Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Zimbabwe 2025 | AF HAR FY25 02

Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Zimbabwe 2025 Grant Opportunity: FAQs

1) What is the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Zimbabwe 2025 funding opportunity?

AWE Zimbabwe 2025 is a U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe (U.S. Department of State) funding opportunity for qualified organizations to design and implement a women-focused entrepreneurship program in Zimbabwe. The implementer would run a structured, cohort-based program designed to help women start, grow, and sustain businesses and participate more fully in Zimbabwe's private sector.

2) Who is offering the funding?

The funding is offered by U.S. Embassy Zimbabwe under the U.S. Department of State.

3) What is the main purpose of the program?

The purpose is practical and economic: to strengthen women entrepreneurs' skills, confidence, and access to resources so they can start, grow, and sustain businesses, and to expand their participation in Zimbabwe's private sector.

4) How long can the project last?

The program should be completed within 12 months or less.

5) How much funding is available?

The award ceiling is USD 35,000.

6) How many awards are expected?

One award is expected (Expected Awards: 1).

7) What type of award will be issued (grant or cooperative agreement)?

The funding instrument may be a grant or a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement involves "substantial involvement" by Embassy staff during implementation.

8) What does "substantial involvement" by the Embassy mean in practice?

Based on the opportunity description, Embassy involvement may include roles in advertising, selection, launch events, selected sessions, and graduations, especially if the award is structured as a cooperative agreement.

9) Is continuation funding possible after the initial project period?

Yes. The Department of State notes it may consider non-competitive continuation funding beyond the initial period if funds are available and performance is strong.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to non-profit entities and similar mission-driven organizations, including non-profits, civil society organizations, incubators and tech hubs that are registered as non-profits, and U.S. government alumni organizations.

11) Are for-profit or commercial entities eligible to apply?

No. For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

12) What capabilities must applicant organizations have?

Applicants must have sufficient staffing, office capacity, and ICT resources to run a hybrid program, including reliable internet connectivity.

13) Who are the intended participants?

The target participants are current or aspiring women business owners in Zimbabwe who can commit to completing the full program and who have proven computer skills and dependable internet or data access.

14) Can applicants focus outreach on specific groups or sectors?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to tailor outreach toward underrepresented populations, niche sectors, or high-growth areas, as long as the recruitment plan is realistic and clearly explained.

15) What program model is expected (in-person, virtual, or hybrid)?

The program is expected to be blended, combining facilitated in-person and virtual sessions with completion of the online DreamBuilder interactive business training course.

16) What is DreamBuilder in this program?

DreamBuilder is an online interactive business training course that participants are expected to complete as part of the blended AWE program model.

17) Can the proposal include additional learning content beyond DreamBuilder?

Yes. Proposals may incorporate relevant content from the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative to broaden learning on entrepreneurship and innovation.

18) What cohort size is expected?

The Embassy is looking for implementers that can deliver structured cohorts of up to about 30 participants per cohort.

19) Can the program run in multiple locations within Zimbabwe?

Yes. Proposals can run the program in multiple locations if helpful to reduce barriers for participants.

20) What makes a proposal more competitive?

Competitive proposals are expected to demonstrate strong local delivery capacity and clearly integrate an American component (for example, U.S. entrepreneurs or U.S.-based experts as guest speakers, instructors, or coaches). Proposals that add hands-on elements such as site visits, seed funding mechanisms, pitch competitions, business fairs, networking events, exchanges, or other creative engagement features are encouraged and viewed as more competitive.

21) What is meant by an "American component"?

An American component refers to integrating U.S. models of entrepreneurship and U.S. business expertise into the program. Examples given include U.S. entrepreneurs or U.S.-based experts participating as guest speakers, instructors, or coaches.

22) Does the American component need to be more than a single guest talk?

Yes. One objective is to connect participants with U.S. models of entrepreneurship and U.S. business expertise as an integrated learning and mentoring feature, not as a one-off guest talk.

23) Can Zimbabwean entrepreneurs and alumni be included as speakers or mentors?

Yes. Sessions can include Zimbabwean entrepreneurs and alumni of U.S.-funded exchange programs, plus other specialists, to enrich the learning environment beyond online coursework.

24) What are the core learning objectives the proposal should address?

Applicants are expected to show how the design will improve participants' understanding of business planning, financial forecasting, marketing, and scaling operations.

25) Are networking and mentorship part of the program expectations?

Yes. The program should strengthen peer-to-peer networks and mentorship among women entrepreneurs to support business growth, collaboration, and local partnerships over time.

26) Is alumni engagement required?

Yes. A major requirement is alumni engagement. Proposals must include entrepreneurship programming or engagement activities for alumnae from prior AWE cohorts in Zimbabwe.

27) What does strong alumni engagement look like under this opportunity?

Stronger applications go beyond inviting alumnae to events. They describe how the project will strengthen the local AWE community, involve U.S. government exchange alumni as mentors or partners, and include follow-up activities after the main cohort training to assess longer-term outcomes and sustain momentum.

28) Are sustainability plans and partnerships encouraged?

Yes. Applications that build in sustainability plans, partnerships with businesses, and/or cost sharing are considered more competitive, provided the budget is reasonable and well-justified.

29) Is cost sharing required?

The opportunity describes cost sharing (cash or in-kind contributions such as volunteer time or donated venues) as a competitiveness factor, not as a stated requirement, as long as the budget remains reasonable and well-justified.

30) What are examples of in-kind cost sharing mentioned?

Examples include volunteer time or donated venues.

31) What must the proposal include regarding recruitment and selection?

Proposals should include a clear recruitment and selection strategy for the intended target group.

32) How should monitoring and evaluation (M&E) be addressed?

The narrative must cover monitoring and evaluation, including the tools that will be used and how results will be reported to the Embassy.

33) What communications and outreach content is expected in the narrative?

The narrative must include communications and outreach, including social media and media plans.

34) What is the application deadline?

The deadline is January 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm Central African Time.

35) How do applicants obtain the required application package and forms?

Applicants must request the application package by emailing PublicDiplomacyGrants-ZIM@state.gov. An automatic reply provides the forms.

36) How do applicants submit the completed application?

Completed application materials must be submitted by email to PublicDiplomacyGrants-Zim@state.gov.

37) Where can applicants send questions?

Questions can be directed to MawereR@state.gov or to the Public Diplomacy grants email address.

38) Are there required registrations before applying?

Yes. Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active SAM.gov registration.

39) How long can SAM.gov registration take?

The SAM process can take 4 to 8 weeks, so applicants are advised to plan ahead.

40) Do organizations need an EIN to register in SAM.gov?

U.S.-based organizations (or those paying U.S. employees) typically need an EIN as part of SAM registration. Non-U.S. organizations that do not pay U.S. employees do not need an EIN, but they still must obtain a UEI and register in SAM.gov.

41) What federal forms are required with the application?

Required federal forms include SF-424 (or SF-424-I for individuals, though eligibility is focused on organizations), SF-424A, and SF-424B.

42) What are the narrative formatting requirements?

The narrative is limited to six pages, must be in English, and must be formatted as single-spaced, 12-point Calibri, with at least 1-inch margins. Pages must be numbered. Budgets must be in U.S. dollars.

43) What topics must the narrative cover?

The narrative must cover: program information, a short executive summary, program design (including cohort profile, logistics, recruitment/selection, partners, timeline and activities), alumni engagement, communications and outreach (including social media and media plans), and monitoring and evaluation (including tools and reporting to the Embassy).

44) What budget format is required?

Budgeting must use the specific AWE budget template and include detailed line items plus a budget narrative explaining calculations and assumptions.

45) What cost categories are mentioned as typical in the budget?

Typical categories include personnel/programming, contracts, travel, lodging, meals and incidentals, supplies/materials/equipment (with special requirements for higher-cost items), and other itemized costs.

46) Are there special rules for equipment purchases?

Yes. Items over USD 5,000 per unit require added justification and a disposal plan.

47) Are any costs explicitly unallowable?

Yes. Alcohol purchases are explicitly unallowable.

48) Are there restrictions related to UNRWA?

Yes. No awarded funds may be used to provide payments or transfers to UNRWA in any form.

49) When can a recipient start incurring project costs?

Recipients may only begin incurring costs on or after the official start date on the signed award document.

50) How are payments handled?

Payment is handled through reimbursement or advance requests using the SF-270 form.

51) When will unsuccessful applicants be notified?

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by February 28, 2025 via email.

52) How will selected applicants be notified?

Selected applicants will receive an award document signed by the Grants Officer. The award document governs the approved scope, budget, and start date.

53) Does submitting an application guarantee funding?

No. The notice is subject to funding availability, and the U.S. government is not obligated to fund any proposal or cover proposal preparation costs. It may reject any or all applications, and selection does not guarantee future funding.