U.S. Embassy Praia Ambassador's Special Self-Help (SSH) Program

U.S. Embassy Praia welcomes the submission of project applications for funding through the Ambassador's Special Self Help Program (SSH). If interested, please carefully review the instructions below.

Purpose of Small Grants:

The SSH 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 help themselves.

Projects submitted for SSH must align with one or more U.S. Embassy priorities:

Economic diversification, including small business creation and income generation

Projects must aim to 1) generate sustainable income and employment opportunities in local communities, 2) advance economic diversification and encourage use of local natural resources or income generation, 3) promote a culture of entrepreneurship, and/or 4) improve economic or living conditions of a community.

Women start-ups and women entrepreneurs

Eligible projects assist women who are launching a business or who are overseeing the early stages of business development (between one to two years). Such projects must promote a culture of women-led entrepreneurship and innovation that can be replicated in the community. Projects must also promote profitable businesses that generate revenue and benefit the community.

Social inclusion and creation of opportunities

Projects in this category must assist youth, children, women (particularly female heads of household), and other vulnerable groups to gain access to basic services (for example water, sanitation, and primary/pre-K education). They can also assist the creation of opportunities for vulnerable groups, particularly employment for youth.

Drought response/ resiliency

Eligible projects will increase the capacity of communities to cope with the effects of drought by building resilience and promoting income-generating activities. Activities can include increasing water supply quality, improving water management, diversifying agricultural practices, and providing benefits to the environment.

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 community contribution of funding may be crucial to make a choice between two viable requestors. 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 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.

Application Procedures:

Content of Application

1. Please complete the SSH form, which can be downloaded here.
2. Other required documents:

• A list of Committee/Board members with their names, positions, addresses, and phone numbers.
• A list of all people working in the organization (including all staff and volunteers) with names, positions and starting dates.
• A copy of your registration from the Ministry of Finance.
• A copy of your fiscal identification number

Submission of Application

Complete application packages may be submitted to the U.S. Self-Help Coordinator on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted only in electronic format. Email all required information to PRAIAGRANTS@state.gov

Application Deadline

Applications received after August 2020 will be considered with the next application period. Projects that are time sensitive may not be considered. All projects submitted for funding after August 2020 will be dependent of availability of funds.

Project selections will be announced by October 2020.

Evaluation Criteria:

This application will be evaluated on the following factors:

• Completeness: Did the applicant submit all of the materials requested, including but not limited to requirements in the SSH forms found on U.S. Embassy Praia's website.
• Embassy priorities: Does the application describe how the project's goals are related to the Embassy priorities stated in this document?
• Sustainability: Is the project sustainable in the long term? Will the project be able to continue without additional investment? Are the suggested measurements of success adequate?
• Need: Does the project adequately fulfill a stated need within a community?
• Budget: Is the budget complete, and well defined? Is the budget reasonable?
• Completion within one year: Can the project be completed in a single year?
• Community support: Does the project show strong community support?
• Impact: Does the project benefit the broadest numbers of beneficiaries possible? Is there a substantial impact on the affected community?
• Contribution and Group Capabilities: Does the group provide adequate resources and show commitment to the project? Is the group capable of administering the project as designed?

Required documentation and reporting:

Groups selected for funding will need to submit several required forms, including U.S. Standard Form 424, a grants award document, and any other terms and conditions required by U.S. Embassy Praia. Performance and financial reports will be required throughout the duration of the award.

Publicity campaign:

It is expected that publicity will be given to the Ambassador's Special Self-Help program and its projects, including press and radio releases, photographs, and project site plaques that acknowledge the shared efforts of Cabo Verde and the United States. Publicity costs should be considered in the proposed budget.

Funding:

U.S. Embassy Praia is not required to fund any applications. Submitting an application does not guarantee selection.