Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0007428
The FY 2021 TechWomen Program is a U.S. Department of State exchange and mentorship initiative run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Fellows Division. The program is designed to empower, connect, and support the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by pairing emerging women professionals from select countries with mentorship opportunities in the United States. The core concept is a structured mentorship model that combines professional placement, peer learning, and practical skill development to help participants strengthen their leadership capacity and increase their impact in STEM fields when they return home.
The program targets emerging STEM leaders from three broad regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa. The funded organization is expected to recruit, competitively select, and place approximately 100 to 110 women from eligible countries across these regions. Selected participants take part in a five- to six-week intensive experience in the United States built around peer mentoring and professional engagement. The U.S.-based component is intended to be hands-on and project-oriented, emphasizing real workplace or professional community exposure rather than purely academic study.
A central expectation of the TechWomen model is that the mentorship experience advances the status and professional trajectory of women in STEM. Proposals are expected to include project-based peer mentorships, structured skill-building activities, and robust networking opportunities. Programs should also include enhancement activities that expand participants professional networks, increase their confidence and visibility as leaders, and provide practical tools they can apply in their workplaces and communities. In other words, the exchange is meant to produce tangible professional growth and durable professional connections, not just a short-term visit.
Beyond the U.S. program, the grant also supports follow-on activities in participants home countries. These follow-on components are meant to extend the impact of the exchange by inspiring and encouraging girls and university-age women who are interested in STEM careers, engaging young women who use technology in their professional lives, and strengthening ongoing support for program alumnae. A clear priority is building a sustained network of female STEM professionals, with particular emphasis on creative, meaningful ways to involve alumnae in mentoring others, reinforcing professional standards and capacity, and serving as visible role models for the next generation.
From an implementation standpoint, applicants need to demonstrate that they can manage the full set of program logistics and overseas follow-on programming. This includes the operational capacity to run a multi-week U.S.-based program for a large cohort, coordinate mentorship placements, and support continued activities after participants return home. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement and coordination with the funding agency during implementation.
Key funding details included an anticipated single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $3,080,000. The opportunity is a discretionary funding action under CFDA 19.415. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (among other eligible entities as referenced in the official eligibility notes). The opportunity was posted on November 19, 2020, with an original application deadline of January 21, 2021.Apply for SFOP0007428
- The Department of State, Bureau Of Educational and Cultural 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 "FY 2021 TechWomen Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.415.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 19, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 21, 2021. (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 $3,080,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2021 TechWomen Program (U.S. Department of State) - FAQs
1) What is the FY 2021 TechWomen Program?
The FY 2021 TechWomen Program is a U.S. Department of State exchange and mentorship initiative administered through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Fellows Division. It is designed to empower, connect, and support emerging women leaders in STEM through a structured mentorship experience in the United States.
2) What is the main goal of the program?
The program focuses on strengthening leadership capacity and increasing the professional impact of emerging women STEM leaders. A core emphasis is building durable professional connections and producing tangible professional growth that participants can apply when they return home.
3) Who is the U.S. government office behind this opportunity?
The opportunity is connected to the U.S. Department of State and is run through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), specifically the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Fellows Division.
4) What type of grant mechanism is used?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the funding agency expects substantial involvement and coordination during implementation.
5) What does the TechWomen model emphasize?
The model centers on a structured mentorship approach that combines professional placement, peer learning, and practical skill development. The U.S.-based component is intended to be hands-on and project-oriented, with real workplace or professional community exposure rather than purely academic study.
6) Which regions does the program target for participant recruitment?
The program targets emerging STEM leaders from three regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa.
7) How many participants is the funded organization expected to recruit and place?
The funded organization is expected to recruit, competitively select, and place approximately 100 to 110 women from eligible countries across the target regions.
8) How long is the U.S.-based experience for selected participants?
Selected participants take part in a five- to six-week intensive experience in the United States.
9) What kinds of activities are expected during the U.S. portion of the program?
Proposals are expected to include project-based peer mentorships, structured skill-building activities, and robust networking opportunities. The experience should be practical and engagement-focused, with an emphasis on professional placement and hands-on learning.
10) Is the program meant to be academic study or workplace engagement?
The U.S.-based component is described as hands-on and project-oriented, emphasizing real workplace or professional community exposure rather than purely academic study.
11) What are "enhancement activities" in this program context?
Enhancement activities are expected to expand participants' professional networks, increase their confidence and visibility as leaders, and provide practical tools they can apply in their workplaces and communities.
12) What outcomes does the program aim to achieve for participants?
A central expectation is that the mentorship experience advances the status and professional trajectory of women in STEM. The exchange is intended to result in tangible professional growth and durable professional connections, not just a short-term visit.
13) Are follow-on activities required after participants return home?
Yes. The grant also supports follow-on activities in participants' home countries intended to extend the exchange's impact after the U.S. program ends.
14) What are the goals of the follow-on activities in participants' home countries?
Follow-on components are meant to inspire and encourage girls and university-age women interested in STEM careers, engage young women who use technology in their professional lives, and strengthen ongoing support for program alumnae.
15) How important is alumnae engagement in this program?
Building a sustained network of female STEM professionals is a clear priority, with particular emphasis on creative and meaningful ways to involve alumnae in mentoring others, reinforcing professional standards and capacity, and serving as visible role models.
16) What logistical and management capabilities are expected from the funded organization?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate capacity to manage full program logistics and overseas follow-on programming. This includes the operational ability to run a multi-week U.S.-based program for a large cohort, coordinate mentorship placements, and support continued activities after participants return home.
17) How many awards are expected under this opportunity?
The funding details indicate an anticipated single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).
18) What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $3,080,000.
19) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding action under CFDA 19.415.
20) Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, among other eligible entities referenced in the official eligibility notes.
21) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 19, 2020.
22) What was the application deadline?
The original application deadline was January 21, 2021.
23) What is meant by "competitively select" participants?
Based on the description, the funded organization is expected to run a competitive selection process to recruit and choose participants from eligible countries in the target regions, resulting in a cohort of approximately 100 to 110 women.
24) What is the program's approach to professional networking?
Networking is a required element. Proposals are expected to provide robust networking opportunities during the U.S. program and to support sustained connections through follow-on activities and alumnae involvement.
25) What makes this exchange different from a short-term visit?
The exchange is framed around structured mentorship, professional placement, peer learning, skills development, and follow-on activities. The intent is to create measurable professional growth and lasting professional networks that continue beyond the U.S.-based experience.
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