Deadline: 31 March 2019
U.S. Embassy Windhoek, Namibia has announced an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that are community-initiated and involving schools, clinics, co-operatives, associations, training or community improvement projects.
The U.S. Ambassador’s 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. This Self-Help fund provides small, short-term grants (one year) to community groups that are working to improve the basic economic and social conditions of their villages or communities. The fund provides grants for activities such as construction of classrooms, construction of ventilated pit latrines, construction of community centers and health clinics, boreholes for access to clean water, school equipment and supplies, medical equipment, solar heating and agricultural kits.
The U.S. Embassy will prioritize funding projects in the following sectors for disadvantaged or marginalized groups:
- Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Measures: Projects could include physical upgrades such as predator-resistance kraals or electric fencing.
- Renewable Energy: Projects could include items such as solar panels or small wind turbines.
- Drought Mitigation: Projects could create irrigation or water supply systems in rural communities.
- Food Security: Projects could include gardens or sustainable irrigation projects.
Funding Information
Applicants should not request more than $20,000 USD. Applicants should include an anticipated start date of September/October 2019 and the project period should be no more than 12 months.
Projects should:
- Be initiated by the community.
- Quickly improve basic economic or social conditions in the local community.
- Benefit the highest possible number of people.
- Not require additional funding assistance at the end of one year.
- Involve a significant community contribution in cash, labor, or materials.
- Involve community members who can operate and maintain the project on their own after Self-Help assistance ends.
- Whenever possible, projects should contribute to income-generating or self-sustaining activities, but the emphasis should be on the community benefit.
Eligible Applicants
- The Embassy welcomes applications from schools, cooperatives, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), or Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) that support community-based initiatives.
- Close corporations or other for-profit businesses are not eligible.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted at the address given on the website.
For more information, please visit https://na.usembassy.gov/education-culture/grant-programs/