U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Program

Description

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION U.S. Embassy Lusaka 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 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. The Small Grants Office receives many more proposals than it can fund. Careful preparation of the application will give your organization the best chance to qualify for funding. 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. Special note on construction projects: Ambassador’s Self-Help Program funds may be used to fund construction projects. These projects should be small in scale (under 10,000 sq ft) and provide a public benefit. The terms “Construction” and/or “Construction Activities” include: Architectural Conservation: The examination, documentation, treatment (including preservation and restoration), or preventive care and maintenance of an ancient and historic building or other built sites, supported by research and education. Modernization: The alteration, renovation, remodeling, improvement, expansion, and repair of an existing building and the provision of equipment necessary to make the building suitable for the use and purpose of a particular program. New Construction: The erection of a new building or new structure, including the demolition of an existing building or structure followed by the construction of a new building or structure on the same site. The project shall result in a completed building on the specified site. New construction also includes the digging of new wells or new latrines. Preservation: The act or process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an ancient or historic building or other built site. Work, including preliminary measures to protect and stabilize the site, generally focuses on the on-going maintenance and repair of historic materials and features rather than replacement and new construction. New exterior additions are not within the scope of this treatment; however, the limited and sensitive upgrading of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make a building or other built site functional and safe is appropriate. Rehabilitation: The act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those parts or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values. Restoration: The act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a building or built site as it appeared at a specified period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history and replacement of missing features from the specified period. The limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and other code-related work to make properties functional and safe is appropriate. Great care should be taken when preparing budgets for construction projects as prices of materials often increase from the time when proposal is submitted until a project selected for funding is implemented so as to avoid failure due to running out of funds. Participants and Audiences: All applicants must be Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) registered on the province or national level in Zambia. We welcome proposals 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. · 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. · Salaries for implementing organization staff · 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.

Eligibility

Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category code 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.

Agency Contact

Key Dates