U.S. AMBASSADOR’S SPECIAL SELF-HELP FUND (SSH)

SELECTION CRITERIA Projects should:  Foster community self-reliance.  Have community participation and contribution -- volunteer time and labor, donated land, equipment and materials - and the U.S. contribution must be on a one-time basis only.  Improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level.  Be viable and sustainable in terms of finance, personnel support, necessary expertise and services. 2/2  Respect environmental norms for small projects. The proposed activity will not adversely affect protected or other sensitive environmental areas nor jeopardize threatened and endangered species and their habitat.  Not exceed twelve months UNALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES  Religious, military, or law enforcement activities;  Activities with unmitigated and negative environmental consequences (such as dams or roads through forest lands);  Procurement of vehicles;  Activities that benefit any employee of the USG;  Activities related to human rights;  Procurement of pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides.  Provision of capital to beneficiaries through either loans or grants APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS  Applications may be submitted in English or Portuguese;  A copy of the organization’s registration should be included with the proposal;  The proposal must not exceed 5 pages (Times New Roman, font 12 and single line spacing), and must include the following information:  Summary page;  Name of the organization or group, address and target group;  Proposal summary;  Problem Statement;  Project objectives and activities;  Project location;  Work plan for implementation of activities;  Monitoring and reporting plan;  Detailed budget;  Program Partners;  Future Funding or Sustainability;  Brief description of key personnel