Program in support of the Partnership on Women's Entrepreneurship in Renewables (wPOWER)

The U.S. Department of State?s (the Department) Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change (S/SECC) and Office of Global Change (OES/EGC) announce a Request for Applications (RFA) for a program in connection with an initiative currently called the Partnership on Women's Entrepreneurship in Renewables (wPOWER). The wPOWER initiative, when established, is intended to advance the Department's objectives of unlocking women's potential to combat climate change, particularly through promoting women's leadership in increasing sustainable energy access and related sustainable natural resources management. This RFA is focused on directly integrating women into the energy access value chain (particularly through 'last mile' sales and distribution), building and strengthening markets for small-scale clean technologies, and increasing energy access in East Africa (includes Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda) and/or Nigeria. This RFA complements a sepa rate but parallel wPOWER program that is under development in India.With FY 2011 funding, the Department will fund a program that will: (1) directly integrate women into the energy access value chain, particularly through entrepreneurship opportunities related to 'last mile' distribution, (2) provide business and technical training on energy access and related sustainable forest and natural resources management issues, (3) raise public awareness on the critical role of women in increasing energy access and driving green growth at the local level, and (4) improve data collection and build the evidence base on the economic and environmental benefits of integrating women into the energy access value chain. Program Goals: The program seeks to meet the following goals: Build and strengthen markets for small scale clean technologies through linking women to economic opportunities and capacity building related to energy access. Directly integrate women into the energy access value chain, particularly through entrepreneurship opportunities related to 'last mile' distribution; Raise public awareness on the critical role of women in increasing energy access and driving green growth at the local level; and Improve data collection and build the evidence base on the economic and environmental benefits of integrating women into the energy access value chain.