WE-Champs: Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Networking Regional Women’s Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations

Background
The U.S. Department of State, Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) is seeking applications for projects that promote women’s entrepreneurship and dismantle systemic gender barriers by networking regional women’s Chambers of Commerce (Chambers) and business associations. The project will support the U.S Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, and Executive Order 140203, as well as the forthcoming U.S. Strategy for Women’s Economic Security Globally.

Grant Details
Project activities should strengthen women’s economic security by supporting women’s Chambers of Commerce (Chambers) and business associations through locally designed and led responses to building gender-responsive institutions.
The project may also partner with existing Chambers and business associations not solely focused on supporting women members, but are conducting advocacy on behalf of women entrepreneurs and women in business to address member-identified concerns, potentially resulting in legal, social and/or institutional change through targeted advocacy.
S/GWI seeks proposals from qualified organizations with demonstrated in-country experience in developing partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including the public and/or private sector, civil society, and grassroots organizations.

Eligibility Requirements
Organizations must be a U.S.- or foreign-based non-profit/non-governmental organization (NGO), or a private, public, or state institution of higher education.
They must have existing or the capacity to develop active and equitable partnerships with in-country partners, entities, and relevant stakeholders, including NGOs and private sector actors.
Additionally, they should have demonstrable experience administering successful programs in size, scope, and focus.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is no more than 36 months/3 years.

Grant Value
$1,175,308 (not to exceed)

Place of Performance
The project may work equal to the planned funding amount ($1,175,308) in no fewer than four countries in the Europe and Eurasia region.
The following are countries in which this project may work: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia,Lithuania,Moldova,Montenegro,Po land,Romania,Serbia,Slovakia,and Ukraine.