DOS-ZAMBIA-PE-2021-03: U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of U.S. Mission to Zambia notices from 2021.
U.S. Mission to Zambia offered grants of up to $15,000 to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 5 awards worth $60,000 in total. Applications closed on February 28, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 14, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$15,000
- Total funding$60,000
- Expected awards5
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DOS-ZAMBIA-PE-2022-01 | June 27, 2022 | Closed February 28, 2023 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | January 14, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | February 28, 2021 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | March 30, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
All applicants must be Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) registered on the province or national level in Zambia. We welcome proposals from Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past General Department of State Assistance awards averaged $810,812; this notice allows up to $15,000 per award.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION U.S. Embassy Lusaka announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (ASSH) Small Grants Program. Purpose of Small Grants: ASSH program is a grassroots assistance program that funds grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts which fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. 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 Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. The Small Grants Office receives many more proposals than it can fund. Careful preparation of the application will give your organization the best chance to qualify for funding. 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; · Encourage use of local natural resources for income generation; · Promote a culture of entrepreneurship; · Improve basic economic or living conditions of a community; · Purchase of income generating-equipment such as weaving looms, threshing machines, oil presses, beehives etc. •Social services · Assist populations which may be disadvantaged or at-risk on a temporary or chronic basis, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly and female heads of household; · Construction of health clinics or workshops; · Water and sanitation related projects. •Youth and child development · Assist youth to gain knowledge and tools to live positively, set life goals and enhance their own health, safety and security; · Create opportunities for youth, including employment; · Construction of school rooms or community centers; · Purchase of school equipment, furnishings and books. •Community-based natural resource management · Expand effective community ownership and management of natural resources; · Developing sustainable community-based tourism; · Promoting the conservation of natural resources.
Who has won General Department of State Assistance grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, General Department of State Assistance (19.700) awarded $21.1 million across 26 grant awards, an average of $810,812 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations Office for Project Services | 1 | $7.3 million | |
| Carnegie-Mellon University | Pennsylvania | 1 | $3.1 million |
| Asian Development Bank | 1 | $2.2 million | |
| The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars | District of Columbia | 1 | $2.1 million |
| International Labor Organization | District of Columbia | 1 | $2.0 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is DOS-ZAMBIA-PE-2021-03 still open?
No. It closed on February 28, 2021.
Who can apply for U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help Program?
U.S. Mission to Zambia 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. Ambassador's Special Self Help Program?
Closed February 28, 2021. 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 $15,000 each. About $60,000 in total across about 5 awards.
Who has won General Department of State Assistance grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were United Nations Office for Project Services, Carnegie-Mellon University, Asian Development Bank. The program made 26 awards worth $21.1 million in that time.
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