaribo-grants@state.gov.