UK Urges Action on Women's Economic Growth in Cameroon

A. Programme description

The British High Commission is inviting proposals to design and implement an innovative training program to enhance capacity of women entrepreneurs across Cameroon. This initiative is geared to support women's economic potential in business leadership by promoting women's economic opportunities and giving enterprising women access to the knowledge, networks, and platforms they need to launch and scale successful businesses.

Successful project proposals will harness the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships, and UK alumni networks to help participating women and their business grow, driving localised prosperity.

Programme objectives

The High Commission would particularly welcome proposals for innovative ways to achieve these objectives with the widest possible impact:

• upskilling and knowledge transfer: equip participants with knowledge and skills to build and scale up sustainable businesses
• expand business networking: facilitate the development of a network of female entrepreneurs and investors to grow and support women-owned businesses to drive local partnerships
• networking and platforms for opportunity: matching women entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and industry champions who offer guidance and support. Access to funding opportunities, business incubation programs, and other valuable resources that can help participants launch and grow their businesses

Project outcomes

• enhance capacity and upskilling of women to deliver their economic potential
• facilitate access to finance for women entrepreneurs

This project will run until 31 March 2024 and will focus on providing women entrepreneurs with access to vital resources and support, including 3 main phases.

Project phases

Phase 1: Develop and recruit beneficiaries

• develop a recruitment strategy, criteria and identify eligible beneficiaries, facilitators, and mentors
• proposals should provide a recruitment strategy for recruiting target participants and specify how the British High Commission would be involved

Phase 2: Upskilling and capability building

• provide technical support, training, curriculum and establish monthly support networks and platforms
• provide possible session topics that address unique challenges, needs and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in accessing investment, markets, and funding
• proposals are encouraged to incorporate a variety of interactive activities, workshops, field trips, networking events, mentorship sessions, case studies, and other learning experiences to help participants develop their entrepreneurship skills

Phase 3: Monitoring and evaluation

• organise a final gathering to showcase beneficiaries' businesses, connect them with potential investors, and increase their access to business opportunities
• outline your communication strategy
• proposals are encouraged to include ideas for follow-up activities after programme implementation. Please note that this award would not cover the costs of any such follow-up activity, which would be subject to additional funding resources

B. Project information

• number of awards anticipated: One award
• length of performance period: Activities must end by 31st March 2025
• project budget: max £25,000

C. Eligibility information

The British High Commission encourages applications from Cameroon and specifies the following eligibility criteria for applicants:

1. A Cameroonian organisation with a strong track record of working with women entrepreneurs and promoting their economic potential.
2. Registered not-for-profit organisations or governmental educational institutions, including think tanks, community associations, and civil society/non-governmental organisations with programming experience.
3. Relevant experience in working with women entrepreneurs in Cameroon, demonstrating a proven understanding of the local context and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Cameroon.
4. Experience in successfully delivering projects related to business development, training, and mentorship.
5. A strong network within the Cameroonian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
6. Commitment to providing high-quality support and resources to beneficiaries.

Applicants may only submit one bid per organisation. If an organisation submits more than one proposal, all proposals from that institution will be ineligible for funding.

D. Application and submission information

The following criteria must be met. Bids must have:

• a brief overview of your organisation and its mission
• a proposed approach for implementing the project including specific activities and timelines, potential impact (including the scope of the project and the likelihood of achieving that impact as outlined in the 3 phases in section A)
• a proposed outline that clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity as outlined in section A
• proper presentation of project objectives and budget breakdown
• sustainability, including the potential for the project to be scaled up or replicated elsewhere
• all documents in English