Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS MOROCCO FY20 07
Open Startup Morocco (OST-M) was a FY2020 U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Rabat funding opportunity (PAS-MOROCCO-FY20-07; CFDA 19.040) to support a year-long, high-intensity entrepreneurship development program for Moroccan university students. The Embassy sought one U.S. higher education institution, operating under a cooperative agreement, to design and implement the program in close coordination with the Embassy's Public Affairs Office. While only U.S. institutions could apply (with required SAM registration), the selected awardee was expected to work through a Moroccan sub-grantee for on-the-ground implementation, with the Embassy substantially involved in choosing that local partner. The awardee was also expected to coordinate and share materials and lessons learned with U.S. Embassy Tunis and partners implementing a parallel initiative, Open Startup Tunisia.
The program rationale was tied to public diplomacy and youth economic opportunity: OST-M aimed to strengthen the skills of aspiring Moroccan entrepreneurs as one response to youth unemployment, while also supporting stability and reducing susceptibility to violent extremism. The target group was a cohort of about 75 high-potential Moroccan university students drawn from business, technology, engineering, and related disciplines. Training was to emphasize practical startup competencies such as design thinking, customer and market discovery, teamwork, marketing, and pitching, delivered in English and grounded in U.S. teaching approaches, business models, and entrepreneurial norms. In addition to skills development, the program was meant to create a durable peer network, increase exposure to mentors and startup ecosystems, and build longer-term linkages that include the U.S. Embassy as a continuing convening partner.
OST-M was structured around several connected components that moved students from selection through training, team-based venture development, and competitive pitching, with international exchange as a central feature. First, the awardee (with the Moroccan implementing partner and the Embassy) would run a nationwide recruitment and selection process to identify 75 students, with explicit attention to geographic reach across Morocco, socio-economic inclusion, and gender balance. Second, the awardee would deliver a week-long entrepreneurship bootcamp, ideally in-person at a central Moroccan location, introducing core business concepts and models. The grant budget was expected to cover venue costs and full participant logistics for that bootcamp, including travel, lodging, and meals for students and facilitators, with the option to shift to a virtual format if health and safety conditions required.
After the bootcamp, the program would continue through ten additional virtual trainings focused on key elements of launching or scaling a startup. These sessions were expected to blend U.S. business faculty with Moroccan and in-country expertise, including alumni of U.S. government exchange programs and representatives of U.S. companies operating in Morocco, helping participants connect theory to local market realities. A separate mentorship-building track was also required: the awardee would design and deliver a two-day mentoring workshop for up to 60 Moroccan entrepreneurship practitioners (such as entrepreneurs, professors, venture capitalists, incubator leaders), and from that pool, up to 30 mentors would be selected to support student teams. This mentorship component was designed not only to help student projects succeed, but also to strengthen Morocco's broader entrepreneurship ecosystem by creating stronger working relationships between universities and private-sector practitioners.
A major differentiator of OST-M was its virtual exchange and collaborative venture-building element with U.S. students. Moroccan participants were to be paired with American university students in facilitated, interdisciplinary teams to develop joint startup ideas through a structured online collaboration. The program then envisioned selected American students traveling to Morocco for in-person engagement and to participate in a pitch competition where teams would present final concepts. The awardee was responsible for arranging and paying for travel and lodging for those U.S. student participants. To cap the program, the winning Moroccan team from the pitch competition would travel to the United States for a week-long immersion and capacity-building experience hosted on the awardee institution's campus, again with the awardee covering travel and lodging. Across these stages, the Embassy signaled that schedules and travel could be adjusted due to COVID-era health and safety constraints, but the overall project was expected to run from planning in September 2020 through completion by July 2021.
The opportunity set clear objectives for applicants to design around, going beyond entrepreneurship training to include relationship-building and public diplomacy outcomes. Proposals needed to show how the program would expand participants' understanding of building and scaling businesses, increase exposure to U.S. models and experts, strengthen Morocco's entrepreneurship ecosystem by connecting universities with practitioners, and foster an ongoing network that continues sharing best practices and maintains engagement with the U.S. Embassy. Another core goal was to build durable relationships between Moroccan and American students and between the awardee and Moroccan higher education institutions, effectively combining workforce development, innovation, and cross-cultural exchange.
Because this was a cooperative agreement rather than a typical grant, the Embassy anticipated active involvement throughout implementation. Embassy staff would participate in key decisions and approvals, including helping identify and vet Moroccan sub-grantees and private-sector contributors, providing branding guidance, supporting promotion through embassy channels and university contacts, and approving recruitment plans, venues, and agendas for the bootcamp, mentoring institute, virtual trainings, and pitch competition. The Embassy also expected regular planning calls before and during implementation, reflecting a hands-on partnership model.
Funding was projected at one award in the range of $175,000 to $200,000 (with flexibility for proposals outside that range on a case-by-case basis). The funding source was FY20 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds, and the award could potentially be renewed for up to two additional years without a new competition, contingent on strong performance and available funding. Budget rules included a cap that equipment could not exceed 10 percent of total project costs, and proposals were expected to include costs associated with the Moroccan sub-grantee's staffing and execution responsibilities, as well as promotional and program materials.
Application requirements emphasized both program design detail and accountability. Applicants had to submit a project narrative, organizational information, and a budget using the Embassy templates, with budgets in U.S. dollars and a specified exchange rate guidance of 1 USD = 9.500 MAD. Proposals also had to include a bootcamp and virtual training syllabus, descriptions of the virtual exchange, pitch competition, and U.S. immersion visit, and a Monitoring and Evaluation plan that covered both output tracking and methods to assess impact before, during, and after the program. The deadline for submission was Monday, August 24, 2020, via email to Rabatgrants@state.gov, with decisions anticipated in early September 2020 subject to funding availability.Apply for PAS MOROCCO FY20 07
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Morocco in the business and commerce, employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Open Startup Morocco - FY20" 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 Jul 24, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 24, 2020. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Open Startup Morocco (OST-M) Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is Open Startup Morocco (OST-M)?
Open Startup Morocco (OST-M) was a FY2020 U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Rabat funding opportunity (PAS-MOROCCO-FY20-07; CFDA 19.040) to support a year-long, high-intensity entrepreneurship development program for Moroccan university students.
Who funded this opportunity?
The opportunity was funded by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy Rabat using FY20 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy funds.
What type of award was this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This award was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. Embassy anticipated active involvement throughout planning and implementation rather than a hands-off grant model.
Who was eligible to apply?
Only U.S. higher education institutions were eligible to apply. Applicants were required to have SAM registration.
Could Moroccan organizations apply directly?
No. The opportunity specified that only U.S. institutions could apply. However, the selected U.S. awardee was expected to work through a Moroccan sub-grantee for on-the-ground implementation.
Was a local Moroccan implementing partner required?
Yes. The selected awardee was expected to implement locally through a Moroccan sub-grantee, and the Embassy intended to be substantially involved in choosing that local partner.
What was the purpose and rationale of the program?
The program was tied to public diplomacy and youth economic opportunity. It aimed to strengthen the skills of aspiring Moroccan entrepreneurs as one response to youth unemployment, while also supporting stability and reducing susceptibility to violent extremism.
Who were the intended participants?
The target group was a cohort of about 75 high-potential Moroccan university students drawn from business, technology, engineering, and related disciplines.
How were students supposed to be recruited and selected?
The awardee, working with the Moroccan implementing partner and the Embassy, was to run a nationwide recruitment and selection process to identify 75 students, with explicit attention to geographic reach across Morocco, socio-economic inclusion, and gender balance.
What training topics were expected to be covered?
Training was expected to emphasize practical startup competencies such as design thinking, customer and market discovery, teamwork, marketing, and pitching.
What language was the program expected to be delivered in?
The training was to be delivered in English.
What teaching approach or framing was expected?
The program was expected to be grounded in U.S. teaching approaches, business models, and entrepreneurial norms, while also connecting participants to local market realities through Moroccan and in-country expertise.
What were the main components of OST-M?
OST-M was designed as a connected set of activities, including nationwide recruitment and selection, a week-long entrepreneurship bootcamp, ten additional virtual trainings, a mentorship-building track (including a mentoring workshop and mentor selection), a virtual exchange and collaborative venture-building component with U.S. students, a pitch competition, and a U.S. immersion visit for the winning Moroccan team.
What was the bootcamp format and what costs were expected to be covered?
The awardee was expected to deliver a week-long entrepreneurship bootcamp, ideally in-person at a central Moroccan location. The budget was expected to cover venue costs and full participant logistics, including travel, lodging, and meals for students and facilitators.
Could the bootcamp be virtual?
Yes. The opportunity allowed for shifting the bootcamp to a virtual format if health and safety conditions required.
What happened after the bootcamp?
After the bootcamp, the program was expected to continue through ten additional virtual trainings focused on key elements of launching or scaling a startup.
Who was expected to deliver the virtual trainings?
The virtual sessions were expected to blend U.S. business faculty with Moroccan and in-country expertise, including alumni of U.S. government exchange programs and representatives of U.S. companies operating in Morocco.
Was mentorship a required component?
Yes. A mentorship-building track was required as part of the program design.
What was the mentoring workshop requirement?
The awardee was expected to design and deliver a two-day mentoring workshop for up to 60 Moroccan entrepreneurship practitioners (such as entrepreneurs, professors, venture capitalists, and incubator leaders).
How many mentors were expected to be selected?
From the mentoring workshop pool, up to 30 mentors were expected to be selected to support student teams.
Why did the program include a mentor-development element?
The mentorship component was intended to help student teams succeed while also strengthening Morocco's entrepreneurship ecosystem by building stronger working relationships between universities and private-sector practitioners.
What was the virtual exchange component with U.S. students?
Moroccan participants were to be paired with American university students in facilitated, interdisciplinary teams to develop joint startup ideas through structured online collaboration.
Were U.S. students expected to travel to Morocco?
Yes. The program envisioned selected American students traveling to Morocco for in-person engagement and to participate in a pitch competition where teams would present final concepts.
Who was responsible for paying U.S. student travel to Morocco?
The awardee was responsible for arranging and paying for travel and lodging for the U.S. student participants.
What was the pitch competition?
The pitch competition was an event where teams would present their final startup concepts. It was part of the in-person engagement associated with U.S. student participation in Morocco.
What did the winning Moroccan team receive?
The winning Moroccan team from the pitch competition was expected to travel to the United States for a week-long immersion and capacity-building experience hosted on the awardee institution's campus.
Who paid for the winning Moroccan team's travel to the United States?
The awardee was expected to cover travel and lodging for the winning Moroccan team for the U.S. immersion visit.
What was the expected project period?
The overall project was expected to run from planning in September 2020 through completion by July 2021.
Could the schedule or travel be adjusted due to health and safety concerns?
Yes. The Embassy signaled that schedules and travel could be adjusted due to COVID-era health and safety constraints.
What were the core objectives applicants needed to design around?
Proposals were expected to show how the program would: expand participants' understanding of building and scaling businesses; increase exposure to U.S. models and experts; strengthen Morocco's entrepreneurship ecosystem by connecting universities with practitioners; foster an ongoing network that shares best practices and maintains engagement with the U.S. Embassy; and build durable relationships between Moroccan and American students and between the awardee and Moroccan higher education institutions.
How involved was the U.S. Embassy expected to be during implementation?
Because it was a cooperative agreement, the Embassy anticipated hands-on involvement. Embassy staff were expected to participate in key decisions and approvals and to hold regular planning calls before and during implementation.
What specific items did the Embassy expect to review or approve?
The Embassy expected involvement in identifying and vetting Moroccan sub-grantees and private-sector contributors, providing branding guidance, supporting promotion via embassy channels and university contacts, and approving recruitment plans, venues, and agendas for the bootcamp, mentoring institute, virtual trainings, and pitch competition.
How much funding was anticipated?
Funding was projected for one award in the range of $175,000 to $200,000, with flexibility for proposals outside that range on a case-by-case basis.
Could the award be renewed?
Yes. The award could potentially be renewed for up to two additional years without a new competition, contingent on strong performance and available funding.
Was there a limit on equipment purchases?
Yes. Equipment was capped at no more than 10 percent of total project costs.
Did the budget need to include costs for the Moroccan sub-grantee?
Yes. Proposals were expected to include costs associated with the Moroccan sub-grantee's staffing and execution responsibilities.
Were promotional and program materials allowable/expected costs?
Yes. Proposals were expected to include promotional and program materials as part of the budget planning.
What were the required application components?
Applicants had to submit a project narrative, organizational information, and a budget using the Embassy templates. Proposals also needed to include a bootcamp and virtual training syllabus, descriptions of the virtual exchange, pitch competition, and U.S. immersion visit, and a Monitoring and Evaluation plan.
What did the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan need to cover?
The M&E plan was expected to cover both output tracking and methods to assess impact before, during, and after the program.
In what currency did the budget need to be submitted?
Budgets were required to be submitted in U.S. dollars.
Was an exchange rate specified for budgeting purposes?
Yes. The opportunity provided exchange rate guidance of 1 USD = 9.500 MAD.
How and where was the application submitted?
Applications were to be submitted via email to Rabatgrants@state.gov.
What was the application deadline?
The submission deadline was Monday, August 24, 2020.
When were decisions expected?
Decisions were anticipated in early September 2020, subject to funding availability.
Was coordination with Open Startup Tunisia part of the expectation?
Yes. The awardee was expected to coordinate and share materials and lessons learned with U.S. Embassy Tunis and partners implementing a parallel initiative, Open Startup Tunisia.
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