Opportunity Information: Apply for AFREO 20 GR 002 AF 012320
The Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF) Small Grants Program in Botswana is a U.S. Embassy Gaborone funding opportunity designed to support community-initiated, practical development projects that can be implemented quickly and sustained after the grant ends. The program focuses on small-scale activities that improve local economic and social conditions while also increasing public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance. A key idea behind ASSHF is flexibility: it allows the U.S. Ambassador to respond directly to local community needs with projects that produce visible, immediate impact and align with U.S. Mission priorities, while also encouraging communities to become more self-reliant over time.
Projects must be ready to launch, well planned, and able to continue functioning without ongoing outside support once completed. Before submitting an application, the proposing organization must secure approval from the appropriate local authority structures, such as a local development committee, tribal authority, and/or the local town or district council. Competitive applications are expected to show strong community roots and clear local backing, including coordination with relevant local government bodies. The program also requires the recipient to share responsibility for the project by contributing resources of its own, either through cash or in-kind support like labor, building materials, land, supplies, or other tangible inputs that help ensure completion and sustainability. Applicants must also demonstrate they have basic financial controls and monitoring procedures in place, and they must be prepared to submit ongoing reports; embassy staff may conduct site visits during implementation.
The program funds a range of community development objectives. Priority areas include community-based natural resource management (for example, strengthening community ownership and management of natural resources, preserving or expanding wildlife corridors, supporting sustainable community-based tourism, and promoting conservation). It also supports economic diversification and local income generation, such as grassroots entrepreneurship, small business creation, sustainable employment opportunities, and projects that measurably improve basic living or economic conditions. In addition, the fund can support social services that assist disadvantaged or at-risk groups, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly, and female-headed households. Youth and child development is another eligible focus, particularly projects that equip young people with practical tools and knowledge for healthier, safer lives and that create opportunities for youth, including pathways to employment.
Eligibility is limited to registered Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). The embassy welcomes proposals from community-based organizations (CBOs), faith-based organizations (FBOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities. Organizations that already have ongoing projects may still apply if they can clearly justify why additional resources are needed to expand the work in new directions rather than simply continuing existing activities without a new component.
The announcement also lists a detailed set of activities that are not eligible for funding. In general, the program will not support partisan political activities, surveillance equipment, duplication of other U.S. government programs, or anything that personally or politically benefits U.S. government employees or their close family members. It also excludes charitable handouts and donation-style activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying, scientific research, projects aimed primarily at building the applicant organization itself, and duplicated efforts that do not add something new. The grant cannot be used for staff salaries or stipends, personal expenses (including school fees, uniforms, bursaries), alcohol, medicines, food parcels, or luxury and gambling-related goods. There are also restrictions tied to U.S. foreign assistance law, including prohibitions related to unsafe/toxic products, illegal drug trafficking, terrorism-related restrictions under Executive Order 13224, worker rights violations, and any other barred activities under the Foreign Assistance Act. Additional exclusions include support for police, prisons, or law enforcement activities; support for specific religious activities; abortion-related facilities and services; and typically the purchase of used equipment (with limited exceptions when equipment is simple and locally maintainable). The program also generally does not support private businesses, private creches, or public/government schools unless the project is implemented through a Parent-Teacher Association.
In terms of award structure, grants range from USD 1,000 to USD 25,000, with an expected total of roughly five to ten awards depending on the amounts approved (the source data lists an expected eight awards). The funding instrument is a grant, and projects are expected to be completed within twelve months or less, within a one-year period of performance. For this particular cycle, the anticipated project start date was October 1, 2020. Applications for FY2020 were accepted on a rolling basis up to the deadline, which was originally May 15, 2020 and later extended to July 3, 2020; submissions received after the closing date were not considered.
Applications could be submitted by email to SSHBotswana@state.gov, by mail to the U.S. Embassy (ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator, Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund Program, P.O. Box 90, Gaborone), or hand-delivered to the U.S. Embassy in the Government Enclave in Gaborone to the attention of the Small Grants Coordinator. Questions about the application process were directed to the Small Grants Office via SSHBotswana@state.gov or by phone at (267) 373-2265. The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to Botswana, under Funding Opportunity Number AFREO 20 GR 002 AF 012320 and CFDA 19.700, with an award ceiling of USD 25,000.Apply for AFREO 20 GR 002 AF 012320
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Botswana in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund Program Botswana" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.700.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 03, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 03, 2020. (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 $25,000.00 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).
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