Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program - PEPFAR Small Grants Fund

The U.S. Department of State, through the U.S. Embassy in Harare, announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a small, community-based development program. Please follow all instructions below.

Priority Region: Zimbabwe (all 10 provinces)

Program Objectives:

The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) awards grants to registered non-governmental, non-profit, community-based organizations to implement short-term (12-month), small-scale (between $15,000 and $20,000) development projects that include significant community involvement.

Priority consideration is given to income generating projects with a health component that improve basic economic or social conditions at the village level. 

Project activities and spending should be completed within 12 months with an anticipated start date between September 1 and September 30, 2023, depending on when funding is made available.

The SSH Program receives hundreds of applications for funding each year. All submissions are reviewed in a competitive and transparent manner. However, given the limited funding available through the SSH Program, we can only fund a small number of projects each year.  

BACKGROUND 

Started in 1964 in Togo, the SSH Program spread across Africa as a grassroots program that allows U.S. embassies to respond quickly to local requests for small, community-based development projects that have an immediate impact. In 1980, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program started in Zimbabwe.  

SPECIFIC PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

The SSH Program in Zimbabwe has several funding sources, each with a specific mandate. When applying for funding, clearly identify which fund you are applying to.

1. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Small Grants Fund

The PEPFAR Small Grants Fund focuses on income generating activities that improve care, support, and economic conditions for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those directly affected by HIV/AIDS such as grandparents caring for grandchildren orphaned due to HIV/AIDS.  

• Examples of previous projects: Agricultural training, nutritional gardens, grinding mills, artisan activities, sewing project for PLHIV, distribution system for nutritional supplements, HIV/AIDS prevention information.

Miscellaneous

• Other