U.S. Embassy Brazzaville’s Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Grant for Community Economic Development

U.S. Embassy Brazzaville is pleased to announce the availability of funding through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program.  This annual program statement outlines the program’s funding priorities and the procedures for submitting requests for funding.  

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION                                                                                                     

A.1.  Purpose of the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program.  This is a grass-roots assistance program that supports community-based, economic development projects.  Self-Help projects are initiated by local community members, administered by local community members, and include contributions in capital, labor, or materials from local community members.    

A.2.  Program priorities.  Competitive projects will (1) encourage entrepreneurship, (2) empower people with essential skills to participate in the workforce, or (3) improve essential services in order to generate increased economic activity.  Project examples include: 

• Construction or expansion of training centers for job skills or languages;
• Construction or expansion of water, sanitation, or hygiene facilities; 
• Purchase of durable goods such as furniture, machinery, or appliances;
• Purchase of income-generating equipment such as tools, seeds, or animals.

A.3.  Participants and audiences.  Applicants must be registered, non-profit organizations or associations that have been in operation for a minimum of one year prior to application.  

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION                                                                                     

B.1.  Award information

Length of performance period:   10 months

Number of awards anticipated:   Three or more

Award amounts:                          Awards are generally for $5,000

Total available funding:              $25,000

Type of Funding:                        Fiscal year 2019 Economic Support Funds

Anticipated program start date:   October 1, 2020

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

B.2.  Funding instrument type: Grant.

B.3.  Program performance period: October 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. 

B.4.  Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding.  The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 authorizes the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program.  Fiscal year 2019 Economic Support Funds fund the Self-Help program.  

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

C.1.  Eligible applicants.  Individuals who are leaders of registered, non-profit organizations that have been in operation for a minimum of one year prior to application.  To be competitive, applicants will be Congolese citizens and employ primarily Congolese citizens.  

C.2.  Programs and activities not eligible for funding.  Self-Help projects must directly assist the economic development of their communities and not duplicate other U.S. Government programs.  Self-Help funding may not be used for the following activities: 

• Supplementation of other U.S. government funding that a project is receiving;
• Services or construction normally supplied by the government;
• Items that the organization cannot maintain with local resources and expertise;
• Administrative costs, such as payment of salaries, stipends, or fees;
• Operating costs, such as purchase of office supplies or payment of travel expenses;
• Purchase of hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides;
• Purchase of food or beverages, including alcoholic beverages;
• Recreational areas or play areas;
• Political activities or campaigns;
• Cultural or religious activities;
• Abortion-related facilities and services;
• Human rights-related activities or support to refugees;
• Military, law enforcement, and prison activities;
• Purchase of surveillance equipment.

C.3.  Cost sharing or matching.  Not required.  To be competitive, however, budgets will demonstrate that the organization will share or match the U.S. government’s contribution to the project.  Sharing or matching may be achieved with capital, labor, or materials.  

C.4.  Other eligibility requirements

• For-profit organizations may not apply.  
• Organizations may submit one proposal per Self-Help year.  Multiple persons may not submit several different applications on behalf of one organization.  Submission of multiple applications is disqualifying.  
• Individuals may submit one proposal per Self-Help year.  One person may not submit multiple applications on behalf of several different organizations.  Submission of multiple applications is disqualifying.  
• Organizations must have an account at a bank registered in the Republic of Congo.  

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

D.1.  Address to request application package 

• In English:   https://cg.usembassy.gov/business/self-help/
• In French:    https://cg.usembassy.gov/fr/business-fr/self-help/

D.2.  Content of the application.  Complete applications must include: 

• Application form.  A typed and signed Self-Help program application, not to exceed three pages.  Applications are available at the websites listed in paragraph D.1.;
• Non-profit registration.  A copy of the organization’s registration with the government as a not-for-profit organization or association;  
• Work authorization.  A copy of a passport, national identity card, residency permit, or work visa demonstrating that the applicant may lawfully work in the country; 
• Bank statement.  A copy of the organization’s bank statement.  Statements must show the account’s activity for the six months previous to the application.

D.3.  Submission dates and times.  Applications will be accepted during the following period only.  Due to the large amount of interest in this program, applications received outside of this period cannot be considered and will be deleted. 

• Applications open:      July 30, 2020 at 00:00 West Africa Standard Time
• Applications close:     August 16, 2020 at 23:59 West Africa Standard Time

D.4.  Submission instructions.  Email completed applications to CongoGrants@state.gov.  The program coordinator will reply to confirm (1) that the application is accepted or (2) that the application is refused due to an ineligibility or for incompletion or untimely submission.  

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

E.1.  Review process.  The program coordinator will review applications for eligibility per section C and completeness per paragraph D.2.  The coordinator will forward complete applications to a grants review committee of U.S. Embassy employees.  

E.2.  Evaluation process.  After the application deadline has expired, a grants review committee of U.S. Embassy employees will evaluate all complete applications.  The committee will score and rank-order all applications for the Ambassador’s review.  The Ambassador will approve applications based on their suitability and the amount of funding available.  

E.3.  Evaluation criteria.  The grants review committee will evaluate applications based on the criteria outlined below: 

• Compatibility with priority program areas per paragraph A.2., with preference given to proposals that align with the Embassy’s priorities;
• The completeness and persuasiveness of the application per paragraph D.2., with preference given to proposals that demonstrate:
• A compelling need in the community;
• A realistic project to address the need;
• Tangible objectives to measure the project’s progress;
• A detailed plan to implement the project; 
• Whether the applicant is a competitive applicant per paragraph C.1., with preference given to proposals submitted by Congolese applicants; 
• Whether the applicant will cost share or match per paragraph C.3, with preference given to proposals that demonstrate cost sharing or matching.

E.4.  Award notification.  The program coordinator will notify successful applicants of their selection on August 28.  Applicants not contacted should assume that their application was not successful.  The coordinator will guide successful applicants through the final steps needed to receive the grant, outlined below in paragraph F.1.  

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

F.1.  Administrative requirements.  Following selection, successful applicants must complete several steps in order to become eligible for U.S. federal assistance.  The program coordinator will assist applicants with the completion of these requirements, including:

• Obtention of a Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
• Obtention of a NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code;
• Creation of an account on the System for Awards Management (SAM);
• Creation of an account on grants.gov; 
• Completion of standard forms, including:
• Projects not involving construction: SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B;
• Projects involving construction: SF-424, SF-424C, and SF-424D. 

F.2.  Notification of award.  The Self-Help program grants officer officially notifies recipients of selection for a Self-Help grant through issuance of a form SF-1909, “Federal Assistance Award.”  This is also known as a “Notice of Award,” and the grants officer and the recipient both sign the DS-1909.  The recipient may begin to incur program expenses beginning on the start date written on the DS-1909.  

F.3.  Recognition of U.S. government involvement.  Recipients must agree to recognize the United States Government’s funding for activities at their project sites.  This recognition includes a U.S. flag graphic and the phrase “funding provided by the United States Government.”  Recipients must also consent to participate in a public ceremony to sign their grant agreements.  

F.4.  Reporting requirements.  Recipients must submit financial reports and program reports during the lifecycle of the award.  The award document will specify the frequency of reports.  

F.5.  Award payments.  Recipients will generally receive two payments via electronic funds transfer during the lifecycle of the award.  The grants officer will generally make a first award at the beginning of the award cycle.  The grants officer will generally make a second award after a satisfactory assessment of project’s objectives.  

F.6.  Award terminations.  The grants officer may terminate awards at any time and refuse to obligate U.S. government funding to projects that fail to adhere to program requirements.  The award document will clarify all program requirements.  

F.7.  Terms and conditions.  Before applying for foreign assistance from the U.S. Department of State, applicants may review the terms and conditions that apply to this award.  Applicants may find the “U.S. Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions” at the website of the Office of the Procurement Executive:

https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/

G.  FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

G.1.  Questions about this annual program statement may be directed to the program coordinator at CongoGrants@state.gov.  

G.2.  Due to the large amount of interest in this program, the coordinator may only (1) respond to questions about this annual program statement or (2) confirm whether an application is complete and accepted or incomplete and not accepted.