The U.S. Embassy Abuja announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals to carry out projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (ASSH) Small Grants Program.
Program Objectives:
ASSH is a grassroots grant assistance program that provides modest grants for small scale community development activities that improve living conditions. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects that have immediate impact, and further Mission priorities. ASSH is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. The U.S. contribution will be a set amount on a one-time basis only.
Project Objectives
Economic diversification and creation of opportunities
Projects that generate sustainable revenue and create employment opportunities in local communities benefiting these beyond individual group members. Projects should advance economic diversification at the grassroots level and promote a culture of entrepreneurship, including women-led entrepreneurship and innovation that can be replicated locally. Projects should encourage the use of locally sourced natural resources for income generation through diversified agricultural practices.
Social inclusion and services
Projects that aim to improve the lives of vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly and female heads of household. This includes access to basic services such as water and sanitation.
Youth and child development
Projects that create opportunities for youth, including employment, or enable access to and enhance early childhood and primary education.
Environment and community-based natural resource management
Projects that expand effective community ownership and management of natural resources, promote the conservation of natural resources, build resilience and increase the capacity to adapt to environmental changes
To meet the following criteria to be eligible for consideration, projects must:
Help improve basic economic or social conditions on a small community scale and has a long-term value.
Have high impact, benefit a significant number of community members and have a high beneficiary to budget ratio.
Be initiated by the community, demonstrate strong community involvement and participation.
Be feasible and based on the socio-economic context of the community.
Include a community contribution of 10% or more of the total cost of the project. This may be in cash or in kind, such as volunteer time and labor, food, accommodation costs, donated land, transportation costs, equipment, and materials.
Aim to be completed within 6 – 12 months and be self-sustaining upon completion. The project plan contains pre-established long-term goals and a coherent plan to keep the project running in the future.
Identify a real need, demonstrate that benefitting community can maintain and operate the project as evidenced by implementing prior successful projects.
Show that applicant organization is financially responsible as evidenced by a bank account in its name.
Illustrate strong coordination and communication among the applicant, local leaders, and local government representatives.
Be submitted by an organized group that is motivated and a capable project manager who is a long-term resident in the community is responsible for the project.
Not request U.S. contribution amount above $7,000.
Have a project budget that is clear, complete, and well defined, and includes only items permanent in nature or technical assistance necessary for the completion of project.
Eligibility Criteria
The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program will only accept proposals from non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations registered on the federal or state level in Nigeria that work directly with communities.
Strong preference will be given to established, local, grassroots groups based within the communities where the projects are implemented.
Groups that have been funded through the Ambassador’s Special-Self Help program in the past are not eligible.
For-profit, commercial entities and private businesses are not eligible.
Individuals are not eligible.
Ineligible
The following is not eligible for funding:
Projects relating to partisan political activity, including fund raising campaigns.
Personal expenses for an individual.
Private businesses.
Purchase and set up of surveillance equipment.
Creating, continuing, or supplementing technical assistance programs.
