Angola - Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION  

The U.S. Embassy Luanda is pleased to announce the availability of a funding opportunity through the 2021 Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) program is a grass-roots grant assistance program that allows U.S. Ambassadors to support local requests for small community-based development projects. The purpose of the Special Self-Help Program is to support communities through modest grants that will positively impact local communities. The SSH philosophy is to help communities ready to help themselves.

Applicant Criteria

All citizens of Angola representing a civilian, religious, social, community development, special interest, disability, or advocacy group or organization may request funding for a community activity. Groups must be registered with the proper authorities.

The project must be submitted by an organized group who are motivated, have a real need, and have already successfully implemented projects in the community. The project should be feasible and based on the socio-economic context of the local community.

To be eligible for funding your project must meet the following criteria:

1.     The project should help improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level and have long-lived value.

2.     The project should be high impact, benefiting the greatest number of people possible.

3.     Substantial community participation in the activity is required. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money to ensure the success of the project.

4.     Funding is limited to one project, which must be completed within twelve (12) months or less.

5.     Projects must be self-sustaining upon completion. The U.S. Embassy’s support for the project must be a one-time-only/one grant contribution.

6.     Projects must be within the community’s ability to maintain and operate. Requests for large-scale agriculture or construction projects, or for expensive equipment are not considered priority projects.

7.     Managers of a project should have evidence that they are financially responsible and will be able to account for funds sent to them. Having a bank account, or establishing credit with vendors, are examples of such evidence.

8.     The requested amount for implementing activities cannot exceed $10,000. Project budgets generally range from $2,000 to $10,000.

Local Community Involvement

Local involvement of the organization or group must be at least 10% in cash or in kind of the total project costs. The personal contribution of funding may be crucial to make a choice between two viable requestors. The local contributions can be in cash or in kind. In-kind contributions could be: labor (wages of masons and workers), food, accommodation for qualified labor, carts of sand or gravel, bricks for construction, sand, fence, water supply, transportation costs, donations of materials etc.

Additionally, community leaders must also sign the statement of interest. Community leaders include local municipal leaders, religious leaders, tribal or clan leaders, or any governing body that has oversight over where the project will be implemented. At least one community leader must sign the statement of interest, however, multiple signatures are strongly encouraged. Community leaders may also submit letters of support for the project, so long as they specifically mention the project by title.

Funding

The U.S. Embassy can choose not to fund any applications. Submitting an application for this funding opportunity does not guarantee selection.

Miscellaneous

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