Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAISB 14 AW 004 SCA 011314

  • The U.S. Mission to Pakistan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Entrepreneurship Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.501 Public Diplomacy Programs for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2014 and posted on Jan 13, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 1, 2014. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
  • The U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section encourages applications from U.S. and Pakistani registered not for profit, civil society/non governmental organizations, and educational institutions with at least two years of programming experience. This experience should be documented in the organization s proposal.
Apply for SCAISB 14 AW 004 SCA 011314

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Opportunity Summary:

This grant opportunity, titled Entrepreneurship Programs (Funding Opportunity Number SCAISB 14 AW 004, SCA 011314), was offered by the U.S. Mission to Pakistan through the U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section as a public diplomacy initiative (CFDA 19.501). The embassy sought proposals for programs lasting 12 to 24 months that would strengthen entrepreneurship in Pakistan while also building practical, lasting connections between entrepreneurs in Pakistan and the United States. The underlying idea is that entrepreneurship can drive job creation, raise incomes, encourage innovation, and broaden access to economic opportunity, so the funded activities were expected to translate into real skills, real networks, and stronger local systems that continue after the project ends.

At its core, the opportunity aimed to fund projects that deliver hands on support to entrepreneurs at different stages. Competitive proposals were expected to provide structured training and mentoring for both current and aspiring entrepreneurs, including guidance that helps people move from an idea to a viable business. The announcement also emphasized capturing and institutionalizing lessons from successful entrepreneurs, meaning programs should not just host one off events but also document what works, share those insights widely, and embed them into local organizations, curricula, or ongoing support structures. A key component was highlighting and connecting successful U.S. and Pakistani entrepreneurs, which could involve joint programming, speaker series, exchanges, mentoring relationships, or network building efforts designed to create sustained cross border collaboration.

The grant outlined three main program goals. First, it sought to foster entrepreneurship and innovation, with particular emphasis on scalable, high growth startup ventures that can contribute meaningfully to job creation and broader economic growth in Pakistan. This signals a preference for programs that go beyond basic small business training and instead help founders develop models that can expand, attract investment, build teams, and compete in larger markets. Second, the opportunity prioritized increasing people to people ties between the United States and Pakistan. Proposals were expected to create stronger relationships through shared information, experiences, exchanges, and expertise, which could include collaborative workshops, mentorship arrangements, delegations, virtual or in person engagements, or other mechanisms that connect entrepreneurial communities across both countries. Third, it aimed to strengthen local capacity by helping organizations pilot, expand, and replicate entrepreneurship initiatives that catalyze successful businesses and healthier local economies. This goal also explicitly pointed to themes such as improving intellectual property rights awareness and practice, encouraging reforms that link academia and the business sector, increasing trade readiness, and expanding practical knowledge of how to access local and international markets.

In terms of funding structure, awards were to be made as either a cooperative agreement or a grant, and the opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds. The award ceiling was listed as $500,000. Eligibility was directed toward U.S. and Pakistani registered nonprofit organizations, civil society or nongovernmental organizations, and educational institutions, with the important requirement that applicants demonstrate at least two years of programming experience, documented within the proposal. The posting date was January 13, 2014, with an original and current closing date of April 1, 2014, and an archive date of May 1, 2014.

For administrative support, the point of contact named in the announcement was Katherine Malarkey, Grants Manager in the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad, for issues accessing the full announcement electronically as well as for inquiries and submissions. Overall, the opportunity was designed to fund practical entrepreneurship ecosystems work: training and mentorship for founders, stronger institutional know how, and durable U.S. Pakistan entrepreneurial links that can continue generating collaboration and economic opportunity beyond the life of the grant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Entrepreneurship Programs (SCAISB 14 AW 004, SCA 011314)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled Entrepreneurship Programs.

What are the funding opportunity numbers associated with this grant?

The announcement lists two identifiers: Funding Opportunity Number SCAISB 14 AW 004 and SCA 011314.

Which U.S. government office offered this opportunity?

This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Mission to Pakistan through the U.S. Embassy Islamabad Public Affairs Section as a public diplomacy initiative.

What CFDA number is tied to this program?

The program is listed under CFDA 19.501.

What was the overall purpose of the grant?

The purpose was to support programs that strengthen entrepreneurship in Pakistan while building practical, lasting connections between entrepreneurs in Pakistan and the United States. The opportunity emphasized translating activities into real skills, real networks, and stronger local systems that continue after the project ends.

How long were proposed projects expected to last?

Proposals were requested for programs lasting 12 to 24 months.

What types of entrepreneurs were the programs expected to support?

The opportunity emphasized hands-on support for entrepreneurs at different stages, including both current and aspiring entrepreneurs, with guidance that helps people move from an idea to a viable business.

What kinds of activities were competitive proposals expected to include?

Competitive proposals were expected to include structured training and mentoring, along with practical guidance for moving from concept to an operating business. The announcement also emphasized documenting and institutionalizing lessons from successful entrepreneurs rather than running one-off events.

What does it mean to "capture and institutionalize" lessons from successful entrepreneurs?

In this opportunity, it meant programs should document what works and share insights widely, then embed those lessons into local organizations, curricula, or ongoing support structures so the impact continues beyond the grant period.

Was connecting U.S. and Pakistani entrepreneurs a required component?

Building connections between successful U.S. and Pakistani entrepreneurs was a key component. The announcement suggested approaches such as joint programming, speaker series, exchanges, mentoring relationships, and network-building designed to create sustained cross-border collaboration.

What were the three main goals of the program?

  1. Foster entrepreneurship and innovation, with emphasis on scalable, high-growth startup ventures that contribute to job creation and economic growth in Pakistan.
  2. Increase people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan through shared information, experiences, exchanges, and expertise.
  3. Strengthen local capacity by helping organizations pilot, expand, and replicate entrepreneurship initiatives that catalyze successful businesses and healthier local economies.

Did the announcement indicate a preference for certain types of entrepreneurship?

Yes. It highlighted a preference for programs focused on scalable, high-growth startup ventures that can expand, attract investment, build teams, and compete in larger markets, rather than only basic small business training.

What kinds of U.S.-Pakistan engagement activities were contemplated?

The announcement referenced engagement mechanisms such as collaborative workshops, mentorship arrangements, delegations, virtual or in-person engagements, exchanges, and other ways to connect entrepreneurial communities across both countries.

What local capacity themes did the opportunity explicitly mention?

The third goal explicitly pointed to themes such as improving intellectual property rights awareness and practice, encouraging reforms that link academia and the business sector, increasing trade readiness, and expanding practical knowledge of how to access local and international markets.

What funding instrument types were expected for awards?

Awards were to be made as either a cooperative agreement or a grant.

Was cost sharing or matching funds required?

No. The opportunity stated that it did not require cost sharing or matching funds.

What was the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The award ceiling was listed as $500,000.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was directed toward U.S. and Pakistani registered nonprofit organizations, civil society or nongovernmental organizations, and educational institutions.

Was prior experience required to apply?

Yes. Applicants were required to demonstrate at least two years of programming experience, documented within the proposal.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was January 13, 2014.

What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed was April 1, 2014.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was May 1, 2014.

Who was the point of contact for this opportunity?

The point of contact named was Katherine Malarkey, Grants Manager in the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy Islamabad.

What types of support could the point of contact provide?

The announcement indicated the contact could help with issues accessing the full announcement electronically, as well as handling inquiries and submissions.

What kind of outcomes was the embassy looking for from funded programs?

The opportunity emphasized outcomes such as practical skills development, durable entrepreneur networks, and stronger local entrepreneurship systems that persist after the program ends, alongside sustained U.S.-Pakistan entrepreneurial ties.

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