PGO Request for SSH Proposals

Funding Opportunity Number:     PGO-MRT-FY2022

Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance Number:                         19.220

Funding Amount:                          $55,000

Number of Awards:                        5-10

Key Dates:                                        1.        Applications must be submitted by 11:59PM EDT on

                                                                      July 25, 2023.

                                                           2.        Questions must be submitted by 11:59PM EDT on

                                                                      July 25, 2023.

                                                           3.        Notification of project approval and award signing expected by August 2023.

Eligibility Category:                        Local communities, cooperatives, associations, local NGOs, municipalities.

Executive Summary:

The U.S. Embassy Nouakchott / Program and Grants Office (PGO) at the U.S. Department of State (DOS), announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Request of Full Proposals from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that promote socioeconomic activities.

 Five to ten grants, with a combined total of $55,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) in FY 2021 Special Self-Help program (SSH)/source of funding will be awarded (pending availability of funds) for work that will support socioeconomic activities. The period of performance is 12 to 16 months. Funding authority rests in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. 

 Contact Person:        For questions on the application and technical content please contact Nouakchottgrants@state.gov

 Please read carefully the entire solicitation package if you plan to submit an application; there are steps that you should take immediately in order to make your submissions by the deadline.

 A.1. Background:

 U.S. Embassy Nouakchott’s Program and Grants Office (PGO) announces a request for full proposals from organizations interested in applying for funding for program proposals that promote socioeconomic activities under its Ambassador’s Special Self Help program (SSH). PGO invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit their proposals that reflect the below goals - pending funding availability. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

 A.2. The Special Self-Help Program Objectives:

 Programming supported with SSH resources should address the following program objective:

 The purpose of the Special Self-Help program is to fund grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts but that fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with small community projects that have immediate impact, and further mission policies and objectives. Equally important, the Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. 

All 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 implementation period for individual self-help projects is short - less than one year, and projects are small – ranging in cost from $3,000 to $10,000. Projects proposed should not exceed $10,000 (about 3.7 million MRU)

 Expected Results

Specific results could include the following:

·        Provide services that promote socioeconomic activities, small development activities, and income generation, poverty reduction.

A.4. Main Activities

To achieve the goals and expected results, the program could include the following:

-         Small construction projects (less than 10,000 sq. ft. – 929.03 sq. m) – school rooms, community centers, health facilities, foot bridges, housing for a government or community-paid nurse or teacher, workshops, community abattoir, grain storage, rural airstrip for a hospital, and school dormitory for distant students.

-         Water-related projects – wells, latrines, pumps, bore holes, shower stalls and sinks and fishponds.

-         School equipment and supplies – desks, chairs, laboratory equipment and library items.

Communal construction equipment such as a brick-making machine.

-         Miscellaneous durable goods – stove or refrigerator for a school or hospital, or a washing machine for a clinic.

-         Income generating equipment – weaving looms, tools for furniture making, rice-milling machine. However, care should be used to avoid the funding for the purchase of equipment that cannot be maintained by the local community.