Promoting Gender Equality in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Exchange Program | DOS GEO 18 CA 002 062218

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Promoting Gender Equality in TVET Exchange Program?

The Promoting Gender Equality in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Exchange Program is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity offered through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia. It is designed as a year-long, practical exchange and capacity-building effort to improve gender equality outcomes within Georgian TVET institutions.

2. What is the core purpose of this program?

The program aims to help Georgian TVET leaders and staff better understand why women and girls may be underrepresented in TVET programs and to equip institutions with realistic, implementable approaches to recruit, support, and retain female students, with the goal of strengthening employment outcomes and economic empowerment.

3. What are the main objectives of the opportunity?

The opportunity is organized around three main objectives:

• Objective 1: Build an evidence-based understanding of barriers limiting female participation in TVET and link those barriers to effects like occupational segregation, reduced job access, and weaker economic mobility for women.
• Objective 2: Provide tools and guidance to mainstream gender across TVET institutional structures and daily operations (policies, program design, student services, learning environments, and employer partnerships).
• Objective 3: Strengthen TVET providers' capacity to address gender disparities in recruitment and retention so institutions can better attract women (including into nontraditional fields), support completion, and facilitate transition into employment.

4. Who is the sponsoring agency for this funding opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Georgia, through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi.

5. What is the funding instrument for this award?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This typically implies substantial involvement by the U.S. government in the project implementation (for example, collaboration on planning, coordination, or oversight), rather than a fully hands-off grant.

6. How many awards are expected and what is the maximum award amount?

The opportunity anticipates making one award, with an estimated total award amount up to $225,000.

7. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DOS GEO 18 CA 002 062218.

8. What is the primary activity category and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The funding activity category is Education under CFDA number 19.900.

9. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are U.S. organizations and institutions capable of managing an international exchange and professional development program. This includes:

• U.S. public and private institutions of higher education
• U.S.-based nonprofit organizations (including those with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status)
• Other eligible entities as clarified in the funding notice

10. What types of organizations are not explicitly listed as eligible in the provided information?

Only U.S. organizations and institutions are described as eligible in the provided information. Entities outside the U.S. are not mentioned as eligible, and any additional eligibility nuances would depend on what is stated in the full funding notice.

11. How long is the program expected to run?

The program is described as a year-long exchange and capacity-building effort.

12. What major components is the budget expected to cover?

The budget is intended to cover these major components:

• An initial needs assessment trip to Georgia
• A three-week intensive professional study tour in the United States for up to 12 participants
• A follow-up visit to Georgia for evaluation and additional consultations

13. How many participants can take part in the U.S. study tour?

The U.S. study tour is planned for up to 12 participants.

14. What is the expected length and style of the U.S. study tour?

The U.S. component is expected to be a three-week, robust, and hands-on professional study tour. It is expected to include time at U.S. training centers and site visits with relevant TVET institutions, partners, and policymakers.

15. What are Georgian participants expected to gain from the U.S. study tour?

The U.S. study tour is intended to allow participants to observe U.S. models, policies, and institutional practices that have been used to reduce gender gaps in technical education and workforce pipelines, and to translate that learning into actionable reforms after returning to Georgia.

16. What kinds of TVET reforms or institutional changes does the opportunity emphasize?

The opportunity emphasizes lasting institutional change, including reforms that improve female student outreach, create more supportive learning environments, reduce drop-off, and strengthen links to employment in higher-growth technical fields.

17. What does "mainstreaming gender" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this opportunity, mainstreaming gender refers to integrating gender considerations across TVET institutional structures and daily operations. Examples mentioned include how policies are written, how programs are designed, how student services are delivered, how learning environments are managed, and how partnerships with employers are formed.

18. What is meant by addressing gender disparities in recruitment and retention?

In this program context, it means improving an institution's ability to attract women (including into nontraditional fields), keep them engaged through completion, and support their transition into employment.

19. What kind of analysis is expected at the beginning of the project?

Proposals are expected to include a clear work plan for diagnosing gender-related barriers in Georgian TVET settings, supported by an initial needs assessment trip to Georgia.

20. What is expected of the implementing partner selected for funding?

The selected implementing partner is expected to manage an international exchange and professional development program and to propose a coherent approach that connects: (1) diagnosing barriers in Georgia, (2) designing a responsive U.S.-based study tour, and (3) ensuring the exchange produces lasting institutional changes after participants return to Georgia.

21. What makes an application "strong" based on the provided description?

Strong applications would typically emphasize how learning from U.S. counterparts will be translated into actionable reforms inside TVET institutions, particularly changes that improve recruitment and retention of women, strengthen support systems, and improve pathways into employment.

22. When was this competition posted and what was the application deadline?

The competition was posted on June 22, 2018, with an original application deadline of July 23, 2018.

23. How many awards does PAS plan to fund under this opportunity?

PAS plans to fund one implementing partner through a cooperative agreement, and the notice anticipates making one award.

24. Where will program activities take place?

Program activities are expected to take place in Georgia (for the needs assessment and follow-up evaluation/consultations) and in the United States (for the three-week professional study tour).

25. What is the intended long-term impact for Georgian TVET institutions?

The intended impact is that participating Georgian TVET institutions become better equipped to understand and address barriers to female participation and implement realistic approaches that increase recruitment, support retention through completion, and improve employment outcomes and economic empowerment for women.