Deadline: 19-Jun-23
U.S. Embassy Cotonou is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to apply for U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (SSH).
Objective
- The SSH program is aimed at assisting Beninese community groups to develop lasting, selfsustaining projects that significantly impact communities by addressing critical health, social, and development concerns. Each year, Embassy Cotonou supports approximately six to ten projects with small grants, typically under $5,000.
- These grants have contributed to agricultural modernization, women’s empowerment, improving sanitation, improving learning conditions, and providing greater access to clean water, health services, and education.
Funding Information
- Number of Awards Anticipated: 6-10 awards.
- Anticipated Award Amount: The award floor is set at $3,000. The award ceiling is set at $10,000
- Anticipated Award Period: 12 months or less
- Anticipated Start Date: October 1, 2023
- Anticipated Completion Date: September 30, 2024
Eligible Projects
Some examples of what SSH has been used for:
- Water Projects – boreholes, irrigation, or water collection systems, storage tanks, fishponds.
- Hygiene and Sanitation Projects – pit latrines at schools and clinics; training on health and nutritional best practices; disease screening and vaccinations.
- Environmental Projects – energy-saving, recycling, organic fertilization production, and environmental protection projects; solar panels.
- Income Generating Projects – weaving looms; carpentry tools; brick-making machinery; equipment to produce fortified flour, rice, or palm oil.
- Education Projects – vocational training; nursery school supplies; school furniture or laboratory equipment; community libraries; bilingual books.
Eligibility Criteria
- SSH projects are for community-based groups or organizations, initiated locally, and administered at the local level. To qualify for an SSH Fund grant, projects must involve significant community contribution in the form of funding, materials, and/or labor. Applicants must have the ability to manage SSH projects independently and complete their project within twelve months of signing an SSH agreement.
- Consideration will be given to projects with the following qualities:
- Foster community self-reliance.
- Have significant community participation and contributions – volunteer time and labor, donated land, equipment, and/or materials.
- Deliver measurable results (e.g., show how activities led to positive changes within the community).
- Help improve basic economic, social, and/or health conditions at the local community or village level.
- Fall within the ability of the local community to implement and maintain into the future.
- Respect environmental norms for small projects and will not adversely affect protected or other sensitive environmental areas nor jeopardize threatened or endangered species and their habitat.
- Can be completed within one year; and
- Are viable and sustainable in terms of finance, support, and necessary expertise and services.
Ineligible
- Start-up projects
- Vehicles
- Property purchases
- Individual or single-family projects
- Reproductive health and family planning programming
- Government offices, military, or prisons
- Projects with political or religious objectives
- School tuition or exam fees
- Operating costs such as rent, salaries, etc.
- Musical instruments
- Advocacy or research projects
- Pesticides, Fungicides, and herbicides
- Human Rights-Related Activities
- Religious Activities
- Credit/revolving loan/micro-financing programs
- Salaries.
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Benin.
