U.S. Embassy Niamey Offers Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help Fund for Socio-Economic Development in Niger

Funding Opportunity Title: Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help Fund   

Funding Opportunity Number: NIGER-SSH-FY2022

Deadline for Applications: April 30, 2023               

Assistance Listing Number: 19.220              

A.    PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Niamey / Bureau of African affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help (SSH) to carry out a program to support the Socio-Economic development of communities in Niger. The Ambassadors’ 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. Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. The Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Applicants can submit project proposals to be implemented in any area of the eight regions of Niger.

Program Objectives:

The Self-Help fund provides small, short-term grants to community groups that are working to improve the basic economic and social conditions of their communities. In other words, the fund provides groups with resources to implement projects that improve living and social conditions in their communities.

Specific results could include, but not limited to the following:

• Improved educational facilities (Example: Classroom construction, Library construction, Acquisition of student materials, Construction of latrines at school)

• Improved health facilities (Example: improvement of community health centers, provision of medical equipment to community health centers)

• Improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities (Example: well or borehole construction, latrine construction)

• Youth employment opportunities (Example: Income generating activities, vocational training, Construction of a workshop for vocational skills learning)

• Social and economic empowerment of women and girls (Example: Provisions of grain mills in rural communities, provision of oil extraction machines, other income generating activities)

• Reduction in gender gap for education benefits (Example: girls’ education, literacy classes)

• Increased households food security (Example: community garden, livestock breeding, crops storage)

• Increased household income (Example: Livelihood Development, improving farmers’ productivity and profitability)

• More opportunities for people living with disabilities (Example: craftmanship skill, special education, creation of job opportunity)

• Reduction in environment degradation (Examples: Provision of environmentally friendly cooking stoves, Climate Smart Agriculture, land restoration, production of natural fertilizers, recycling)

The Self Help Program may only pay for items and technical assistance that are absolutely necessary for the completion of the project.

The Self Help Program cannot be used:

–         for administrative costs and salaries.

–         to buy equipment like vehicles and office equipment.

–         Activities with a purely police, military, or cultural emphasis.

–         Religious projects unless they genuinely assist the whole community without regard to religious affiliation.

–         Personal businesses.

–         Scholarships, donations, or honorariums.

–         Office supplies such as pencils, paper, forms, and folders.

–         For projects that focus on refugees or displaced persons.

–         to fund project with any affiliation to Human Rights activities

Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization.

Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award.

Participants and Audiences:

Community members/groups with a real need should benefit from SSH project activities. Organizations that want to submit a proposal must collaborate with local authorities and community leaders to assess the need and plan for activities.

B.     FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period: Proposed programs should be completed in 03 to 12 months.

Number of awards anticipated: 5 to 10 awards (dependent on amounts)

Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $10,000.

Type of Funding: FY2021 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act

Anticipated program start date: July 2022

This notice is subject to availability of funding.