Opportunity Information: Apply for STX 100 TM 21 GR0001
The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program (Funding Opportunity Number STX 100 TM 21 GR0001) is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat through its Public Affairs Section (PAS). It invites proposals from Turkmen civil society and independent media organizations for projects aligned with PAS goals and priority audiences. This particular notice focuses on the theme of advancing economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in Turkmenistan, responding to worsening socioeconomic conditions, rising poverty (especially outside the capital), and persistent barriers to small business growth such as limited business know-how, corruption, and weak access to government financial support. The overall intent is to strengthen the ability of civil society and local stakeholders to help low-income families, especially women and other disadvantaged groups, improve their economic prospects through entrepreneurship-related support.
Projects are expected to address one of two core challenges: first, the limited capacity of local entrepreneurs in small business management, and second, the lack of meaningful support for womens economic empowerment. The stated goal is to improve the economic situation of women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups from low-income families in Turkmenistan. Target audiences include women, disadvantaged groups, and local entrepreneurs. Proposals can focus on one or more of the listed objectives, which include raising awareness of property and legal rights connected to business ownership (with at least three sessions reaching 100 women), creating or strengthening a network of Turkmen entrepreneurs to support employment and business start-up pathways for women and disadvantaged groups, and building practical small business management skills for at least 50 women and new entrepreneurs.
Eligibility is limited to local Turkmen not-for-profit organizations that are registered with the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan; only organizations based in Turkmenistan may apply. Cost sharing or matching is not required, and pre-award costs are not allowed. The program also lists clear restrictions on what it will not fund, including commercial activity tied to specific businesses or start-ups, partisan political projects, overseas conferences or individual foreign travel, direct charitable or development services, construction, religious activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying for specific legislation or programs, medical or scientific research or surveys, arts or cultural projects, purely commercial projects, and projects that duplicate existing efforts.
Applications must follow strict formatting and submission rules. Proposals must directly address the notice goals, audiences, and objectives; all documents must be in English; budgets must be in U.S. dollars; pages must be numbered; documents should be formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper; and Microsoft Word documents must be single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman with at least 1-inch margins. Required signatures must be included on the relevant forms. The deadline is firm (not rolling): applications had to be received by June 7, 2021, and timeliness is determined by the Grants.gov timestamp when that platform is used. Applications could be submitted either by email to PASAshgabatGrants@state.gov (with the funding opportunity title and number in the subject line) or through Grants.gov, which requires its own technical registration process.
For applicants using Grants.gov, the notice highlights that registration can take up to two weeks and involves multiple steps, including obtaining a DUNS number and an NCAGE code, registering in SAM.gov (which must remain active and be renewed annually), completing the organization registration on Grants.gov, and registering an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). The Embassy notes that proposal review may take up to 90 days and that it cannot individually confirm receipt due to application volume. The award information included in the listing indicates an award ceiling of $20,000, with an expectation of about three awards.Apply for STX 100 TM 21 GR0001
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Democracy Commission Small Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.900.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 07, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2021. (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 $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program for this notice?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat through its Public Affairs Section (PAS). This specific notice focuses on advancing economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in Turkmenistan by strengthening the ability of civil society and local stakeholders to help low-income families, especially women and other disadvantaged groups, improve their economic prospects through entrepreneurship-related support.
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is STX 100 TM 21 GR0001.
3) Who is administering this grant opportunity?
The grant is administered by the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, specifically through its Public Affairs Section (PAS), under the U.S. Department of State.
4) What problem or context is this opportunity responding to?
The notice responds to worsening socioeconomic conditions and rising poverty in Turkmenistan, especially outside the capital. It also notes persistent barriers to small business growth, including limited business know-how, corruption, and weak access to government financial support.
5) What are the core challenges projects are expected to address?
Projects are expected to address one of two core challenges:
- Limited capacity of local entrepreneurs in small business management.
- Lack of meaningful support for womens economic empowerment.
6) What is the stated overall goal of projects under this notice?
The stated goal is to improve the economic situation of women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups from low-income families in Turkmenistan.
7) Who are the priority or target audiences?
Target audiences include women, disadvantaged groups, and local entrepreneurs in Turkmenistan.
8) What types of project objectives are specifically mentioned?
Proposals may focus on one or more of the listed objectives, including:
- Raising awareness of property and legal rights connected to business ownership (with at least three sessions reaching 100 women).
- Creating or strengthening a network of Turkmen entrepreneurs to support employment and business start-up pathways for women and disadvantaged groups.
- Building practical small business management skills for at least 50 women and new entrepreneurs.
9) Are there specific numeric targets or minimum participation requirements?
Yes. The notice includes examples of targets such as at least three sessions reaching 100 women for awareness of property and legal rights connected to business ownership, and building practical small business management skills for at least 50 women and new entrepreneurs.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to local Turkmen not-for-profit organizations that are registered with the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan. Only organizations based in Turkmenistan may apply.
11) Can an organization apply if it is not registered with the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan?
No. The notice states that eligibility is limited to local Turkmen not-for-profit organizations registered with the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan.
12) Are organizations based outside Turkmenistan eligible?
No. Only organizations based in Turkmenistan may apply.
13) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
14) Are pre-award costs allowed?
No. Pre-award costs are not allowed.
15) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listing indicates an award ceiling of $20,000.
16) How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of about three awards.
17) What types of activities will NOT be funded?
The program lists restrictions and will not fund the following types of activities:
- Commercial activity tied to specific businesses or start-ups
- Partisan political projects
- Overseas conferences or individual foreign travel
- Direct charitable or development services
- Construction
- Religious activities
- Fundraising campaigns
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs
- Medical or scientific research or surveys
- Arts or cultural projects
- Purely commercial projects
- Projects that duplicate existing efforts
18) Can the grant support a specific start-up or individual business?
No. The notice explicitly states it will not fund commercial activity tied to specific businesses or start-ups.
19) Are partisan political activities eligible?
No. Partisan political projects are listed as not fundable.
20) Can grant funds be used for overseas conferences or foreign travel?
No. Overseas conferences or individual foreign travel are listed among restricted activities that will not be funded.
21) Can the grant pay for construction?
No. Construction is listed as an activity that will not be funded.
22) Are religious activities allowed under this grant?
No. Religious activities are listed as not fundable.
23) Are fundraising campaigns or lobbying activities allowed?
No. Fundraising campaigns and lobbying for specific legislation or programs are listed as restricted and not fundable.
24) Does this opportunity fund medical or scientific research or surveys?
No. Medical or scientific research or surveys are listed among activities that will not be funded.
25) Are arts or cultural projects eligible under this notice?
No. Arts or cultural projects are listed as not fundable under the restrictions.
26) Does the proposal need to align with specific PAS goals, priority audiences, and objectives?
Yes. Proposals must directly address the notice goals, audiences, and objectives, and are expected to align with PAS goals and priority audiences.
27) What language must application documents be submitted in?
All documents must be in English.
28) In what currency must the budget be prepared?
Budgets must be prepared in U.S. dollars.
29) Are there formatting requirements for the application?
Yes. The notice specifies that pages must be numbered; documents should be formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper; and Microsoft Word documents must be single-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman with at least 1-inch margins.
30) Do required forms need signatures?
Yes. Required signatures must be included on the relevant forms.
31) How can an application be submitted?
Applications could be submitted either:
- By email to PASAshgabatGrants@state.gov, with the funding opportunity title and number in the subject line; or
- Through Grants.gov, which requires its own technical registration process.
32) What should be included in the email subject line if submitting by email?
The notice specifies using the funding opportunity title and number in the subject line.
33) What is the application deadline?
The deadline is firm and not rolling. Applications had to be received by June 7, 2021.
34) Is this a rolling deadline?
No. The notice states the deadline is firm (not rolling).
35) How is timeliness determined when submitting through Grants.gov?
Timeliness is determined by the Grants.gov timestamp when that platform is used.
36) What should applicants know about Grants.gov registration timelines?
The notice warns that Grants.gov registration can take up to two weeks and involves multiple steps.
37) What are the main registration steps mentioned for Grants.gov submission?
The notice lists these steps for Grants.gov registration:
- Obtaining a DUNS number
- Obtaining an NCAGE code
- Registering in SAM.gov (which must remain active and be renewed annually)
- Completing the organization registration on Grants.gov
- Registering an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR)
38) Does SAM.gov registration need to be maintained after registration?
Yes. The notice states SAM.gov registration must remain active and be renewed annually.
39) How long may proposal review take?
The Embassy notes that proposal review may take up to 90 days.
40) Will the Embassy confirm receipt of each application?
The notice states the Embassy cannot individually confirm receipt due to application volume.
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