Deadline: 31-May-22
U.S. Embassy Lilongwe announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Fund. The SSH program helps fund low-cost community-based projects that will improve basic economic and social conditions.
The goal of U.S. assistance is to help create a peaceful, prosperous, and secure future for the people of Malawi. Economic growth is essential to that goal and Malawi can reach its potential through education, entrepreneurship, and the creation of opportunities for investment and trade. This program seeks to fund small projects that will expand opportunities for education and marketable job skills. It will also support the creation or expansion of community business endeavors. The program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future.
Objectives
- Develop innovative small business endeavors, especially to expand or add value to agricultural production.
- Expand access to foundational education, with an emphasis on marginalized and vulnerable populations.
- Create or expand educational opportunities for job skills needed in Malawi’s private and public sectors.
- Develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, especially to increase profitability of agricultural production.
Funding Information
- Period of Performance: 12 months
- Funding Amount: $ 60,000
- Number of Awards: Eight
Expected Results: An increase of knowledge, skills, and opportunity that will allow the community to be more self-reliant.
Main Activities
- To achieve the goals and expected results, the program could include the following:
- Development of small to medium size business enterprises (agricultural, horticultural, aquaculture, and extractives) through agricultural value addition.
- Construction of hostels, libraries, lavatories, space for vocational activities, or provision of clean water to expand childhood educational opportunity.
- Job skills training, or tools/equipment purchase related to specific business and employment opportunities.
- Entrepreneurship and business management training.
- Other unique and innovative projects.
Priority Region: All regions in Malawi.
Eligibility Criteria
The following are eligible to apply:
- All citizens of Malawi representing a civilian, religious, social, community development, special interest, disability, or advocacy group or organization may request funding for a community activity. To qualify, an applicant must be an organized, motivated group with a real need, and the proposed project must be feasible and based on the socio-economic context of the local community. In addition, an applicant must demonstrate that it has adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place, and strong ties to and support from the local community and local governmental bodies.
- For-profit and commercial firms are not eligible to apply in response to this NOFO.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=339033