U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund 2020 | DOS MSU SSH FY20

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS MSU SSH FY20

The U.S. Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund 2020 is a small-grants program run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Lesotho. It is designed as a grass-roots, community-driven funding source that lets the U.S. Embassy respond relatively quickly to local, practical requests. The overall purpose is to support short-term development projects that improve basic economic and social conditions at the village or community level, with projects intended to be completed within a one-year period.

Funding is provided as a grant under a community development focus (CFDA 19.700). Individual awards can be as large as $10,000, and the program anticipated making about six awards under this funding opportunity. Because it is described as subject to the availability of funds, final award amounts and the total number of awards may depend on the year-to-year budget and competing priorities.

The types of projects emphasized are concrete, community-benefiting activities with visible and practical outcomes. Examples listed in the opportunity include constructing or improving classrooms, building ventilated pit latrines, creating or rehabilitating community centers and health clinics, drilling boreholes to improve access to clean water, and purchasing essential school equipment and supplies. The guidelines also mention support for medical equipment, solar heating solutions, and agricultural kits, indicating the program is open to a range of basic infrastructure and livelihood-related interventions as long as they clearly benefit the community and can be delivered on a small budget within the grant period.

A key feature of the program is shared local ownership. Applicants are expected to contribute a cost share or match of 10 percent, which can be provided through materials, labor, or other forms of community participation. This requirement reinforces the program's self-help model by ensuring communities invest directly in the projects they propose, helping strengthen sustainability and local commitment beyond the grant itself.

The opportunity was published on January 2, 2020, and had an original closing date of March 31, 2020. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically indicates a focus on local community groups or similar non-government, community-based entities rather than large commercial organizations. Overall, this funding opportunity targets small, high-impact projects proposed and partly supported by communities themselves, aiming for quick, tangible improvements in local living conditions.

• The Department of State, U. S. Mission to Lesotho in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Fund 2020" 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 Jan 02, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 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 $10,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for DOS MSU SSH FY20

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