Deadline: 01-Jun-21
U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (SSH) Community Grants Program.
Purpose of Small Grants
- The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) program started in 1964 in Togo and quickly spread across the continent as a grass-roots assistance program that allows U.S. embassies to respond quickly to local requests for small community-based development projects. The SSH program across Africa received $2 million in 2019 through the Africa Regional Economic Support Fund.
- The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program started in Tanzania in 1965. It is distinct from the larger-scale assistance carried out locally by the U.S. government. This program focuses on providing targeted grants to assist small-scale ($2,000-$10,000), short-term (less than 12 months), community-driven development projects that improve economic and social conditions at the local level.
Federal Award Information
- Award Amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $10,000
- Anticipated project start date: October 1, 2021
- Type of Funding: FY21/22 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act
- Funding Instrument Type: Grant
- Length of performance period: One (1) year or less Number of awards anticipated: Six awards (dependent on amounts)
Each project is expected to :
- Improve basic economic or social conditions at the community or village level;
- Support high-impact, quick-implementation activities that benefit many people within one year without requiring further SSH assistance.
- Involve a significant local contribution in cash, labor, or material, and be within the ability of the local community to operate and maintain;
- Be in direct response to the initiative and aspirations of the local community (the local sponsors of the project, who will also be its prime beneficiaries); and
- Not initiate, continue, or supplement technical assistance programs.
- Priority will be given to projects that support income generating activities, and/or the advancement of vulnerable or disadvantaged people, including women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Some examples of past SSH grants include
- Water Projects – boreholes, irrigation, or water collection systems, storage tanks
- Health & Hygiene – latrines at schools and clinics, community gardens
- Environmental Projects – recycling, solar panel systems, organic fertilization production
- Education Projects – classrooms, community libraries
- Income Generating Projects – oil press for nuts, clothing production, carpentry tools, brick making machines
Eligibility Criteria
- The SSH Program will only accept proposals from
- Registered not-for-profit organizations, including civil society/non-governmental, organizations headquartered in Tanzania.
- Established, registered grassroots community-based organizations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) headquartered in Tanzania.
- The beneficiary members must be Tanzanian citizens.
- Applicants must display sound management in the form of financial and administrative procedures that protect against fraud, waste, and abuse.
Note: For-profit, commercial entities and individuals are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit https://tz.usembassy.gov/education-culture/ambassadors-community-grants-program/asshf-funding-opportunities/