Small Grants to improve Living Conditions in Communities (Guinea)

Deadline: 15-Oct-21

The U.S. Embassy in Conakry provides small grants to registered self-help groups, community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, and certain educational institutions. The objective is to aid groups to develop projects that improve living conditions in their communities.

Funding Information

• Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $15,000
• Project performance period: Proposed projects should be completed in 12 months or less.

Purpose of Small Grants 

Embassy Conakry invites proposals for small community projects. The program is designed to improve basic economic and social conditions in local communities and support high impact, quick implementation activities that benefit a large number of people. Participating communities provide a significant contribution in cash, labour, and materials. The demand for Small Grant funds is very high and well above our funding capacity. Examples of U.S. Embassy Community Small Grants Program projects include, but are not limited to:

• Small construction projects, including school rooms, community centers, health facilities, footbridges, housing for a government or community-paid nurses or teachers, workshops, community abattoirs, grain storage, rural airstrips for hospitals, and school dormitories for distant students.
• Water-related projects – wells, latrines, pumps, boreholes, shower stalls and sinks and fishponds.
• School equipment and supplies – desks, chairs, laboratory equipment and library items.
• Communal construction equipment such as brick-making machines.
• Miscellaneous durable goods – stoves or refrigerators for a school or hospital, or washing machines for a clinic.
• Income-generating equipment – weaving looms, tools for furniture making, rice-milling machines.

Participants and Audiences

• Embassy Conakry is soliciting proposals for small grants from non-governmental organizations, community groups, village associations, women’s groups, or any other group that can show that they are a recognized group or entity and have a bank account in the name of the group.

Eligibility Criteria

Embassy Conakry encourages applications from:

• Registered not-for-profit organizations, including village associations, women’s groups and civil society/non-governmental organizations with programming experience
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.

Required Docments 

The following documents are required:

• Summary cover sheet: The cover sheet must state the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, project title, project period, proposed start and end dates, the amount requested and a brief purpose of the project.
• Proposal (7 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information so that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format or the template.
• Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed project, including project objectives and anticipated impact.
• Introduction to the organization applying: A description of past and present operations demonstrating ability to carry out the project, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies.
• Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed project is needed
• Project Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the project is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable.
• Project Activities: Describe the project activities and how they will help achieve the objectives stated above.
• Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant?
• Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period. Identify the risks of the proposal and propose a remediation plan.
• Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the project. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this project?
• Proposed Project Schedule: The proposed timeline for the project activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.
• Budget: The budget must identify the total amount of funding requested, with a breakdown of amounts to be spent in the following budget categories: equipment; supplies; other direct costs; and indirect costs.
• Grant funds may not be used for the following expenses: personnel salaries; travel; fringe benefits; and alcoholic beverages. The budget may not exceed one (1) page in length. You should also provide pro-forma invoices for proposed expenses, such as equipment, materials, and construction supplies.

For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=330190