Advancing Women in Clean Energy and Mining | DFOP0016629

Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0016629

The Advancing Women in Clean Energy and Mining (AWCEM) grant opportunity is a U.S. Department of State program, administered by the Bureau of Energy Resources, focused on expanding leadership and professional development for women working in Latin America’s clean energy and critical mineral mining sectors. The goal is to support a structured program that helps women strengthen technical and leadership skills, build professional networks, and increase their influence in industries that are central to the energy transition and the growth of critical minerals supply chains.

This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award and will be issued as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the Department of State expects to have substantial involvement during implementation (for example, collaborating on program direction, deliverables, and coordination with stakeholders). The funding activity category is Energy, and the assistance listing is CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 19.027.

The program anticipates making one award, with an expected maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $1,233,350. Applications were originally due on July 15, 2024, and the opportunity was posted on May 31, 2024. Because there is a single expected award, applicants should assume the competition is designed to select one lead implementer capable of running the full regional program, coordinating partners, and delivering the complete set of activities and outcomes envisioned under AWCEM.

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The opportunity description also indicates that the Department of State is open to participation from public international organizations, foreign-based nonprofit organizations and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and foreign-based institutions of higher education, reflecting an interest in implementers with on-the-ground presence and regional expertise in Latin America. In practice, this kind of eligibility language often supports partnership models where a prime applicant leads the award while collaborating with universities, NGOs, professional associations, or other entities that can recruit participants, provide training, or host convenings.

In plain terms, this funding is aimed at building a leadership pipeline for women in two closely linked fields: clean energy (such as renewables, grids, energy efficiency, and related policy/finance) and critical mineral mining (materials essential for technologies like batteries and electrification). The emphasis on Latin America signals a regional capacity-building effort rather than a U.S.-domestic workforce program, and it aligns with broader strategic priorities around energy security, responsible supply chains, and inclusive economic growth.

• The Bureau of Energy Resources in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Women in Clean Energy and Mining" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.027.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-15. (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 $1,233,350.00 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.

Apply for DFOP0016629

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