Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF)

Program Objectives:

The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program is a small grant program that seeks to reduce poverty and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa. These community development efforts promote self-reliance through significant local contributions and sustainability requirements. Over the last 10 years, the Department of State provided $2 million each year to support SSH projects in 47 countries across the continent.

 

This year U.S. Embassy Kigali is seeking applications for projects which will:

1)    Improve basic economic and social conditions at the grassroots level.

2)    Support high-impact activities that benefit many people.

3)    Involve local contribution in cash, labor, and/or material.

4)    Have local support and be within the ability of the local community to operate and maintain.

5)    Be completed within 12 months.

 

Projects must be led by members of the local community. Proposed projects focusing on assistance to women and children, or members of the disabled community, are particularly encouraged. Projects must benefit a large group of people rather than only a few individuals. For example, a rainwater catchment system at a school is eligible, while one at a home is not. The applicant should budget for any anticipated costs associated with the proposed project for which the applicant seeks funding. Possible costs include equipment, materials, labor, installation costs, fees, necessary environmental assessments, etc. Funding restrictions are listed below in section D.

 

Participants and Audiences:

This grant opportunity is open only to cooperatives registered with the Rwanda Cooperative Agency or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) registered with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).

 

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Length of performance period

12 months or less

Number of awards anticipated

Approximately 4-7 awards (dependent on funding and amounts)

Award amounts

Awards may range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $15,000

Anticipated program start date

September 30, 2024

  

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

 

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

 

C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION

1.    Eligible Applicants: The following organizations are eligible to apply:

·      Cooperatives registered with the Rwanda Cooperative Agency.

·      Nongovernmental organizations registered with the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).

 

2.    Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing or matching is not required and will not be evaluated during the merit review. However, projects must be organized and led by the community, and the community must contribute to the project via funds, sweat equity (labor), or volunteered time.

 

D. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

Award funds cannot be used for any of the following purposes:

·      To pay Rwandan taxes

·      To construct a building

·      For religious organizations to conduct religious activities

·      For military activities

·      For activities relating to police, prisons, or other law enforcement

·      For toxic or otherwise unsafe products such as pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or hazardous chemicals

·      For revolving loans

·      For seed money for new enterprises

·      For alcohol

 

E. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

 

The application must contain the information listed below. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please use the form provided. The proposal must clearly address the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity. All documents should be in English. All budgets must be in U.S. dollars.

 

Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement may be found ineligible.

 

The following documents are required:

 

1. Proposal (five pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. Please use the form provided. This document should not exceed five pages.

 

1. Budget Guidelines (included in the form provided): 

·      Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program and list the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program. 

·      Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel. 

·      Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

·      Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment. 

·      Contractual: Describe goods and services the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor. Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities. 

·      Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs that are directly associated with the program but do not fit in the other categories. For example, list shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

·      Indirect Costs: These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. 

·      “Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or entities other than the U.S. Embassy. It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

 

1. Attachments:

·       Proof of registration with the Rwanda Cooperative Agency or Rwanda Governance Board. 

·       1-page CV or resume for each key staff member who will oversee implementation of the proposed program.

·       Letters of support from program partners (if applicable) describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner.

·       Official permission letters, if required for program activities.

 

Application Submission: The grant application package should be emailed to KigaliASGP@state.gov by 12:00 PM Kigali time on May 31, 2024 with “Proposal for ASSH Funds” in the subject line. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

A review committee will evaluate all eligible applications against the criteria listed above.

 

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

 

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

 

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

 

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

 

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

 

If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact: KigaliASGP@state.gov.

 

H. OTHER INFORMATION (IF SELECTED)

Payment Method: Request for payment will be submitted through a SF-270. Payments shall be disbursed via electronic fund transfer (EFT) upon receipt of a signed SF-270 form and required reporting.

 

Reporting Requirements: If selected, recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. These will be due quarterly. The financial reports will use form SF-425, which is available on grants.gov, and the programmatic reports will provide a brief narrative on the project’s successes, challenges, and next steps and will specify the number of beneficiaries. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

 

• SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) at grants.gov
• SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov
• SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at grants.gov (note: the SF-424B is only required for organizations not registered in SAM.gov)

 

Additional Requirements:

·      Organizations must 1) register on SAM.gov and 2) have an active Unique Entity ID (UEI) before grants can be awarded. For further information about SAM.gov registration and how to obtain a UEI, please refer to this guide.

·      All final proposals will require measurable results and indicators. The U.S. Embassy will regularly monitor the progress of any approved and funded projects.

·      Additional documentation will be required if selected.