NOFO: Advancing Palestinian Women’s Entrepreneurship Program

Deadline: 12 August 2022

The Public Diplomacy Section (PD) of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (U.S.OPA) announces an open competition for a grant through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Advancing Palestinian Women’s Entrepreneurship Program.

The Advancing Palestinian Women’s Entrepreneurship Program is designed to partner with Not-for-profit non-governmental organizations to implement activities which advance the applicant’s goals and the U.S. OPA-PD mission: to advance a comprehensive, lasting, negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians and the development of a prosperous, stable, and transparent Palestinian society, economy and system of governance through substantive engagement with American people, institutions, ideas and ideals in order to improve American-Palestinian relations and create greater opportunities for mutually beneficial partnership and cooperation.

Program Objectives

• All proposed projects must aim to advance the U.S. OPA-PD mission goals stated contain a substantive American element, and achieve all the following specific objectives:

  • Execute a Women Entrepreneurs Expo (Bazaar) in Jerusalem and lead-up and follow-on activities for Palestinian women entrepreneurs to:

    • enhance participants’ entrepreneurial skills

    • improve the quality and diversify the range of products and services offered by the participants.

    • empower these entrepreneurs to expand their businesses to new markets; and promote shared economic prosperity between Palestinians and Americans.

• Establish connections for Palestinian women entrepreneurs with American experts to advance Palestinian modernization of sales platforms (virtual and in person) and

• improve the quality of products and services, bringing about growth and transformation.

• Help scale participants’ businesses to the next level through group and individual coaching to Palestinian women entrepreneurs by local Palestinian businesswomen and community members as well as mentors, peers, or experts in the United States.

Funding Information

• Length of performance period: 6-8 months

• Number of awards anticipated: 1 award

• Award amounts: award may range to a maximum of $60,000.00

• Total available funding: $60,000

• Type of Funding: FY22 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

• Anticipated program start date: September 2022

Priority Region: Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza.

Participants and Audiences: Palestinian women entrepreneurs, artists, designers, including but not limited to participants in previous Annual U.S.-supported Palestinian Women’s Micro-Enterprise Bazar. New and emerging entrepreneurs aiming to launch and grow their business.

Eligibility Criteria

• The following types of applicants are eligible to apply:

  • Palestinian, American, and International Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations.

For more information, visit https://il.usembassy.gov/notice-of-funding-opportunity-advancing-palestinian-womens-entrepreneurship-program/