Deadline: 18-Aug-23
The U.S. Mission to South Africa announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (SSH) program.
The SSH program assists South African community organizations and groups to develop lasting, self-sustaining projects that benefit entire communities.
Purpose of Small Grants: In South Africa, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) program allows the Embassy to respond quickly to local requests for small community-based development projects. The SSH program received a total of $2 million in 2021 to fund projects throughout Africa supported by Africa Regional Economic Support Funds.
Objectives
- Foster community self-reliance;
- Have community participation and contribution – volunteer time and labor, donated land, equipment and materials – and the U.S. contribution must be on a one-time basis only;
- Improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level;
- Be viable and sustainable in terms of finance, personnel support, necessary expertise and services;
- Respect environmental norms for small projects; the proposed activity will not adversely affect protected or other sensitive environmental areas nor jeopardize threatened and endangered species and their habitat; and
- Not exceed twelve months in duration.
Funding Information
- A grant agreement for up to $10,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in Fiscal Year (FY 2022) Economic Support Funds (ESF) will be awarded (pending availability of funds) for work that will support up to eight organizations.
- The period of performance is 12 months.
Some examples of past SSH grants include:
- Food security – rehabilitation of soup kitchen, establishment of piggery, chicken coops at creches;
- Water Projects – boreholes, irrigation, water collection systems, storage tanks;
- Health & Hygiene – latrines at schools and clinics;
- Environmental Projects – recycling, solar panel systems, organic fertilization production;
- Education Projects – classrooms, community libraries, literacy projects; and
- Income Generating Projects – establishing a bakery, piggery, chicken raising, and brick making machines.
Performance Indicators
- The project should monitor and report on performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable, and time bound. Establish, where possible, performance baseline data and expected performance targets for each expected result, and include details on what sources of data will be used to document performance, how the indicators will be measured, frequency of measurement, and units of measure. Where possible, indicators should also allow for gender disaggregation. Indicators should reflect key project outputs or outcomes that reflect on the primary goals or objectives of the project and that the implementer can collect with high quality data.
- All applicable indicators should be included in the proposal and subsequent to the award, routine, periodic reporting of all indicators will be required. The implementer will be responsible for quarterly reporting on each performance indicator included in the grant agreement as well as analysis of progress or impediments to reach indicator targets.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations that are registered in South Africa, including civil society/non-governmental organizations.
- Established, registered grassroots community-based organizations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) registered in South Africa.
- For-profit, commercial entities and individuals are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit SSH.