Opportunity Information: Apply for SCAISB 19 009 03082019
Apply for SCAISB 19 009 03082019
- 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 "Karachi – Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics (STEM) Programming" 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 08, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 08, 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 $95,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Karachi - Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics (STEM) Programming grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number SCAISB 19 009 03082019) is a discretionary funding competition run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, via the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi. It is offered under the Public Diplomacy Grants Program and is contingent on the availability of funds. The overall focus is on strengthening both individual and institutional capacity in STEM entrepreneurship, with a clear emphasis on expanding opportunity and skills development for women and girls in targeted cities across Sindh and Balochistan.
Awards may be issued as either grants or cooperative agreements, meaning applicants should be prepared for the possibility of closer coordination with the U.S. government during implementation under a cooperative agreement structure. The funding opportunity lists an award ceiling of $95,000 and anticipates making two awards total, aligning with the two project tracks described. The program is associated with CFDA number 19.501. The original posting date was March 8, 2019, and the original closing date was May 8, 2019.
The NOFO is structured around two distinct project concepts, and organizations are allowed to submit one proposal per project, but not more than one proposal for the same project. In practice, that means an organization could submit up to two proposals if it wants to compete for both tracks, but each submission must be tailored to the specific project requirements and goals rather than being a single generalized STEM proposal.
Project 1, titled Entrepreneurship and Software Engineering, is designed to develop and apply entrepreneurial skills among women in and around Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Larkana, with particular attention to the textile industry. The intent is not just basic training, but capacity-building that helps women translate STEM-adjacent and software engineering skills into real entrepreneurial outcomes, potentially including business development, digital tools for production and sales, and tech-enabled problem solving in a sector that employs many women. The geographic targeting suggests the program is meant to reach beyond Karachi into secondary cities where structured entrepreneurship and technical training opportunities can be more limited, and where interventions may have an outsized impact on local economic participation.
Project 2, titled STEM Hackathon, centers on organizing a hackathon for female programmers in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Quetta. The aim is to increase girls participation in STEM fields while also building a supportive ecosystem for women already on a STEM pathway. A core feature is mentorship access and network-building, helping participants find and connect with mentors who can guide career decisions, skill development, and professional growth. The hackathon is also intended to surface practical solutions to education- and career-related challenges faced by women in STEM, implying that the event should be designed around real barriers such as workplace entry, retention, skill signaling, access to internships, safety and mobility constraints, or gaps in academic-to-industry transition. By combining competition, collaboration, and mentorship, the project is meant to function as both a skills accelerator and a community-building platform.
Across both projects, the common thread is women-focused STEM capacity-building tied to entrepreneurship and workforce relevance, implemented through a U.S. public diplomacy framework. The opportunity is positioned for eligible applicants described broadly as "others" (with further eligibility details referenced in the full NOFO), indicating that a range of organizations, such as NGOs, educational institutions, incubators, or professional associations, may be able to apply if they meet the grant requirements laid out in the complete announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Karachi - STEM Programming (SCAISB 19 009 03082019)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Karachi - Science, Technology, Environment, Mathematics (STEM) Programming" and is listed under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) SCAISB 19 009 03082019.
2) Which U.S. government office is running this competition?
This is a discretionary funding competition run through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, via the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi.
3) What program is this grant offered under?
It is offered under the Public Diplomacy Grants Program.
4) Is funding guaranteed?
No. The opportunity is contingent on the availability of funds.
5) What is the overall purpose or focus of the opportunity?
The overall focus is on strengthening both individual and institutional capacity in STEM entrepreneurship, with a clear emphasis on expanding opportunity and skills development for women and girls in targeted cities across Sindh and Balochistan.
6) What regions and cities are targeted?
The opportunity targets cities across Sindh and Balochistan. Specific cities named in the two project concepts include Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, Larkana, and Quetta.
7) How many awards are expected to be made?
The funding opportunity anticipates making two awards total, aligning with the two project tracks described in the NOFO.
8) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $95,000.
9) What types of awards might be issued (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Awards may be issued as either grants or cooperative agreements. Applicants should be prepared for the possibility of closer coordination with the U.S. government during implementation if a cooperative agreement structure is used.
10) What does it mean if an award is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the opportunity description, a cooperative agreement may involve closer coordination with the U.S. government during implementation compared to a standard grant.
11) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The program is associated with CFDA number 19.501.
12) When was the opportunity originally posted and when did it originally close?
The original posting date was March 8, 2019, and the original closing date was May 8, 2019.
13) How is the NOFO structured?
The NOFO is structured around two distinct project concepts (two tracks). The anticipated two awards align with these two project concepts.
14) Can an organization submit more than one application?
Organizations are allowed to submit one proposal per project, but not more than one proposal for the same project.
15) Does that mean an organization can submit two proposals total?
Yes. An organization could submit up to two proposals if it wants to compete for both tracks, as long as each proposal is specific to the relevant project concept and not a single generalized STEM proposal.
16) What is Project 1 called?
Project 1 is titled "Entrepreneurship and Software Engineering."
17) What is the main goal of Project 1?
Project 1 is designed to develop and apply entrepreneurial skills among women in and around Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Larkana, with particular attention to the textile industry.
18) Which locations does Project 1 specifically target?
Project 1 specifically targets women in and around Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Larkana.
19) Why is the textile industry specifically mentioned for Project 1?
The opportunity highlights the textile industry because it employs many women, and the intent is to support capacity-building that helps women translate STEM-adjacent and software engineering skills into entrepreneurial outcomes in that sector.
20) What kinds of activities or outcomes does Project 1 emphasize?
The description emphasizes more than basic training. It points toward capacity-building that helps women convert STEM-adjacent and software engineering skills into real entrepreneurial outcomes, potentially including business development, digital tools for production and sales, and tech-enabled problem solving.
21) What is Project 2 called?
Project 2 is titled "STEM Hackathon."
22) What is the main goal of Project 2?
Project 2 centers on organizing a hackathon for female programmers to increase girls participation in STEM fields while building a supportive ecosystem for women already on a STEM pathway.
23) Which locations does Project 2 specifically include?
Project 2 is described as a hackathon for female programmers in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Quetta.
24) What is a core feature of the STEM Hackathon concept?
A core feature is mentorship access and network-building, helping participants find and connect with mentors who can guide career decisions, skill development, and professional growth.
25) What kinds of problems is the hackathon expected to address?
The hackathon is intended to surface practical solutions to education- and career-related challenges faced by women in STEM. The description points to real barriers such as workplace entry, retention, skill signaling, access to internships, safety and mobility constraints, and gaps in academic-to-industry transition.
26) Is this opportunity focused only on individuals, or also on institutions?
It is focused on both. The opportunity aims to strengthen individual and institutional capacity in STEM entrepreneurship.
27) Who is the primary intended beneficiary group across both projects?
Across both projects, the common thread is women-focused STEM capacity-building, with emphasis on women and girls.
28) How does this opportunity connect STEM to workforce relevance or entrepreneurship?
Both project concepts emphasize STEM capacity-building tied to entrepreneurship and workforce relevance: Project 1 focuses on entrepreneurship and software engineering skills applied to business outcomes (including in textiles), and Project 2 uses a hackathon plus mentorship to build skills, networks, and practical solutions to barriers in STEM education and careers.
29) What is meant by "public diplomacy" in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity is framed as part of a U.S. public diplomacy grants program administered through PAS at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, indicating it is implemented through a public diplomacy framework.
30) Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is positioned for eligible applicants described broadly as "others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full NOFO. The description suggests that a range of organizations (such as NGOs, educational institutions, incubators, or professional associations) may be able to apply if they meet the requirements laid out in the complete announcement.
31) Can an organization submit one general STEM proposal to cover both tracks?
No. The opportunity notes that submissions must be tailored to the specific project requirements and goals rather than being a single generalized STEM proposal.
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