The U.S. Embassy Lilongwe is now accepting proposals for the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund.
U.S. Embassy Lilongwe will partner with community organizations to complete small scale projects that create income, improve health, and expand educational opportunities. All projects should be initiated and administered at the local level. Preference will be given to projects that include significant community contributions and that have a high number of beneficiaries. Projects that address needs within disadvantaged or marginalized populations are encouraged.
Objectives
U.S. Embassy Lilongwe will partner with community organizations to complete small scale projects that create income, improve health, and expand educational opportunities. All projects will be initiated and administered at the local level and will include significant community contributions. Activities funded by the program should be completed in one year. After funding ends, Self-Help projects must continue to be viable and sustainable in terms of finance, personnel support, and necessary expertise and services.
Example Projects:
Income Creation:
Purchase of income generating and value addition equipment such as looms, tools, oil processing machines, milling machines, or similar for existing co-operatives and non-profit organizations.
Expansion, improvement, diversification, and commercialization of agricultural and aquacultural production for existing co-operatives and non-profit organizations.
Create ongoing vocation training opportunities
Health:
Increase access to clean water such as construction of shallow wells or boreholes or expansion of water supply infrastructure such as pumps and distribution systems.
Increase access to health services such as construction of under-five clinics.
Education:
Increase access to basic education such as classroom blocks or library construction.
Increase access to basic education for girls such as construction of a hostel or water and sanitation facilities
Funding Information
Length of performance period: 12 months
Number of awards anticipated: 8 awards
Award amounts: Up to $10,000
Total available funding: $60,000
Eligibility Criteria
All citizens of Malawi representing a civilian, religious, social, community development, special interest, disability, or advocacy group or organization may request funding for a community activity. Groups must be registered with the proper authorities.
To be eligible for funding your project must meet the following criteria:
The applicant must be a non-profit organization either based in the community where the project will be implemented or partnered with an organization based in that community.
Substantial community contribution is required. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money.
Funding is limited to one project which should be completed within twelve months or less.
Projects must be self-sustaining upon completion. The U.S. Embassy’s support for the project must be one time only. No future grant from any source should be needed.
Projects must be within the community’s ability to maintain and operate after grant funding ends.
Project managers must show that they are financially responsible and will be able to account for funds sent to them.
The requested amount for implementing activities cannot exceed $12,000. Project budgets generally range from $5,000 to $10,000.
