Deadline: 6 September 2019
The U.S. Embassy Mbabane of the U.S. Department of State has announced that funding is available through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program.
The Ambassador’s Special-Self Help (SSH) Program is a grass-roots grant assistance program that allows the U.S Ambassadors to support local requests for small community-based development projects. The purpose of the Special Self-Help Program is to support communities through modest grants that will positively impact local communities. The SSH philosophy is to help communities ready to help themselves.
Acceptable Projects
- Water Supply and Sanitation:
- Safe Water Access – Increase access to water (e.g., well drilling and spring capping); and expansion of water supply infrastructure, such as pumps and distribution systems.
- Basic Sanitation – Increase access to and use of sanitation services for safe human waste disposal to protect human health and environmental quality.
- Small construction (less than 10,000 sq. ft):
- Includes but not limited to school classrooms, community centres, health facilities, foot bridges, housing for government or community –paid nurse or teacher, work- shops, community abattoir etc.
- Schools/Clinics equipment and supplies:
- Such as desks, chairs, laboratory equipment, library items etc.
- Income Generating Equipment:
- Such as tools for furniture making etc.
Funding Information
- Length of performance period: Up to 12 months
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000
- Total available funding: $25,000
- Anticipated program start date: September 30, 2019
Criteria
All citizens of Eswatini representing a civilian, religious, social, community development, special interest, disability, or advocacy group or organization may request funding for a community activity. Groups must be registered with the proper authorities. The project must be submitted by an organized group who are motivated, have a real need and have already successfully implemented projects in the community. The project should be feasible and based on the socioeconomic context of the local community.
To be eligible for funding, project must meet the following criteria:
- The project should help improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level, and have long-lived value.
- The project should be high-impact, benefiting the greatest number of people possible.
- Substantial community participation in the activity is required. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money to ensure the success of the project.
- Funding is limited to one project, which must be completed within twelve (12) months or less.
- Projects must be self-sustaining upon completion. The U.S. Embassy’s support for the project must be a one-time-only/one grant contribution.
- Projects must be within the community’s ability to maintain and operate. Requests for large-scale agriculture or construction projects or for expensive equipment are not considered priority projects.
- Managers of a project should have evidence that they are financially responsible and will be able to account for funds sent to them. Having a bank account, or establishing credit with vendors, are examples of such evidence.
Eligible Applicants
- Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Nonprofit or governmental educational institutions
- Governmental institutions
- No applications are accepted from individuals or private business. Only projects that have strong community involvement and lead to ongoing self-sustaining activities are eligible to apply. There is a strong preference to fund local community organizations that are serving a grassroots need and a project that is community generated, implemented, and supported.
- Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.
How to Apply
All application materials must be submitted by email at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2M4IE5B