Developing Potential of the Women Entrepreneurs in Fashion Design

Description

Problem Statement: A key mission goal for Turkmenistan is to enhance human potential and encourage economic stability. Empowering women entrepreneurs has become a particular focus for Post and for the U.S. government. Turkmen women have usually only been involved in a few careers related to traditional roles such as sewing, nursing, and teaching. These careers earn low wages and provide little chance for advancement. During the past decade fashion design has emerged in Turkmenistan as a rapidly developing field which can also develop the economic potential of Turkmen women. Most designers draw on Turkmenistan’s rich cultural and ethnic traditions to create their products. However, despite artistic talent, almost all of the designers lack formal education in fashion design and basic business skills that could improve their products and income. In addition, most designers have little knowledge on developing brand identity and unique styles, as most of the fashion products remain uniform from brand to brand. Post seeks to advance the economic potential of Turkmen women entrepreneurs by advancing their theoretical knowledge in fashion design, branding, and small business management skills. We believe the best way to accomplish this goal is to facilitate an exchange between experts in the United States and Turkmen fashion entrepreneurs and designers. Program goal: Within 6 months after stage 1 completion 40% of the participating women entrepreneurs will implement some of the fashion design, branding and marketing techniques and practices they learned through workshops and lecture sessions in their businesses as measured by site visits, informal surveys, and follow up conversations. Program objectives: · Business owners will learn about stronger management skills, demonstrate an understanding of marketing strategies (i.e. client data base management, marketing plan development); make better use of resources/capital (including reduced cost strategies, managed supply chain, and waste management) for more efficient production; and develop a clear business plan for sustainable growth. · Fashion designers will learn about alternative color, texture, and shape combinations to create unique styles and incorporate new design techniques. · The designers and business managers will work together to create a brand identity and creative philosophy for their businesses, which will promote better product design and unique style creation while also shaping product marketing strategies. · Both will also learn best practices for using fashion shows and expos to promote their brand to a larger audience. Evaluation: Success of the program will be measured by site visits, informal surveys, and follow-up conversations with both the business owners and fashion designers. Program activities: Post envisions two stages of the exchange program. Stage 1: In 2021, two U.S. experts will travel to Turkmenistan to conduct a two-week program with the women entrepreneurs. The experts will conduct a two-day workshop for representatives from 10 companies to include 1 designer and 1 business manager from each company. Expert 1 will work with the designers on the design aspect, with presentations on fashion design theory (i.e., combination of shapes, fabrics, textures, and general knowledge about fashion design) Expert 2 will work with the managers and focus on business practices for the fashion industry. For the last portion of the workshop the two groups will reunite and work together on creating a creative philosophy and branding for their company. The designers and business managers will present the concrete results of this work (creations, business plans etc) at the end of the two-week program. Meanwhile the experts will be available to give individual consultations for participants, lectures at the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIE) for all interested fashion designers and presentations to the general public at the American Spaces in Turkmenistan. Stage 2: Contingent on success and outcomes of stage 1, Post will conduct a selection process to choose up to ten women designers/business owners to go to the United States for a two-week long program in 2022. This program will give them a chance to meet with American designers, attend lectures/classes and tour U.S. fashion design schools and meet any other relevant stakeholders who can help them develop their knowledge of the fashion industry. If possible, Post will schedule this visit to coincide with a major event such as a fashion fair/conference/exhibition/show. Detailed planning of this stage will be conducted by Post together with the U.S. experts who participated in Stage 1. Participants and Audiences: Post targets urban mid-level women entrepreneurs in fashion design who need to develop their creative potential and business management skills. Typically, each fashion design business has a separate creative director and a business manager. All of them operate under an entrepreneurship license and are part of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UIE), a key partner in developing U.S.-Turkmen economic relations. The following documents are required: 1. Mandatory application forms · SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at grant.gov · SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at grant.gov · SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grant.gov 2. Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. 3. Proposal (6 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. · Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. Applicants may draw from the problem statement above. Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Applicants may draw from the Goal and Objective sections above. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Applicants may draw from the Activities section above. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Applicants may draw from the Evaluation section above. Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. 4. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. 5. Attachments: · 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program · Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner · If your organization has a NICRA and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file. · Official permission letters, if required for program activities 6. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Required Registrations: Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included. All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge: · Unique entity identifier from Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS number) · NCAGE/CAGE code · www.SAM.gov registration Step 1: Apply for a DUNS number and an NCAGE number (these can be completed simultaneously) DUNS application: Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet. If your organization does not have one already, you may obtain one by ca

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