# U.S. Embassy Gaborone, Botswana - Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund Program (ASSHF)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/dos-gaborone-gr-asshf-2023-u-s-embassy-gaborone-botswana-ambassador-s-special/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/346903

> U.S. Mission to Botswana offered grants of up to $20,000 (at least $3,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 6 awards worth $55,000 in total. Applications closed on August 4, 2023.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | DOS-GABORONE-GR-ASSHF-2023 |
| Agency | U.S. Mission to Botswana |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | August 4, 2023 |
| Award ceiling | $20,000 |
| Award floor | $3,000 |
| Expected awards | 6 |
| Total funding | $55,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 19.220 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

All applicants must be registered Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs). U.S. Embassy Gaborone welcomes proposals and applications from Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities. Organizations with currently running projects may apply if they justify the need for more resources in new directions. Individuals, private business enterprises, or government departments or entities are NOT eligible for funding.

## What the grant funds

The U.S. Embassy Gaborone of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for registered organizations to submit proposals to implement community-initiated development projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF) Small Grants Program. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is a grass-roots assistance program that provides small-scale assistance to communities throughout Botswana as part of an ongoing commitment by the U.S. government to support development activities at the local level. The ASSHF program provides targeted grants to assist short term, community-driven projects that improve economic and social conditions at the community level. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects that have immediate impact, and further Mission priorities. Equally important, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Proposed projects must be well planned, ready to be implemented, and easily self-sustaining when the project is completed. The organization must obtain approval from the local development committee, local authority, town and/or district council before submission of the proposal to the U.S. Embassy. Successful applicants should demonstrate strong ties and support from their local community and governmental bodies. Recipient organizations must demonstrate their substantial commitment by either contributing to the project financially or providing labor or supplies (in kind contribution) to carry out the project. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place. Acceptable project objectives include, but are not limited to the following: • Economic diversification, including small business creation and income generation Generate sustainable income and employment opportunities in local communities; Advance economic diversification at the grassroots level and promote a culture of entrepreneurship; Encourage use of local natural resources for income generation; Purchase of income generating equipment; Improve basic economic or living conditions of a community.

## Questions people ask

### Is DOS-GABORONE-GR-ASSHF-2023 still open?

No. It closed on August 4, 2023.

### Who can apply for U.S. Embassy Gaborone, Botswana - Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund Program (ASSHF)?

U.S. Mission to Botswana accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for U.S. Embassy Gaborone, Botswana - Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund Program (ASSHF)?

Closed August 4, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $20,000 each. About $55,000 in total across about 6 awards.

### Who has won Ambassadors' Special Self Help Fund grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees, Adra I Angola, Tandana Foundation Inc. The program made 993 awards worth $7.6 million in that time.