Strengthening Women’s Voices in Politics | DOS NBO PAS FY19 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS NBO PAS FY19 005

The grant opportunity titled "Strengthening Women's Voices in Politics" is a discretionary U.S. government grant offered by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi (U.S. Mission to Kenya). It funds one project intended to increase the visibility, credibility, and influence of women in Kenya's public and political discourse in the period leading up to the Kenyan presidential election cycle referenced in the notice (the narrative mentions 2022, while the program description also references 2021). The overall idea is to combine practical skills-building with public-facing platforms so that more women can participate as recognized leaders and equal contributors in mainstream and digital political conversations.

At its core, the program is designed around training, outreach, and mentoring to address barriers that keep women from being heard or taken seriously in high-stakes public debates. The project is expected to identify gaps in communication and leadership skills among women leaders, then respond with targeted training and ongoing mentorship. A major emphasis is also placed on building supportive ecosystems around women leaders, including networks and alliances that include both women and men, so that women are not advancing in isolation but are backed by broader coalitions that can help open doors to media, debate stages, and influential forums.

The Embassy outlines several specific activities that an implementer should include. These include convening forums that strengthen women's voices both in mainstream media and as online influencers, building alliances and networks among men and women to encourage the inclusion of women in political debates, and identifying "champions" who can publicly advocate for gender balance in politics and political discussions. The program also calls for a structured mentorship component to advise and support women leaders, along with trainings to sharpen participants' communication and leadership abilities. Beyond internal capacity-building, the project must create real opportunities for participants to be heard by partnering with universities, civil society, businesses, and traditional and digital media outlets to host conferences, symposia, panel discussions, lectures, interviews, talk shows, and other public engagement formats like published columns or discussion groups. The opportunity also encourages the use of U.S. government alumni networks and American Spaces as part of the program's outreach and convening strategy.

The target audience is defined as a cohort of women leaders drawn from multiple sectors, not only formal politics. Participants should include female leaders in politics, business, technology, academia, civil society, and media, with a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 300 participants. Geographically, the program aims to reach women from Kenya's Western, Central, and Coastal regions, reflecting an intent to build a diverse pipeline of voices beyond a single city or political center.

In terms of eligibility, the opportunity is open to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, including U.S. 501(c)(3) entities and overseas not-for-profit organizations and civil society groups. The Embassy signals that ideal applicants will already understand Kenya's political, media, business, and civil society landscapes and will have demonstrated experience expanding women's participation and influence in public conversations. Funding details included in the source data indicate an award ceiling of $100,000, with one expected award, under Funding Opportunity Number DOS NBO PAS FY19 005 (CFDA 19.040). The original application closing date listed is 2019-03-15.

• The U.S. Mission to Kenya in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Women’s Voices in Politics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-01-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-03-15. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for DOS NBO PAS FY19 005

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