Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2025 | PAR AWE25

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR AWE25

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2025 (AWE 2025) is a U.S. Mission to Suriname (PAS Paramaribo) grant opportunity designed to expand entrepreneurship training and networks for women in Suriname. The core aim is to help women entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses by combining U.S.-style online entrepreneurship education with local, guided facilitation that is adapted to Suriname realities. Proposals are expected to show how they will deliver structured learning (using content aligned with DreamBuilder or the 100 Million Learners Initiative), strengthen business capability through practical assignments like business plans and pitching, and create durable networks that connect participants to mentors, partners, and growth opportunities locally, in the region, and with U.S. linkages.

A successful proposal should clearly map out how the program will be implemented, including the specific activities, session plans, and suggested speakers. The opportunity strongly emphasizes relationship-building and alumni engagement, encouraging applicants to involve U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) exchange alumni (including prior AWE participants and other U.S. government exchange program alumni) as facilitators, mentors, or speakers. The program is also meant to be inclusive, with explicit encouragement to reach women in underserved communities. Beyond the training period itself, applicants are expected to propose follow-up activities that help measure longer-term impact (for example, alumni engagement events, continued mentorship, or additional entrepreneurship programming for graduates). Sustainability elements and cost sharing are not mandatory, but they are preferred and can strengthen the overall competitiveness of an application.

The awardee (recipient) is responsible for end-to-end delivery and administration of the AWE cohort in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy. That includes designing and promoting a competitive call for applications, using both traditional and social media and existing organizational networks to reach as many women as possible, including underrepresented groups. The recipient must receive, review, and select participants, then manage the operational side of the program such as scheduling and organizing opening and closing ceremonies and any workshops, sessions, or a pitch competition. The awardee must identify a skilled facilitator who can lead sessions consistently throughout the program and adapt online coursework to local business practices and regulations in Suriname. In addition, the recipient must assign someone to guide participants through business plan development and pitching, contract external speakers as needed, maintain a participant register, and collect/share photos and videos of the cohort for potential ECA testimonials.

Monitoring and evaluation is treated as a major deliverable rather than an afterthought. The awardee must implement a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan that gathers data during the program and after it ends, to assess effectiveness and results. The recipient must provide quarterly progress updates that include attendance records and engagement survey information, keep the Embassy informed about program design, and quickly flag any challenges that arise. Coordination with the Embassy is also expected for speaker identification, especially by drawing from ECA alumni networks.

The intended participants are female citizens and residents of Suriname, selected through a competitive process. Participants must be age 18 or older and should either have a business that is not more than two years old or have a credible business idea with demonstrated progress. Because the learning is based on U.S.-style online coursework, participants are expected to have computer skills, access to reliable internet or data, and the ability to complete assignments in English. The time commitment is up to about four hours per week.

Funding is provided through FY25 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds, with a total funding pool listed as $35,000 and an expectation of one award (depending on the amount requested and overall funding availability). The project performance period can range from 6 to 12 months, and proposed programs must be completed in 12 months or less. The anticipated program start date is August 1, 2025, and the application deadline is January 1, 2025 (noting the announcement states the opportunity is subject to funding availability). Cost sharing is encouraged but not required; if offered, it becomes a commitment the applicant is expected to meet.

Eligibility is open to not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs and think tanks), public and private educational institutions, and individuals. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration to be eligible; individuals do not need SAM.gov/UEI. Only one proposal may be submitted per organization, and multiple submissions from the same organization make all of that organization’s proposals ineligible. Applications must be submitted in English, and budgets must be in U.S. dollars; final grant agreements will also be in English. Applications are submitted by email to paramaribo-grants@state.gov, and applicants are warned that SAM registration can take 4 to 8 weeks, so it needs to be started early.

The application package has strict format expectations and specific required components. A summary/cover sheet is needed with basic identifiers (applicant/organization name, date, program title, proposed period and start/end dates, and the program purpose). The main proposal is limited to four pages maximum and should include a clear proposal summary, organizational background and relevant past performance (including prior U.S. Embassy or U.S. government grants), a problem statement, measurable goals and objectives, detailed activities, a methods/design section (a logic model is suggested when appropriate), a timeline with dates/times/locations, key personnel roles and time allocations, program partners/sub-awardees, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and a media/communications plan. Additional attachments include one-page CVs/resumes for key personnel and proof of SAM.gov status (a screenshot showing active registration, or evidence the process has started). A budget justification narrative must explain each cost in detail, aligned with an SF-424A budget, and should cover typical categories like personnel/fringe, travel, equipment (generally $5,000+ per unit), supplies, contractual/sub-awards, other direct costs, and indirect costs (including NICRA documentation if applicable, or use of the 10% de minimis option where allowed).

The notice includes clear funding restrictions: grant funds cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages, cannot be used to cover personal expenses of the implementer, and cannot be used for construction. Award administration runs through a Grants Officer, and the recipient may only begin incurring costs on or after the official start date on the signed award document. Payments are handled via SF-270 requests for advance or reimbursement and are typically disbursed in multiple installments. Recipients must submit both financial and program reports on a schedule defined in the award, and funding disbursement may be tied to timely reporting.

Applications are competitively reviewed using five equally weighted criteria (20 points each): strength and feasibility of the program design and timeline; the depth and clarity of ECA exchange alumni engagement; the strength of communications, media, and outreach plans; the quality of monitoring and evaluation strategy with output/outcome indicators and measurement milestones; and budget feasibility, including a detailed and reasonable budget narrative. A review committee evaluates eligible applications, and questions about the process are directed to paramaribo-grants@state.gov.

• The U.S. Mission to Suriname in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2025" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-01. (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 $35,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for PAR AWE25

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