Deadline: 30-Apr-23
The U.S. Embassy Niamey / Bureau of African affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help (SSH) to carry out a program to support the Socio-Economic development of communities in Niger.
The Ambassadors’ 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.
Objectives
- Despite significant strides made by Niger over the past decade, the country’s extreme poverty rate remained high at 41.8% in 2021, affecting more than 10 million people. Niger’s economy depends primarily on subsistence agriculture. The country’s economy is vulnerable to climate change and its population, more than 70% of whom work in subsistence agriculture, is affected by volatile weather conditions. The most crucial issue the country is facing 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 often 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.
- Specific results could include, but not limited to the following:
- Improved educational facilities (Example: Classroom construction, Library construction, Acquisition of student materials, Construction of latrines at school)
- Improved health facilities (Example: improvement of community health centers, provision of medical equipment to community health centers)
- Improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities (Example: well or borehole construction, latrine construction)
- Youth employment opportunities (Example: Income generating activities, vocational training, Construction of a workshop for vocational skills learning)
- Social and economic empowerment of women and girls (Example: Provisions of grain mills in rural communities, provision of oil extraction machines, other income generating activities)
- Reduction in gender gap for education benefits (Example: girls’ education, literacy classes)
- Increased households food security (Example: community garden, livestock breeding, crops storage)
- Increased household income (Example: Livelihood Development, improving farmers’ productivity and profitability)
- More opportunities for people living with disabilities (Example: craftmanship skill, special education, creation of job opportunity)
- Reduction in environment degradation (Examples: Provision of environmentally friendly cooking stoves, Climate Smart Agriculture, land restoration, production of natural fertilizers, recycling)
- The Self Help Program may only pay for items and technical assistance that are absolutely necessary for the completion of the project.
Funding Information
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $10,000.
- Length of performance period: Proposed programs should be completed in 03 to 12 months.
Priority Region: Applicants can submit project proposals to be implemented in any area of the eight regions of Niger.
Eligibility Criteria
- Participants and Audiences:
- Community members/groups with a real need should benefit from SSH project activities. Organizations that want to submit a proposal must collaborate with local authorities and community leaders to assess the need and plan for activities
- An SSH project must be submitted by an organized group that is motivated, has identified a real need, and has already successfully implemented projects in the community. The project should be feasible and based on the socio-economic context of the local community. All applicants must be registered Non-Profit Organizations. They welcome proposals from Community and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial systems in place.
- Local Community Involvement
- All Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. 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. Local involvement of the organization or group must be at least 10% in cash or in kind of the total project costs. The personal contribution of funding may be crucial to make a choice between two viable requestors.
- Additionally, community leaders must also sign the statement of interest. Community leaders include local municipal leaders, religious leaders, tribal or clan leaders, or any governing body that has oversight over where the project will be implemented. At least one community leader must sign the statement of interest, however, multiple signatures are strongly encouraged. Community leaders may also submit letters of support for the project, so long as they specifically mention the project by title.
- Project Eligibility Criteria:
- The project should help improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community level and have long-term 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 that is given to ensure the success of the project.
Ineligible
The Self Help Program cannot be used:
- For administrative costs and salaries.
- To buy equipment like vehicles and office equipment.
- Activities with a purely police, military, or cultural emphasis.
- Religious projects unless they genuinely assist the whole community without regard to religious affiliation.
- Personal businesses.
- Scholarships, donations, or honorariums.
- Office supplies such as pencils, paper, forms, and folders.
- For projects that focus on refugees or displaced persons.
- To fund project with any affiliation to Human Rights activities
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy Niger.