Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program – SSH Fund | 002 2020

Opportunity Information: Apply for 002 2020

The Ambassador's Special Self-Help (SSH) Program - SSH Fund is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity run through the U.S. Embassy in Harare to support small, practical, community-driven development projects across all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. The program is designed for short-term projects with a clear village-level benefit, strong community participation, and an emphasis on improving everyday economic or social conditions. While the Embassy receives a large volume of proposals each year and reviews them competitively, only a limited number can be funded, so applications need to be well targeted and clearly aligned with the SSH Fund's purpose.

At its core, the SSH Fund focuses on community-initiated, income-generating projects. These are meant to be modest in size but high in immediate impact, typically supporting livelihoods and basic services through tangible, community-owned outcomes. Projects may relate to access to healthy food, water and sanitation, natural resource management, or wildlife conservation, among other local development priorities. The notice highlights examples of projects that have been supported in the past, including grinding mills, carpentry and weaving initiatives, boreholes, drip irrigation systems, water storage solutions, fish farming, chicken rearing, and market gardens. The common thread across these examples is that they are practical, locally relevant, and structured to keep benefits within the community rather than relying on long-term external support.

Funding is provided as a grant under FY20 Economic Support Funds, authorized by the Foreign Assistance Act. Individual awards are expected to fall between USD 5,000 and USD 10,000, with an anticipated total funding pool of about USD 70,000 (final availability depends on confirmation from Washington). The Embassy anticipates making around eight awards, although the exact number can change depending on the sizes of selected budgets and final funds available. Projects must be completed within 12 months or less, and the anticipated start period is in September 2021 (the announcement notes start dates between September 1 and September 30, with an anticipated program start date around September 20, 2021). All spending and activities should fit within that 12-month window.

Eligibility is limited to Zimbabwe-registered non-governmental, non-profit, or community-based organizations. The opportunity explicitly notes that registered trusts, associations, schools, churches, and similar entities can qualify, while individuals, businesses, and government entities are not eligible. Proposals must also show a meaningful community contribution, which can be in cash, labor, and/or materials, and the intended beneficiaries must be Zimbabwean citizens. Applicants are expected to demonstrate sound financial and administrative controls to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, which is a key factor in U.S. government grantmaking.

A major administrative requirement is that eligible organizations must have a unique entity identifier (at the time this notice was issued, a DUNS number through Dun and Bradstreet) and an active registration in SAM.gov. The notice also references the need for an NCAGE/CAGE code as part of the registration process and emphasizes that registration is free but must be completed before an award can be made. Applicants are encouraged to ensure they are not listed on the Excluded Parties List System within SAM, since any entity appearing there is ineligible to receive funding or participate in award activities.

The application package is available through the U.S. Embassy Harare website and Grants.gov, and the submission requirements are fairly specific. Applications must be written in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and documents must follow formatting rules (8.5 x 11 pages, single-spaced Microsoft Word documents, 12-point Times New Roman, and at least 1-inch margins). Required components include the standard federal forms SF-424 and SF-424A, and SF-424B in certain cases (notably for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov, though individuals are not eligible for this fund). Applicants must also include a summary cover sheet with basic project identifiers, plus a proposal narrative of no more than 10 pages that explains the organization, the problem being addressed, clear goals and measurable objectives, activities and methods (including a logic model where appropriate), a detailed timeline, staffing and partner roles, a monitoring and evaluation approach, and a sustainability plan for what happens after grant funding ends.

Beyond the narrative and forms, the Embassy requires several attachments that help verify capacity and feasibility. These include one-page CVs for key personnel, letters of support from partners, and (when applicable) a current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). The opportunity also requires official permission letters or MOUs from relevant local authorities and proof of land ownership if land will be used. Applicants must include the organization registration certificate, use the provided annex templates (including the budget template and proposal narrative annex), and submit pro-forma invoices or quotations for budgeted items. A notable procurement-related requirement is that three quotes are needed for each budgeted item, which signals that price reasonableness and transparency will be closely reviewed.

The deadline in this notice is Friday, January 29, 2021 at 5:00 pm, and late submissions are not considered for that funding cycle (though the Embassy notes they may be held for consideration for 2022 funding). Applications can be submitted by email to selfhelpharare@state.gov, submitted electronically through Grants.gov, or hand-delivered to the U.S. Embassy Harare at the address provided in the notice. The Embassy also notes that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but it still enforces the stated deadline for the cycle.

The SSH Fund also includes extensive restrictions on what it will not pay for, and these limits are important when designing a compliant budget. In general, SSH funds cannot be used for administrative and overhead costs tied to managing the grant (including travel for implementing agencies), religious or military activities, police or prison-related activities, surveillance equipment, technical assistance programs, or projects that duplicate other U.S. government programming. The notice also bars a wide range of other categories, including benefits to U.S. government employees or their families, certain export-oriented agricultural production that could affect U.S. exports, support linked to violations of worker rights, abortion-related services, luxury items, gambling equipment, unsafe or toxic products (including hazardous chemicals), and any support to entities connected to illegal drug trafficking or terrorism-related designations. The program generally avoids used equipment and prefers new equipment to reduce long-term maintenance burdens, unless the equipment is simple and spare parts are available locally. It also discourages certain types of projects that do not fit the mandate, such as revolving loan funds or seed money schemes, representation expenses (ceremonies and celebrations), and it notes that construction or refurbishment and infrastructure activities are not recommended. It further states the grant may not cover items like school fees, computers, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, medical or contraceptive equipment, or alcohol, which effectively narrows the fund toward productive community assets and direct project inputs rather than general institutional support.

Overall, this opportunity is best suited for a Zimbabwe-registered community organization that can show a real community-driven need, a clear plan to deliver a tangible result within 12 months, and a budget that stays tightly focused on allowable direct project costs. Strong applications will usually be those that demonstrate local buy-in through documented contributions and permissions, present a realistic implementation timeline and monitoring plan, and propose an income-generating or livelihood-strengthening activity that can continue operating after the grant ends.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program – SSH Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.345.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 30, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 29, 2021. (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 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 002 2020

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