The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is accepting concept notes from interested eligible applicants (definition below) for the Young Entrepreneurs Grants Program FY 2023. The deadline for submitting concept notes to the U.S. Embassy is Friday, March 17, 2023. Any submission received after the deadline will not be considered for this grant opportunity.
Program Office: Public Affairs Section, Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu, Nepal
Funding Opportunity Title: Young Entrepreneurs Grant Program FY 2023
Announcement Type: Grant
Deadline for Applications: Friday March 17, 2023, 18:00 hrs., Kathmandu Time
Total Amount Available: $ 15,000 USD
CFDA Number: 19.040
Competition format: This opportunity involves two rounds: In Round 1, the Embassy will collect project ideas in the form of concept notes, due March 17. In Round 2, the U.S. Embassy will invite applicants with promising ideas to submit full applications.
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- For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact culturektm@state.gov
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Executive Summary:
The U.S. Department of State, Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu, announces an open competition to implement a program to promote and support young entrepreneurship in Nepal.
This project will train entrepreneurs aged 20 to 45 years old in fundamental business strategies and knowledge. We are looking for projects that will help entrepreneurs to develop one or more of the following skills:
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- Accounting and Financial Literacy
- Business Laws
- Business Strategic Planning
- Sales, Marketing and Pitching
- Product Development and Design Thinking
- Project Management
- Communication Skills: Negotiation, Confidence, Networking
- Time Management
- Data Analysis
- International Trade Rules and Competitiveness
- Talent Recruitment and Retention
- Business Cases
Priority will be given to proposals that include capacitation in Business Laws, Talent Recruitment and Retention, and International Trade Rules and Competitiveness.
Background:
Nepal and its neighbors will shape the trajectory of the global economy in the 21st century. It is part of the fastest growing region on the planet, accounting for 60 percent of the world economy and two-thirds of all economic growth over the last five years. This region also is home to more than half the world’s people and many of the world’s largest economies.
The lack of economic opportunities and jobs in the domestic market forces nearly 25% of Nepalis to seek work abroad, often risking human trafficking and labor rights violations. The support of local entrepreneurs is vital to expanding Nepal’s economy, promoting long-term development, and generating domestic more jobs opportunities. However, Nepali young entrepreneurs often cite bureaucracy, talent retention, and funding as their top hurdles to success. This project seeks to develop the entrepreneurship space, helping young Nepali entrepreneurs acquire the necessary knowledge and business skills to achieve their goals.
Project Intended Beneficiaries: Nepali entrepreneurs aged 20 to 45 from all genders, especially from underserved communities.
Project Goal: Help Nepal to increase rules-based trade and competitiveness through support for entrepreneurship, thus advancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth and reducing extreme poverty. By helping the new generation of entrepreneurs, our hope is to generate economic growth and new job opportunities in the country.
Project Objective: Capacitate between 30 and 50 aspiring young entrepreneurs over a period of 6 to 12 months in the above listed skills.
B. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Important: The application process for the Young Entrepreneurs Grant includes two rounds—Project Concept Note submission (Round 1) and Full Proposal submission (Round 2). Interested applicants must submit concept notes electronically via email to the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu at culturektm@state.gov no later than Friday, March 17, 2023.
ROUND 1 CONCEPT NOTE REQUIREMENTS:
A. Project basics, including:
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- Project working title
- Anticipated project length (applicants may propose projects of up to 12 months in duration)
- Project number of beneficiaries
- Location/site of project activities
- Project cost estimate (amount requested from the Young Entrepreneurs Grant; in U.S. dollars)
B. A brief scope of work, including:
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- Capacity-building and training goals (specifying the topics from the list of skills provided above)
- Types and numbers of activities planned to achieve those goals
- Your method for evaluating whether the project achieved those goals
This section should not exceed 2,000 characters.
ROUND 2 FULL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS: The applicants invited to Round 2 will receive additional guidelines on the submission requirement. During the Round 2, the invited applicants will detail the technical aspects of the proposed project and submit a full application.
DISCLAIMER: Issuance of this funding opportunity does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government. The U.S. Embassy reserves the right to waive program formalities and to reduce, revise, or increase project scopes and budgets in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.
C. ELIGIBILTY INFORMATION
- Eligible Applicants:
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- Not-for-profit organizations
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Think tanks
- Public and private educational institutions
Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.
Pre-award costs are not an allowable expense for this funding opportunity.
2. This opportunity will not support any of the following:
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- Projects relating to partisan political activity
- Charitable or development activities
- Construction projects
- Projects that support specific religious activities
- Fund-raising campaigns
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs
- Scientific research or surveys
- Commercial projects
- Projects that duplicate existing U.S. government funded projects
- Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the applicant organization
- Illegal activities