Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAISB 19 AW 012 03152019
The grant opportunity titled "Peshawar - Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics (STEM) Entrepreneurship Projects" is a U.S. Department of State public diplomacy funding announcement issued by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar. It is structured as an open competition for financial assistance awards, but it is explicitly contingent on the availability of funds. The overall purpose is capacity-building, both at the individual level (helping people develop real entrepreneurial skills and pathways) and at the institutional level (strengthening organizations and systems that support entrepreneurship). The thematic focus is STEM-related entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on practical, technology-enabled approaches that can create measurable improvements in skills, opportunities, and local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is divided into three separate project tracks, and the sponsor expects to make up to three awards in total, suggesting that one award may be made per project track (though applicants still need to follow the NOFO rules and structure their proposal accordingly). The maximum funding per award is listed as USD 75,000. The funding instrument types include grants and cooperative agreements, meaning some awards may involve closer collaboration and involvement from the U.S. government during implementation (a common feature of cooperative agreements compared to standard grants). The opportunity is categorized as discretionary and is administered under CFDA number 19.501, tied to Department of State public diplomacy and related programming.
All three project tracks revolve around entrepreneurship strengthened through science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related innovation skills, but each targets a slightly different audience or angle. The first project, "Sowing Tech Ideas - Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Competition for University Students in KP," centers on university students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and is framed as a competition model. That implies programming such as outreach to universities, ideation or pitch development support, mentorship, bootcamps or workshops, selection rounds, judging panels, and some form of recognition or acceleration support for winners. The second project, "Building Capacity of Young Entrepreneurs Through Technology," is broader and focuses on developing the abilities of young entrepreneurs using technology as the main lever. This may include training on digital tools, product development, e-commerce, digital marketing, basic coding or prototyping, business model design, or other tech-enabled methods that help early-stage entrepreneurs move from concept to viable operations. The third project, "Strengthening Cultural Entrepreneurship Through Technology," emphasizes cultural or creative sectors and how technology can help them grow, modernize, and reach wider audiences. In practice, that could mean helping entrepreneurs in crafts, heritage industries, media, design, tourism-adjacent ventures, or cultural enterprises use online platforms, digital storytelling, branding, marketplaces, or other technology solutions to expand and professionalize.
A key requirement is that applicants must already have the experience and resources needed to reach the intended target audiences and the relevant geographic locations. In other words, proposals need to be grounded in a realistic ability to recruit participants, deliver programming in the local context, and manage implementation at the scale proposed. The NOFO also requires that proposals include a media outreach and social media plan. That detail signals the funder cares not only about direct program delivery (trainings, competitions, mentorship, etc.) but also about public visibility, participant recruitment, dissemination of results, and broader narrative impact consistent with public diplomacy objectives. A strong application would therefore lay out how it will publicize activities, document success stories, engage local media and online channels, and communicate outcomes to wider communities beyond direct participants.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on March 15, 2019, with an original closing date of May 14, 2019. The issuing agency is the Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, with PAS Peshawar serving as the local implementing office for this particular call. Eligibility is listed broadly under "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced but not included in the text provided; in practice, this usually means certain non-profits, educational institutions, and other qualified organizations may apply, provided they meet the specific eligibility criteria described in the full announcement. Overall, the grant is designed to back practical, implementable projects that strengthen STEM entrepreneurship pipelines in KP and surrounding areas, combine skills-building with real-world application, and amplify impact through intentional media and social outreach.Apply for SCAISB 19 AW 012 03152019
- The Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Peshawar – Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics (STEM) Entrepreneurship Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 15, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 14, 2019. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Peshawar - STEM Entrepreneurship Projects
1) What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Peshawar - Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics (STEM) Entrepreneurship Projects."
2) Who is offering and administering this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of State public diplomacy funding announcement issued by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar. The issuing agency is the Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, with PAS Peshawar serving as the local implementing office for this call.
3) What is the overall purpose of the NOFO?
The overall purpose is capacity-building at two levels: (1) individual capacity-building by helping people develop real entrepreneurial skills and pathways, and (2) institutional capacity-building by strengthening organizations and systems that support entrepreneurship. The thematic focus is STEM-related entrepreneurship using practical, technology-enabled approaches to create measurable improvements in skills, opportunities, and local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
4) Is this an open competition?
Yes. The NOFO is structured as an open competition for financial assistance awards.
5) Is funding guaranteed?
No. The NOFO is explicitly contingent on the availability of funds, meaning awards depend on funds being available.
6) How many awards does the sponsor expect to make?
The sponsor expects to make up to three awards in total. The NOFO is divided into three separate project tracks, and the structure suggests that one award may be made per track, though applicants must still follow the NOFO rules and structure proposals accordingly.
7) What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The maximum funding per award is USD 75,000.
8) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument types include grants and cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements can involve closer collaboration and involvement from the U.S. government during project implementation compared to standard grants.
9) What is the CFDA number and program category?
The opportunity is administered under CFDA number 19.501 and is tied to Department of State public diplomacy and related programming. It is categorized as discretionary.
10) What are the project tracks under this NOFO?
The NOFO includes three tracks:
- "Sowing Tech Ideas - Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Competition for University Students in KP"
- "Building Capacity of Young Entrepreneurs Through Technology"
- "Strengthening Cultural Entrepreneurship Through Technology"
11) What is the focus of Track 1 (Sowing Tech Ideas) and who is it for?
Track 1 focuses on university students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and is framed as a science and technology entrepreneurship competition. It implies competition-oriented programming to help students generate ideas, refine them, and present them in structured selection rounds.
12) What kinds of activities are implied for the university student competition track?
Based on the competition model described, likely elements include outreach to universities, ideation or pitch development support, mentorship, bootcamps or workshops, selection rounds, judging panels, and some form of recognition or acceleration support for winners.
13) What is the focus of Track 2 (Building Capacity of Young Entrepreneurs Through Technology)?
Track 2 is broader and aims to develop the abilities of young entrepreneurs by using technology as the main lever to help early-stage entrepreneurs move from concept to viable operations.
14) What kinds of skills or topics may be included in Track 2 programming?
The NOFO description suggests training and support that could include digital tools, product development, e-commerce, digital marketing, basic coding or prototyping, business model design, and other tech-enabled methods that strengthen entrepreneurial execution.
15) What is the focus of Track 3 (Strengthening Cultural Entrepreneurship Through Technology)?
Track 3 emphasizes cultural or creative sectors and how technology can help them grow, modernize, and reach wider audiences. The intent is to strengthen cultural entrepreneurship through technology-enabled expansion and professionalization.
16) What types of cultural or creative ventures are referenced for Track 3?
The description references areas such as crafts, heritage industries, media, design, tourism-adjacent ventures, and cultural enterprises, with technology used to expand reach and improve business capabilities.
17) What kinds of technology approaches are implied for cultural entrepreneurship projects?
Examples mentioned or implied include online platforms, digital storytelling, branding, marketplaces, and other technology solutions that help cultural entrepreneurs reach broader markets and communicate their value more effectively.
18) What geographic area and audiences are emphasized in this opportunity?
The NOFO emphasizes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and related local contexts connected to the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar. Track 1 specifically targets university students in KP, while the other tracks focus on young entrepreneurs and cultural entrepreneurs using technology.
19) Are applicants required to have existing capacity to reach participants?
Yes. A key requirement is that applicants must already have the experience and resources needed to reach the intended target audiences and relevant geographic locations. Proposals are expected to be grounded in a realistic ability to recruit participants and deliver programming in the local context at the proposed scale.
20) Is a media outreach or communications plan required?
Yes. The NOFO requires proposals to include a media outreach and social media plan. This signals that public visibility, recruitment, dissemination of results, and narrative impact are important alongside direct program delivery.
21) What kinds of communications outcomes does the NOFO appear to value?
Based on the requirement for a media and social media plan, the NOFO appears to value publicizing activities, documenting success stories, engaging local media and online channels, and communicating outcomes beyond direct participants in a way consistent with public diplomacy objectives.
22) What is the timeline information provided (creation and closing dates)?
The opportunity was created on March 15, 2019, with an original closing date of May 14, 2019.
23) What is listed for eligibility in the information provided?
Eligibility is listed broadly under "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced but not included in the provided text. The description notes that, in practice, this often includes certain non-profits, educational institutions, and other qualified organizations, provided they meet the specific eligibility criteria described in the full announcement.
24) What type of projects is this NOFO designed to support?
The NOFO is designed to back practical, implementable projects that strengthen STEM entrepreneurship pipelines in KP and surrounding areas, combine skills-building with real-world application, and amplify impact through intentional media and social outreach.
25) How should applicants think about structuring a proposal given the three tracks and limited awards?
The NOFO describes three separate project tracks and expects up to three awards total. This suggests proposals should be clearly aligned to one of the tracks and structured to match the NOFO requirements, while recognizing that funding decisions may result in one award per track (though that is not guaranteed in the provided description).
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