The U.S. Embassy Gaborone is pleased to announce the availability of a funding opportunity and an open competition for organizations to submit applications to implement community-initiated development projects through the U.S. Embassy Gaborone Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF) Small Grants Program. Purpose of Small Grants: The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is a grass-roots assistance program that funds grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts that fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. This program provides targeted grants to assist small-scale, short term, community-driven projects that improve economic and social conditions at the local level. The ASSHF program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects that have immediate impact, and further Mission priorities. Equally important, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Proposed projects must be well planned and ready to be implemented and must be easily self-sustaining when the project is completed. The organization must obtain approval from the local development committee, tribal authority, local town and/or district council before submission of the proposal to the U.S. Embassy. Successful applicants should demonstrate strong ties and support to their local community and with local governmental bodies. Recipient organizations must demonstrate their substantial commitment by either contributing to the project financially or providing labor or supplies (in kind contribution) to carry out the project. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money to ensure the success of the project. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place. The organization is required to provide ongoing project reports. U.S. Embassy staff will make periodic visits to the project site. Acceptable project objectives include, but are not limited to the following: • Community-based natural resource management Expand effective community ownership and management of natural resources; Preserve and/or expand wildlife corridors; Develop sustainable community-based tourism; Promote conservation of natural resources. • Economic diversification, including small business creation and income generation Generate sustainable income and employment opportunities in local communities; Advance economic diversification at the grassroots level; Encourage use of local natural resources for income generation; Promote a culture of entrepreneurship; Improve basic economic or living conditions of a community. • Social services to assist disadvantaged populations Assist populations which may be disadvantaged or at-risk on a temporary or chronic basis, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly and female heads of household. • Youth and child development Assist youth to gain knowledge and tools to live positively, set life goals and enhance their own health, safety and security; Create opportunities for youth, including employment. Participants and Audiences: All applicants must be registered Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). U.S. Embassy Gaborone welcomes proposals and applications from Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities. Organizations with currently running projects may apply as long as they justify the need for more resources in new directions. The following is not eligible for funding: Projects relating to partisan political activity; Purchase and set up of surveillance equipment; Duplication of other U.S. Government programs; Projects that would benefit, either personally or politically, to any employee (e.g. direct hire, contractor, part-time) of the U.S. Government, or the spouse or family member of a U.S. Government employee; Production of agricultural commodities for export that can be expected to have a significant impact on competing U.S. exports; Contributing to the violation of internationally recognized rights of workers; Charitable or donation related activities; Projects that support specific religious or military activities, as well as those relating to police, prisons, or other law enforcement; Fund-raising campaigns; Lobbying for specific legislation or projects; Scientific research; Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization; Projects that duplicate existing efforts; Staff salaries or stipends; Purchase of alcohol, medicine, school uniforms, school fees, bursaries, or personal expenses; Support for educational or other facilities used to a significant degree by U.S. employees or their dependents; Support for abortion-related facilities and services; Purchase of used equipment – to avoid recurring maintenance and support costs. There is a general policy for financing only new equipment unless it is simple in design and spare parts are available locally, thus providing operational and maintenance advantages in less developed countries; Creating, continuing, or supplement technical assistance programs; Purchase of food and food parcels; Support for private businesses, private crèches, or public/government schools unless through involvement of a Parent-Teacher Association; Purchase of luxury goods and gambling equipment; Purchase or production of toxic or otherwise unsafe products such as pesticides or hazardous chemicals; Assisting any individual or entity involved in illegal drug trafficking as noted in Section 487 of the Foreign Assistance Act; Support, benefit, or other services associated with those persons or entities listed under Executive Order 13224, or determined to be subject to this order or other subsequent laws or orders, who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism; Support for any activity barred under the Foreign Assistance Act and legislation appropriating funds for foreign assistance. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT Non-Federal entities are prohibited from obligating or expending grant funds for covered telecommunications equipment or services to: (1) procure or obtain, extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; (2) enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure; or (3) obtain the equipment, services, or systems. Covered telecommunications equipment and services mean any of the following: (i) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities). (ii) For the purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities). (iii) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment. (iv) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country. Authorizing legislation, type and year of funding: Funding authority rests in FY 20/21 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act; U.S. Department of State. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: One (1) year Number of awards anticipated: Five (5) to ten (10) awards (dependent on grant amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $25,000 Anticipated project start date: October 1, 2021 Submission Dates and Times Applications for fiscal year 2021 may be submitted for consideration at any time before the closing date of August 26, 2021. Applications received by the U.S. Embassy after the closing date will not be considered. Other Submission Requirements Complete proposals can be: Emailed to:
[email protected] Mailed to: U.S. Embassy, ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator, Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund Program, P.O. Box 90, Gaborone Hand delivered to: U.S. Embassy, Government Enclave, Gaborone, ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact the Small Grants Office at:
[email protected] or call (+267) 373-2265.