WEAmericas Small Grants Program Announced

July 26, 2012

Official Seal of U.S. Department of State (Photo State Dept.)

The Secretary of State's Office of Global Women's Issues is announcing the WEAmericas Small Grants Program, an initiative for organizations devoted to economic empowerment and development support for women across the economic spectrum. Funded by Walmart, this $1.5 million initiative was announced in April by Secretary Clinton at the 2012 Summit of the Americas. Grants between $20,000 and $60,000 will be awarded to qualified organizations meeting specified criteria.

Evidence from developed and developing economies has shown that increasing economic participation of women will generate faster and more equitable income growth, create greater business opportunities, and enhance competitiveness for firms and economies by facilitating innovative thinking and fuller use of a significant resource. Higher incomes for women have also proven to have significant positive impact on health and education outcomes for households, improving overall welfare, and bolstering future gains in productivity and inclusive growth.

However, women-owned businesses in Latin America and the Caribbean face numerous barriers that impede growth and success. These include a lack of:

• Access to skills and capacity building, including training, technical assistance, information, and technology;
• Access to assets, including finance or credit, land, technology, and human resources;
• Access to markets, both domestic and international, including networks in the form of business associations and broader industry or regional business organizations; and
• Visibility of women's leadership, including validation or visibility as women entrepreneurs, role models, and mentors.

Therefore, The Department of State and the Walmart Foundation have created a partnership that will address the needs of women entrepreneurs by strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in which they operate.

Eligibility

Non-profit and/or non-governmental organizations and for profit/social enterprises with offices headquartered in Latin America and the Caribbean are eligible. U.S. groups and enterprises are only eligible for this award if they have a registered legal presence in the country to which money would be granted, as funds may only be obligated and spent on offices within the selected implementing country for this initiative. Organizations have until August 20, 2012 to submit proposals though grants.gov.

Click here for more information on the grant opportunity.

For instructions on how to apply and an application, click here.