Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAKAB 23 GR 006 SCA 05032023
The grant opportunity titled Empowering Women for Economic Progress (Funding Opportunity Number SCAKAB 23 GR 006 SCA 05032023) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program managed by the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan. It is designed to fund projects that help Afghan women overcome major obstacles to economic participation, particularly barriers related to employment, access to capital, availability of financial services, and education or skills development. The overall idea is that women in Afghanistan face interconnected constraints, so proposals are expected to take a practical, problem-solving approach that can measurably expand women s ability to earn income, build sustainable livelihoods, and remain visible contributors to the economy despite difficult conditions.
The program is specifically seeking project proposals that address at least one key area centered on entrepreneurship and employment. In practical terms, this includes initiatives that help women start and run their own businesses, strengthen or expand women-led enterprises, or support women in joining existing women-led businesses and cooperatives. It also includes training and skill-building efforts that prepare women to participate in enterprise activity, whether as founders, workers, or contributors to women-run value chains. Beyond training alone, the opportunity emphasizes outcomes such as creating real employment pathways for women, improving women s access to capital, and supporting women s continued presence in the workforce and broader economy.
A notable feature of the opportunity is its emphasis on maintaining visibility for women in economic life. The description does not frame empowerment only as household-level income generation; it also highlights the importance of sustaining women s public role and recognition in economic growth. Projects are encouraged to reinforce women s contributions to markets and economic development, which can include showcasing women-led business success, strengthening professional networks, and building channels that keep women connected to commercial activity in ways that are safe and durable.
The opportunity also points to market access as a priority, meaning proposals may be competitive if they create clearer routes for goods and services produced by women-led enterprises to reach domestic buyers and, where feasible, export markets. This can involve improving product readiness, quality, packaging, branding, distribution relationships, and other steps that help women-owned businesses move from informal or local sales into more stable market arrangements. The focus is on creating pathways that translate women s work into sustained revenue, rather than short-term activity that ends when funding stops.
From a funding standpoint, the award instrument is a grant, with an award ceiling of USD 500,000, and the agency anticipated making two awards under this opportunity. The opportunity was created on May 17, 2023, with an original closing date of June 19, 2023. The CFDA number is 19.501, and eligibility is listed as Others, with further clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice. Overall, the grant is geared toward implementers capable of delivering tangible economic outcomes for Afghan women through entrepreneurship support, employment-oriented skills development, and initiatives that improve access to capital and markets while reinforcing the continued visibility of women in the economy.Apply for SCAKAB 23 GR 006 SCA 05032023
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Afghanistan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Empowering Women for Economic Progress" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 17, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2023. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The grant opportunity is titled Empowering Women for Economic Progress.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SCAKAB 23 GR 006 SCA 05032023.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this program?
This is a discretionary program of the U.S. Department of State.
Who manages this opportunity?
The opportunity is managed by the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan.
What is the main goal of the program?
The program is designed to fund projects that help Afghan women overcome major obstacles to economic participation and measurably expand their ability to earn income, build sustainable livelihoods, and remain visible contributors to the economy despite difficult conditions.
What types of barriers is the program trying to address?
The opportunity specifically highlights barriers related to employment, access to capital, availability of financial services, and education or skills development. It also notes these constraints are interconnected, so proposals are expected to take a practical, problem-solving approach.
What thematic areas must a project address?
Projects are expected to address at least one key area centered on entrepreneurship and employment.
What kinds of entrepreneurship activities are considered responsive?
Responsive initiatives include efforts that help women start and run their own businesses, strengthen or expand women-led enterprises, or support women in joining existing women-led businesses and cooperatives.
Does the opportunity support training and skills development?
Yes. The opportunity includes training and skill-building that prepares women to participate in enterprise activity, whether as founders, workers, or contributors to women-run value chains.
Is training alone enough to be competitive?
The description emphasizes outcomes beyond training alone, such as creating real employment pathways, improving access to capital, and supporting women’s continued presence in the workforce and broader economy.
What outcomes is the program emphasizing?
The opportunity emphasizes measurable outcomes that expand women’s economic participation, including stronger income-generation capacity, sustainable livelihoods, employment pathways, improved access to capital, and sustained participation in economic life.
What does the program mean by keeping women "visible" in economic life?
The opportunity stresses that empowerment is not only about household-level income generation. It also highlights sustaining women’s public role and recognition in economic growth, reinforcing women’s contributions to markets and economic development in ways that are safe and durable.
What are examples of activities that support women’s visibility in the economy?
Examples mentioned or implied include showcasing women-led business success, strengthening professional networks, and building channels that keep women connected to commercial activity in ways that are safe and lasting.
Is market access an explicit priority under this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity points to market access as a priority and suggests proposals may be competitive if they create clearer routes for goods and services produced by women-led enterprises to reach buyers.
Does the opportunity mention export markets?
Yes. It notes market access can include routes to domestic buyers and, where feasible, export markets.
What kinds of market access improvements are relevant?
The opportunity references steps such as improving product readiness, quality, packaging, branding, and distribution relationships, with an emphasis on moving women-owned businesses from informal or local sales into more stable market arrangements.
What kind of sustainability does the opportunity emphasize?
The focus is on creating pathways that translate women’s work into sustained revenue, rather than short-term activity that ends when funding stops.
What is the award instrument for this funding opportunity?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is USD 500,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency anticipated making two awards under this opportunity.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 17, 2023.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was June 19, 2023.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 19.501.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as Others. The summary indicates that further clarification is expected in the full eligibility section of the official notice.
What types of implementers is this grant geared toward?
Overall, the grant is geared toward implementers capable of delivering tangible economic outcomes for Afghan women through entrepreneurship support, employment-oriented skills development, and initiatives that improve access to capital and markets while reinforcing women’s continued visibility in the economy.
What is the geographic focus of the program?
Based on the description, the program focuses on Afghan women and is managed by the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan.
Does a proposal need to take a particular approach?
Yes. The opportunity states that women face interconnected constraints, so proposals are expected to take a practical, problem-solving approach that can measurably expand women’s economic participation and ability to earn income.
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