Opportunity Information: Apply for EMB YAOUNDE AWE FY25 03
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2025 grant opportunity is an open, competitive call from the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon (Public Diplomacy Section, Yaounde) for organizations to design and run a specialized, export-focused AWE cohort in Cameroon. AWE is a U.S. Department of State global initiative aimed at advancing gender equity by expanding women entrepreneurs access to practical business knowledge, professional networks, and opportunities to grow sustainable companies. For 2025, the Embassy is specifically seeking a program that strengthens economic ties between Cameroon and the United States by preparing women-led businesses to meet U.S. export requirements and enter the U.S. market.
The proposed program is expected to run for about six months in summer or fall 2025 and train 50 Cameroonian women business owners. The training focus is tightly centered on export readiness, including product quality enhancement, export compliance, and concrete U.S. market entry strategies. The cohort will use the Thunderbird 100 Million Learners platform (and/or DreamBuilder-style online coursework) as a core learning tool, but it must be reinforced with tailored, hands-on instruction such as workshops on U.S. FDA regulations, USDA requirements, packaging and labeling best practices, and step-by-step export compliance procedures. The overall intent is to build a reliable pipeline of women-led businesses that are genuinely prepared to export, not just generally trained in entrepreneurship.
The Embassy outlines three major phases for implementation. Phase 1 (Develop and Recruit) covers building the curriculum and training materials, recruiting and preparing facilitators and mentors, and running outreach and participant selection. Mentor/facilitator pipelines are expected to draw from U.S. government alumni networks and partners such as the U.S. Embassy community, USAID, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) network. Applicants are also expected to produce an export readiness standard operating procedure (SOP) that entrepreneurs can use as a practical guide for exporting products to the United States. Proposals must clearly explain the recruitment strategy and spell out how the Embassy will be involved during recruitment and program rollout.
Phase 2 (Train the Cohort) begins with a three-day Export Readiness Bootcamp paired with an official launch ceremony in Yaounde. After that, participants complete the online learning component with weekly virtual or in-person touchpoints to discuss progress, address challenges, and receive coaching from facilitators. The Embassy encourages implementers to add localized content and interactive learning methods beyond the online coursework, such as workshops, case studies, field visits, and other practical experiences that build real export capabilities. A key deliverable in this phase is creating a strong peer network among participants so they can collaborate, share contacts and lessons learned, and continue supporting each other after the training ends.
Phase 3 (Milestone Finale) is a two-day capstone event in Douala called the "AWE Alumni Trade Fair and Export Forum." This event is designed to showcase cohort participants alongside AWE alumnae, connect them with potential investors and U.S. buyers, and improve access to funding and export opportunities. The Bootcamp and broader training agenda should include applied topics such as assessing each business export potential, positioning products for the U.S. market, understanding compliance and documentation, strengthening financial management, and using digital marketing for international trade. The Embassy also expects a targeted social media campaign that highlights participant success stories and increases visibility for women-led businesses aiming for global markets. Applicants may propose follow-on ideas after the program ends, but they should plan on those activities needing separate funding, since the award would not automatically cover post-program extensions.
The participant profile is clearly defined. The cohort should include 50 Cameroonian women entrepreneurs (including AWE alumnae) who live in Cameroon, own businesses or social enterprises with credible potential to export to the U.S., and have an established track record of roughly 2 to 5 years in operation. Participants must also demonstrate advanced digital literacy, including computer skills and reliable internet access, and show clear commitment to business growth and international expansion. The Embassy is looking for innovative models with scalable export potential rather than very early-stage ideas without market traction.
This award will be managed as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. Embassy expects substantial involvement in key decisions. The selected grantee must build in Embassy input on program content and design, the participant selection approach, speaker and alumni lists, and key guest lists. The grantee may request Embassy support for promotion through Embassy social media and for inviting press, but the Grants Officer retains final approval authority for major public-facing elements, including keynote speakers, facilitators and participants, promotional materials, and the final dates and venues.
Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations such as registered non-profits (including NGOs, civil society groups, think tanks, and community associations) with relevant programming experience, alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, non-profit media organizations, professional trade organizations, and educational institutions (non-profit, governmental, and private). The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number EMB YAOUNDE AWE FY25 03 (CFDA 19.022). The award ceiling is $35,000, and the Embassy anticipates making up to two awards.
Applications must be submitted by email to PDSGrantsYaounde@state.gov no later than January 12, 2025, at 5:00 pm (local time as indicated in the notice).Apply for EMB YAOUNDE AWE FY25 03
- The U.S. Mission to Cameroon in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) 2025" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-12. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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