Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS COD SSHF FY23 001
The U.S. Embassy Kinshasa Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund (SSHF) is a small-grants program run by the U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo to support practical, community-driven projects that deliver broad, visible benefits where they are implemented. The core idea is to fund locally led solutions to everyday health, education, and community development challenges, with an emphasis on projects that continue to provide value long after the grant ends. Proposals are expected to show a clear and lasting benefit to the wider community, not just a narrow group of individuals, and they should be designed so the community can realistically manage, operate, and sustain the results on its own.
Competitive proposals should demonstrate strong community ownership and participation. The fund favors projects where the community makes a meaningful contribution, such as donating labor, providing land, supplying locally available materials, or contributing some money. Sustainability is a key selection factor, so applicants should explain how the community will maintain the project over time without relying on ongoing outside funding. The program also places weight on environmental responsibility, requiring a net-positive environmental impact and avoiding approaches that cause environmental harm. In addition, projects must respect human rights standards, including disability rights and gender equality, so applicants should consider accessibility and inclusive participation in both design and implementation.
The types of activities typically supported are small, concrete investments that fill urgent local gaps. Examples include small construction projects under 10,000 square feet, such as building or rehabilitating classrooms, community centers, basic health facilities, footbridges, or housing for a nurse or teacher who is paid by the government or community. Other eligible construction-related ideas mentioned include workshops, community abattoirs, grain storage, a rural airstrip serving a hospital, or dormitories for students who live far from school. Water and sanitation projects are also a good fit, including wells, latrines, pumps, boreholes, shower stalls and sinks, and even fishponds where appropriate. The fund may also cover school equipment and supplies like desks, chairs, lab equipment, and library materials. In some cases, it can support shared community equipment (for example, a brick-making machine) and income-generating equipment such as weaving looms, furniture-making tools, or a rice-milling machine, as long as the equipment can be maintained locally and is not dependent on specialized external support.
Just as important as what can be funded is what cannot. SSHF funds cannot be used for operating or recurring costs, which includes salaries, rent, administrative expenses, routine maintenance costs, or fuel. The grant also cannot cover individual travel expenses like lodging, transportation, meals, or fuel. It excludes religious activities and any support to police, law enforcement, prisons, or military-related activities. Projects that are political in nature or that look partisan, including anything that could be seen as supporting a candidate, party, or electoral campaign, are not eligible. The program also prohibits the purchase, operation, or maintenance of vehicles. Finally, projects with negative environmental consequences are not allowed, and activities that benefit any U.S. government employee are explicitly prohibited.
Eligibility is limited to local organizations, specifically local NGOs, community associations, and cooperatives. The opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 19.220, issued by the U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funding opportunity number is DOS COD SSHF FY23 001. The application closing date listed is August 9, 2024. The award ceiling is $16,500, and the embassy expects to make about three awards. Funding decisions and disbursement are contingent on congressional funding approval, with distribution planned no later than September 30.Apply for DOS COD SSHF FY23 001
- The U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Kinshasa Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.220.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $16,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Embassy Kinshasa Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund (SSHF)
What is the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund (SSHF)?
The U.S. Embassy Kinshasa Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund (SSHF) is a small-grants program run by the U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It supports practical, community-driven projects that deliver broad, visible benefits in the communities where they are implemented.
What kinds of projects does SSHF aim to support?
SSHF focuses on locally led solutions to everyday health, education, and community development challenges. Projects are expected to provide lasting value beyond the grant period and be realistic for the community to manage, operate, and sustain on its own.
What is the main goal SSHF looks for in a proposal?
Proposals should demonstrate a clear and lasting benefit to the wider community, not just a small group of individuals. The project design should show that the results can continue long after the grant ends.
Who is eligible to apply for SSHF funding?
Eligibility is limited to local organizations: local NGOs, community associations, and cooperatives.
Is SSHF open to individuals as applicants?
No. Based on the eligibility description, SSHF is limited to local organizations (local NGOs, community associations, and cooperatives), not individual applicants.
What is the maximum amount that can be awarded?
The award ceiling is $16,500.
How many awards does the Embassy expect to make?
The Embassy expects to make about three awards.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date listed is August 9, 2024.
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The funding opportunity number is DOS COD SSHF FY23 001.
What CFDA number is associated with SSHF?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.220.
What does SSHF mean by "community-driven" and "community ownership"?
Competitive proposals are expected to show strong community ownership and participation. This includes meaningful involvement in planning and implementation, and a clear role for the community in keeping the project running over time.
Does the community need to contribute to the project?
The fund favors projects where the community makes a meaningful contribution. Examples include donating labor, providing land, supplying locally available materials, or contributing some money.
How important is sustainability in SSHF selection decisions?
Sustainability is a key selection factor. Applicants should explain how the community will maintain the project over time without relying on ongoing outside funding.
What types of construction projects are typically supported?
SSHF typically supports small construction projects under 10,000 square feet. Examples include building or rehabilitating classrooms, community centers, basic health facilities, footbridges, or housing for a nurse or teacher (when the nurse or teacher is paid by the government or the community).
Are education-related projects eligible?
Yes. Examples of eligible activities include building or rehabilitating classrooms and supporting school equipment and supplies such as desks, chairs, lab equipment, and library materials.
Are health-related projects eligible?
Yes. Examples include small construction or rehabilitation of basic health facilities and related community infrastructure that provides broad, visible benefits.
Are water and sanitation projects eligible?
Yes. Water and sanitation projects are specifically mentioned as a good fit, including wells, latrines, pumps, boreholes, shower stalls, and sinks.
Can SSHF fund fishponds?
Yes. Fishponds are mentioned as an example of a water/sanitation-related project type that can be supported where appropriate.
Can SSHF fund community equipment purchases?
In some cases, yes. The fund can support shared community equipment (for example, a brick-making machine) and income-generating equipment such as weaving looms, furniture-making tools, or a rice-milling machine, as long as the equipment can be maintained locally and does not depend on specialized external support.
What does SSHF mean by equipment needing to be "maintained locally"?
It means the community should realistically be able to operate and maintain the equipment using local capacity and resources, without needing specialized external support.
Can the grant pay for salaries or staff time?
No. SSHF funds cannot be used for operating or recurring costs, including salaries.
Can SSHF pay for rent or administrative expenses?
No. Rent and administrative expenses are explicitly included among operating or recurring costs that SSHF cannot fund.
Can SSHF pay for routine maintenance after the project is completed?
No. Routine maintenance costs are listed as operating/recurring costs and are not allowable under SSHF funding.
Can SSHF pay for fuel?
No. Fuel is listed as an operating/recurring cost that cannot be funded. Fuel is also included among individual travel-related expenses that are not allowed.
Can SSHF pay for travel expenses for individuals (lodging, transportation, meals)?
No. SSHF cannot cover individual travel expenses such as lodging, transportation, meals, or fuel.
Can SSHF support religious activities?
No. Religious activities are excluded from SSHF funding.
Can SSHF support police, law enforcement, prisons, or military-related activities?
No. SSHF excludes any support to police, law enforcement, prisons, or military-related activities.
Are political or partisan projects eligible?
No. Projects that are political in nature or appear partisan are not eligible, including anything that could be seen as supporting a candidate, party, or electoral campaign.
Can SSHF funds be used to purchase or maintain a vehicle?
No. The program prohibits the purchase, operation, or maintenance of vehicles.
Are projects with environmental harm allowed?
No. Projects with negative environmental consequences are not allowed. The program requires a net-positive environmental impact and avoiding approaches that cause environmental harm.
Does SSHF require projects to consider human rights and inclusion?
Yes. Projects must respect human rights standards, including disability rights and gender equality. Applicants should consider accessibility and inclusive participation in both design and implementation.
What does "broad, visible benefits" mean in practice?
Based on the description, SSHF is looking for results that can be clearly seen and experienced by the wider community where the project is implemented, rather than benefits limited to a narrow group of individuals.
Can SSHF fund a dormitory for students who live far from school?
Yes. Dormitories for students who live far from school are mentioned as an eligible construction-related idea.
Can SSHF fund a rural airstrip if it serves a hospital?
Yes. A rural airstrip serving a hospital is listed among the eligible construction-related ideas.
Can SSHF fund a community abattoir, workshop, or grain storage facility?
Yes. Workshops, community abattoirs, and grain storage are listed as eligible construction-related ideas.
What conditions affect when funds are awarded and disbursed?
Funding decisions and disbursement are contingent on congressional funding approval. Distribution is planned no later than September 30.
Are projects that benefit U.S. government employees allowed?
No. Activities that benefit any U.S. government employee are explicitly prohibited.
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant under CFDA 19.220, issued by the U.S. Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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