Opportunity Information: Apply for SSH 2015 1
Apply for SSH 2015 1
- The U.S. Mission to Maseru Lesotho in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Ambassadors 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): 19.700 General Department of State Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 12, 2015 and posted on Feb 12, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2015 The deadline for all completed applications and required documentation is March 31, 2015. Any applications received after that date and any incomplete applications will not be considered. Please ensure that you read all of the criteria carefully and submit all requested information and supporting documents.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $50,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Consideration will be given to projects which Improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level Support high impact, quick implementation activities that benefit a large number of people within one year without requiring further SSH assistance Involve a significant local contribution in cash, labor, or material Are within the ability of the local community to operate and maintain Are not in any way initiating, continuing, or supplementing technical assistance programs Are a direct response to the initiative and aspirations of the local community Contribute to income generating or self sustaining activities, whenever possible Ensure broadly accessible, reliable, and economically sustainable water and sanitation services for health, security, and prosperity (not issues directly relating to agriculture or household level) Assist special populations which may be vulnerable or at risk on a temporary or chronic basis such as the disabled, orphans, children and at risk youth, ethnic minorities, the elderly, female heads of households, or other socially excluded groups Provide social assistance
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Ambassadors Special Self Help Fund (Funding Opportunity Number: SSH 2015 1) is a U.S. Department of State grant program run through the U.S. Mission to Maseru, Lesotho, designed to support community-driven development projects that improve basic economic and social conditions at the village or local community level. The program is meant for grassroots groups with practical, locally owned ideas that can be implemented relatively quickly and then sustained by the community over time. Funding is offered as discretionary grants, and awards are made once per year to projects that clearly show local initiative, strong community participation, and a realistic plan for ongoing operation and maintenance after the grant ends.
A central feature of this opportunity is the emphasis on community investment and ownership. Each group that receives an award is expected to contribute the equivalent of 10 percent of the total project cost, either in cash or in-kind contributions such as labor, local materials, or services. This requirement is intended to ensure that projects are not purely donor-driven and that the results are viewed as belonging to the community, with a stronger likelihood that the community will maintain and protect the investment long after the initial funding is spent. Even though the listing notes "CostSharingOrMatchingRequirement: No," the program description and eligibility criteria clearly describe the 10 percent local contribution expectation as part of what makes a proposal competitive and aligned with the fund's purpose.
The fund supports a wide variety of community development activities, with particular interest in projects that promote women and girls. Typical examples mentioned include construction or improvement of classrooms (including classroom roofing), building or upgrading community facilities such as health clinics and community centers, and drilling boreholes to provide safe drinking water. More broadly, the program prioritizes high-impact projects that can be completed within one year, benefit a large number of people, and do not require additional rounds of Self Help funding to be successful. The focus is on practical improvements that are visible, measurable, and likely to produce lasting benefits.
Eligibility and selection considerations emphasize that projects should be a direct response to the aspirations of the local community, not an outside agenda. Strong proposals are those that the community can realistically operate and maintain with its own capacity and resources. The fund is not intended to initiate, continue, or supplement technical assistance programs, meaning it is generally aimed at tangible community-level improvements rather than ongoing training or advisory services. Preference is also given to projects that contribute to income-generating or self-sustaining activities where appropriate, and to those that provide social assistance or address the needs of vulnerable or at-risk groups. The announcement specifically highlights support for special populations such as people with disabilities, orphans, children and at-risk youth, ethnic minorities, the elderly, female-headed households, and other socially excluded groups.
Water and sanitation are an explicit priority area, framed around ensuring broadly accessible, reliable, and economically sustainable services that support health, security, and prosperity. The notice clarifies that this focus is not on agriculture-related water issues or household-level matters, but on community-serving water and sanitation solutions that have wide access and long-term sustainability. This aligns with the program's overall emphasis on community-scale infrastructure and shared services rather than individual or narrowly targeted benefits.
For this funding cycle, the program anticipated making about 8 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $50,000 and an award ceiling of $6,000 per project. The CFDA number listed is 19.700 (General Department of State Assistance). The application deadline for completed submissions and all required documentation was March 31, 2015, and the notice states that late or incomplete applications would not be considered, underscoring the importance of following the criteria closely and submitting all requested supporting materials.
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Special Projects Coordinator, Cora Malinak, at the U.S. Embassy Maseru (phone: 26622312666), and an additional information link is referenced as "U.S. Embassy Maseru Grants."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Ambassadors Special Self Help Fund (SSH 2015 1)
What is the U.S. Ambassadors Special Self Help Fund (SSH 2015 1)?
The U.S. Ambassadors Special Self Help Fund (Funding Opportunity Number: SSH 2015 1) is a U.S. Department of State grant program run through the U.S. Mission to Maseru, Lesotho. It supports community-driven development projects that improve basic economic and social conditions at the village or local community level.
Who runs this grant program?
The program is run through the U.S. Mission to Maseru, Lesotho (U.S. Embassy Maseru) under the U.S. Department of State.
What kinds of organizations or groups is this grant meant for?
The fund is intended for grassroots groups with practical, locally owned ideas. It is geared toward projects that are driven by the community and can be carried out and sustained locally.
What is the main purpose of the fund?
The main purpose is to support practical, community-level projects that can improve basic economic and social conditions, be implemented relatively quickly, and remain sustainable through community ownership and maintenance after the grant period ends.
What types of projects are typically funded?
The opportunity supports a wide range of community development activities. Examples mentioned include constructing or improving classrooms (including classroom roofing), building or upgrading community facilities (such as health clinics and community centers), and drilling boreholes to provide safe drinking water.
Are projects that support women and girls encouraged?
Yes. The program shows particular interest in projects that promote women and girls.
Does the fund prioritize any specific themes or sectors?
Yes. Water and sanitation are explicitly listed as a priority area, with an emphasis on broadly accessible, reliable, and economically sustainable community-serving services. The program also values high-impact community development projects that are visible, measurable, and likely to produce lasting benefits.
Is this funding focused on agriculture water issues or household-level water needs?
No. The notice clarifies that the water and sanitation priority is not focused on agriculture-related water issues or household-level matters. The emphasis is on community-serving solutions with wide access and long-term sustainability.
How quickly should a project be completed?
The program prioritizes projects that can be completed within one year.
How are grants awarded (competitive, rolling, or another approach)?
Funding is offered as discretionary grants, and awards are made once per year to projects that demonstrate local initiative, strong community participation, and a realistic plan for ongoing operation and maintenance after the grant ends.
What makes a proposal competitive under this program?
Competitive proposals clearly show local initiative, strong community participation, and community ownership. Strong proposals also demonstrate that the project responds directly to the aspirations of the local community (not an outside agenda) and that the community can realistically operate and maintain the results with its own capacity and resources.
Is community participation and ownership required?
Yes. A central feature is community investment and ownership, with an expectation that projects are locally owned, not donor-driven, and maintained by the community over time.
Is a local financial or in-kind contribution required?
The program description and eligibility criteria state that each awarded group is expected to contribute the equivalent of 10 percent of the total project cost, either in cash or in-kind (such as labor, local materials, or services). This is presented as an expectation that helps align proposals with the program's purpose.
If the listing says "CostSharingOrMatchingRequirement: No," why is there still a 10 percent contribution expectation?
The opportunity information notes "CostSharingOrMatchingRequirement: No," but the program description and eligibility criteria also describe an expectation of a 10 percent local contribution as part of what makes a proposal competitive and consistent with the fund's emphasis on community ownership.
Can the 10 percent contribution be non-cash?
Yes. The 10 percent contribution can be provided in cash or in-kind contributions, such as labor, local materials, or services.
Does the program prefer projects that generate income or sustain themselves financially?
Yes. Preference is given to projects that contribute to income-generating or self-sustaining activities where appropriate.
Does the program support social assistance or vulnerable groups?
Yes. Preference is also given to projects that provide social assistance or address the needs of vulnerable or at-risk groups.
Which populations are specifically highlighted as priorities?
The announcement highlights support for special populations including people with disabilities, orphans, children and at-risk youth, ethnic minorities, the elderly, female-headed households, and other socially excluded groups.
Are technical assistance or training programs eligible?
The fund is not intended to initiate, continue, or supplement technical assistance programs. The focus is generally on tangible community-level improvements rather than ongoing training or advisory services.
Does the fund prefer projects that benefit many people?
Yes. The program prioritizes high-impact projects that benefit a large number of people.
Does the program fund multi-phase projects that require multiple rounds of Self Help funding?
The program prioritizes projects that do not require additional rounds of Self Help funding to be successful.
How many awards were anticipated for this funding cycle?
For this funding cycle, the program anticipated making about 8 awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount for this cycle?
The estimated total funding amount listed was $50,000.
What is the maximum award size per project?
The award ceiling was $6,000 per project.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.700 (General Department of State Assistance).
What was the application deadline?
The deadline for completed submissions and all required documentation was March 31, 2015.
Are late or incomplete applications accepted?
No. The notice states that late or incomplete applications would not be considered, emphasizing the importance of submitting all required documentation by the deadline.
Who can applicants contact for help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement were directed to contact the Special Projects Coordinator, Cora Malinak, at the U.S. Embassy Maseru.
What contact phone number is provided for the program?
The phone number provided is 26622312666.
Is there an additional information source mentioned?
Yes. An additional information link is referenced as "U.S. Embassy Maseru Grants."
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