FY 2020 Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program

Description

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION U.S. Embassy Abuja announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (ASSH) Small Grants Program. Purpose of Small Grants: ASSH program is a grassroots grant assistance program that funds grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts which fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects that have immediate impact, and further Mission priorities. Equally important, the Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Organizations must be able to demonstrate they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place. Successful applicants should demonstrate strong ties and support to their local community and with local governmental bodies. The Small Grants Office receives more proposals than it can fund. Careful preparation of the application will give your organization the best chance to qualify for funding. Recipient organizations must demonstrate their substantial commitment by either contributing to the project financially or providing labor or supplies (in kind contribution) to carry out the project. Local involvement of the organization or group must be at least 10% in cash or in kind of the total project costs. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money to ensure the success of the project. Proposed projects must be well planned and ready to be implemented and must be easily self-sustaining when the project is completed. The organization must obtain approval from the local development committee, tribal authority, local town and/or district council before submission of the proposal to the U.S. Embassy. Acceptable project objectives include, but are not limited to, the following: •Economic diversification, including small business creation and income generation · Generate sustainable income and employment opportunities in local communities; · Advance economic diversification at the grassroots level; · Encourage use of local natural resources for income generation; · Promote a culture of entrepreneurship; · Improve basic economic or living conditions of a community; · Purchase of income generating-equipment such as weaving looms, threshing machines, oil presses, beehives etc. •Social services · Assist populations which may be disadvantaged or at-risk on a temporary or chronic basis, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly and female heads of household; · Construction of health clinics or workshops; · Water and sanitation related projects. •Youth and child development · Assist youth to gain knowledge and tools to live positively, set life goals and enhance their own health, safety and security; · Create opportunities for youth, including employment; · Construction of school rooms or community centers; · Purchase of school equipment, furnishings and books. •Community-based natural resource management · Expand effective community ownership and management of natural resources; · Developing sustainable community-based tourism; · Promoting the conservation of natural resources. Participants and Audiences: All applicants must be registered Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). Proposals are welcome from Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities. The following is not eligible for funding: · Projects relating to partisan political activity; · Purchase and set up of surveillance equipment; · Creating, continuing, or supplementing technical assistance programs; · Duplication of other U.S. Government programs; · Projects that would benefit, either personally or politically, to any employee (e.g. direct hire, contractor, part-time) of the U.S. Government, or the spouse or family member of a U.S. Government employee; · Production of agricultural commodities for export that can be expected to have a significant impact on competing U.S. exports; · Contributing to the violation of internationally recognized rights of workers; · Charitable or donation related activities; · Projects that support specific religious or military activities, as well as those relating to police, prisons, or other law enforcement. · Fund-raising campaigns; · Lobbying for specific legislation or projects; · Scientific research; · Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; · Projects that duplicate existing efforts. · Staff salaries or stipends; · Purchase of alcohol, medicine, school uniforms, school fees, bursaries, or personal expenses; · Support for educational or other facilities used to a significant degree by U.S. employees or their dependents; · Support for abortion-related facilities and services; · Purchase of used equipment – to avoid recurring maintenance and support costs. There is a general policy for financing only new equipment unless it is simple in design and spare parts are available locally, thus providing operational and maintenance advantages in less developed countries; · Purchase of luxury goods and gambling equipment; · Purchase or production of toxic or otherwise unsafe products such as pesticides or hazardous chemicals; · Assisting any individual or entity involved in illegal drug trafficking as noted in Section 487 of the Foreign Assistance Act; · Support, benefit, or other services associated with those persons or entities listed under Executive Order 13224, or determined to be subject to this order or other subsequent laws or orders, who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism; · Support for any activity barred under the Foreign Assistance Act and legislation appropriating funds for foreign assistance. · Purchase of food and food parcels; and · Support for private businesses, private crèches, or public/government schools unless through involvement of a Parent-Teacher Association.

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