DigiGirlz Alumnae Incubator Program

Funding Opportunity Title: DigiGirlz Alumnae Incubator Program

Funding Opportunity Number: OFOP0001333

Deadline for Applications: Wednesday May 22, 2024            

Assistance Listing Number: 19.040              

Total Amount Available: $120,000 USD 

NOTE: Additional funding may become available at a later date. Any additional funds will be added to the total grant amount but should only be used to increase seed funds awarded to participants in final phase of program.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Morocco is pleased to announce an open grant competition to award a cooperative agreement to organize the “DigiGirlz Alumni Incubator Program.” The Embassy’s Public Affairs Office invites proposals from established Moroccan associations, committed, and organized civil-society organizations to implement the "DigiGirlz Alumnae Incubator Program" which builds on prior U.S. investments in Moroccan women and girls, specifically through the long-standing “DigiGirlz Mentorship Program.” The DigiGirlz Mentorship Program was established in 2017 and more than 2000 alumnae have graduated from the program thus far. The “DigiGirlz Alumni Incubator Program” aims to further train and empower select alumnae of the “DigiGirlz Mentorship Program,” building upon their existing ideas and skills, and taking them from project ideation to implementation, through advanced training and mentorship, and providing them with unparalleled networking opportunities and seed funding for proposed start-ups. The program is poised to accelerate sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives that directly combat the climate crisis. Seed funding will be provided to up to ten teams, with each team consisting of between 1-15 participants drawn from our DigiGirlz alumnae network. 

Please follow all instructions below.

Program Objectives:

The program’s goals and objectives are to:

1- Foster Women-Led STEM Innovation: The incubation program aims to significantly increase the number of women leading STEM-based startups and innovations. This is achieved by offering select participants targeted mentorship, as well as material, financial, and other support, particularly in the areas of entrepreneurship and technology development. The focus is on encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM and to become innovators and leaders in their fields.

2- Cultivate an Equitable STEM Startup Ecosystem: The program is dedicated to breaking down the barriers and biases that hinder women's participation in STEM entrepreneurship. Efforts will be focused on creating an inclusive and equitable environment within the STEM startup community. This involves providing tailored training and support to address unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in STEM fields, thereby promoting gender equality at the foundational level of business creation and growth.

3- Enhance Business Expertise and Employability in STEM: In addition to strengthening technical skills, the program places a strong emphasis on enhancing the business expertise of young women in STEM. This involves providing hands-on experiences in business plan development, project pitching, fundraising, and professional networking, all crucial for successful entrepreneurship. The goal is to increase the employability and business success of program participants, thereby ensuring they are job-ready and equipped to create and lead successful STEM enterprises.

4- Foster Climate Change Innovation and Leadership: The program aims to empower young women in STEM to develop innovative solutions to environmental challenges. By integrating climate change awareness and sustainable practices into the curriculum, the initiative seeks to cultivate a generation of female leaders who are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to address today’s most pressing climate issues. This objective will encourage participants to apply their STEM expertise towards creating sustainable, eco-friendly technologies and strategies, thereby contributing significantly to global efforts in combating the negative effects of climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.

The proposal should take into consideration a three-phased approach:

 1) Advanced entrepreneurship training and dedicated mentorship for up to 60 DigiGirlz alumnae;

2) Quarterly networking events to foster collaboration and gain insights from professionals in relevant fields;

3) Final pitching competition resulting in award of seed funding of $5,000-$10,000 (more if additional funding is available) per project for up to 10 projects assessed to have the potential for lasting impact. The program implementation (fixed cost) of this program is estimated at between $50,000 to $70,000 USD.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: 12 to 18 months

Number of awards anticipated: 1 award.

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $100,0000 to a maximum of $120,000.

Total available funding: $120,000

Type of Funding: FY24 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

Anticipated program start date: October 2024

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative agreement. The Public Affairs Office will be actively involved in the award implementation. U.S. Embassy staff will:

1. Provide standardized logos/branding guidelines for promotional materials.
2. Approve marketing materials and participate in promotional activities of the program, utilizing the U.S. Mission’s social media platforms and media contacts.
3. Approve proposed venues.
4. Approve participant and trainer recruitment and selection plans.
5. Assist in identifying and contacting alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, representatives of U.S. companies, and enlisting U.S. Mission personnel as potential speakers or trainers.
6. Review and approve proposed program speaker and trainer rosters and activity/workshop/site visit content and formats.

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed within 18 months or less. The Department of State will entertain applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the initial budget period on a non-competitive basis subject to availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the program, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the U.S. Department of State.

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• Only Moroccan associations and committed and organized civil-society organizations with full SAM registration and experience executing youth STEM programs will be eligible to receive funding.
• U.S. organizations and NGOs are not eligible.

1. Cost Sharing or Matching

There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. 

1. Other Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued via www.SAM.gov as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for more information. Individuals are not required to have a UEI or be registered in SAM.gov.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

Submit all forms in electronic format through MyGrants Platform or Grants.gov no later than May 22, 2024, at midnight. All questions about this NOFO should be addressed to: Rabatgrants@state.gov (Subject: DigiGirlz Alumnae Incubator Program)

Link to this funding opportunity on MyGrants

      Link to this funding opportunity on Grants.gov

2.    Content and Form of Application Submission

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

Content of Application

Please ensure:

·       The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity.

·       All documents are in English.

·       All budgets are in U.S. dollars.

·       All pages are numbered.

·       All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and

·       All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Calibri font, with a  

·       minimum of 1-inch margins.

The following documents are required: 

1. Mandatory application forms

·       SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) 

·       SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

·       SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs)

·       Applicant Organizational Information Form

·       Project Narrative form

·       Detailed proposed program (No template provided)

·       Budget Proposal (in USD) (please use $1 = 10 MAD as exchange rate)

·       CVs for Director and key project personnel (you should provide in English)

·       Final registration papers for the organization (وصل نهائي) (you can provide in Arabic)

1. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

Required Registrations:

All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active registration with the SAM.gov. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards.

Note: As of April 2022, a DUNS number is no longer required for federal assistance applications.

SAM.gov Eligibility Requirements:

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included.

All organizations applying for grants must have a Non-Profit status and obtain the free registration below. Information about obtaining SAM.gov registration is available under the Additional Resources box on our website.

•          SAM.gov registration

1. Submission Dates and Times

Applications are due no later than May 22, 2024.

1. Other Submission Requirements

All application materials must be submitted by email to RabatGrants@state.gov