Support for the socio-economic development of communities in Niger

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Executive Summary The U.S. Embassy Niamey / Bureau of African Affairs, Office of Economic and Regional Affairs (AF/ERA) at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) to Support the Socio-Economic development of communities in Niger. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) program, is a grass-roots assistance program that allows U.S. embassies to respond quickly to local requests for small community-based development projects. Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. The Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. A Fixed Amount Award for up to $10,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2021 Economic Support Funds (ESF)/ Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund will be awarded (pending availability of funds) for work that will support the Socio-Economic development of communities in Niger. The period of performance is 6 months to 1 years. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. Background Niger is a developing country, which consistently ranks near the bottom in the United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI). Despite significant strides made by Niger over the past decade, the country’s extreme poverty rate remained high at 42.9% in 2020, affecting more than 10 million people.[1] Niger’s economy depends primarily on subsistence agriculture. The country is faced with multiple development issues. The most crucial is a rapid population growth (a fertility rate of over seven live births per woman) contrasted with low economic growth. Consequently, population growth outpaces the government’s ability to offer sustained basic services. In such situations, community members organize themselves for community development and improvement. The Self-Help fund provides small, short-term grants to community groups that are working to improve the basic economic and social conditions of their communities. In other words, the fund provides groups with resources to implement projects that improve living and social conditions in their communities. This year the SSH program will prioritize projects supporting girls’ education, water and sanitation, livelihood and agriculture, youth employment, women and girls’ empowerment, sports and culture programs, empowering people with disabilities, reducing the gender gap, and environment protection. Program Objective: Improve the socio-economic development of communities in Niger Expected Results Specific results could include the following: · Improved educational facilities · Improved health facilities · Improvement of access to water and sanitation facilities · Youth employment opportunities · Social and economic empowerment of women and girls · Reduction in gender gap for education benefits · Increased household food security · Increased household income · More opportunities for people living with disabilities · Reduction in environment degradation

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