Women Empowerment Centers for Azerbaijan

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION. The Embassy of the United States of America in Azerbaijan announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals that focus on creating a network of women economic empowerment centers throughout Azerbaijan and helping Azerbaijan’s women participate in their nation’s labor and entrepreneurship sectors. The Embassy will fund a project working with women and girls to enhance their ability to open their own businesses, increase their employability, and/or increase their incomes. While using the Embassy’s American Corners – located in Baku and six regional cities of Ganja, Sheki, Khachmaz, Kurdemir, Salyan, and Lankaran – as hubs, the program can also propose additional program centers, such as libraries, youth, and community centers. Program partners will offer training sessions for varying degrees of skills in such areas as financial and digital literacy, resource-efficient agricultural techniques, post-harvest processing, accounting, marketing (including via social media), and business development. In addition, elaborate mentorship programs will be designed to meet the varying needs and aspirations of the participants. Successful proposals will feature built-in competition and reward mechanisms offering internships and/or similar engagements to the most motivated and promising participants, thus laying pathways to employment (including self-employment), offering new connections, and building new partnerships. Finally, a successful proposal will include a rigorous monitoring, evaluation, learning plan. Priority Regions: The selected organization will include American Corners located Baku, Kurdemir, Lankaran, Khachmaz, Sheki, Ganja, and Salyan regions as hubs and platforms for project activities. However, the implementing partners will not be limited to these hubs and will be encouraged to suggest additional project gravity centers. Program Objectives: Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of the Embassy’s previous and ongoing efforts which include but are not limited to projects supporting women’s entrepreneurship in Baku and regions, sports programming for girls, provision of legal support to women including those who face domestic violence, empowering girls through STEM and similar programs. Proposals should also leverage the related efforts of like-minded embassies, assistance agencies, and Azerbaijani government bodies, as well as our sizable network of U.S. exchange program alumni, to improve and fine-tune efforts that further our shared goals. The program’s goal is to support women’s economic and social participation and leadership by improving their economic opportunities as entrepreneurs or in quality jobs through building skills, knowledge, and networks. Participants and Audiences: The intended participants for a potential project are women and girls, including those from economically and socially disadvantaged communities, such as IDP settlements. Proposals should also demonstrate how – in cooperation with our American Corners and alumni network – additional women from defined target groups will be reached, and how assessment results will be analyzed and presented in reports and used for learning and future program design.

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