Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Funds

FY2023

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Type of Solicitation: Open Competition

Funding Opportunity Title: Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund

Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-ANGOLA-SSH-FY22-01

CFDA Number: 19.220

Total Amount Available: Approximately $35,000

Anticipated Number of Awards: 4-10

Deadline for Applications: June 30, 2023

Anticipated Program Start Date: October 1, 2023

Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 1 year or less.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Embassy Luanda of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs is pleased to announce the availability of a funding opportunity through the 2023 Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) program is a grass-roots grant assistance program that allows U.S. Ambassadors to support local requests for small community-based development projects. The purpose of the Special Self-Help Program is to support communities through modest grants that will positively impact local communities. The SSH philosophy is to help communities ready to help themselves.

Applicant Criteria

All citizens of Angola 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.

The project must be submitted by an organized group who are motivated, have a real need, and have already successfully implemented projects in the community. The project should be feasible and based on the socio-economic context of the local community.

For more information, please review the complete NOFO here. 

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out projects to counter wildlife and timber trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an aim to build upon partner countries’ civilian law enforcement capacities and capabilities by: (1) Increasing the disruption and interdiction of illicit trade, (2) Strengthening investigative and enforcement functions, (3) Enhancing prosecutorial and judicial capacity, and (4) Developing and implementing cross-border and regional law enforcement coordination and information sharing.

Priority Region/Countries: Cameroon, Uganda, Southern Africa

The opportunity for Southern Africa is listed under Strategic Objective 3. It is broad and focuses on both wildlife and other natural resources crime (most importantly for our region, timber — however charcoal harvesting and illicit mining may also be considered in context with wildlife crime and where there are demonstrated links to transnational organized crime). Applicants must propose to conduct primary activities in at least one of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia – but may also include additional countries in Southern Africa, especially where there are strong transnational links.

Deadline:

-Proposals due May 29, 2023.

-For more information please see https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=347148

The U.S. Forest Service International Program in Angola has opened an opportunity for interested parties to submit a statement of interest for its project fund.

Deadline for Applications: March 20, 2023.

Full Details Available Here: https://linktr.ee/usfsangola

 

Full Details Available Here: 2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity- Annual Program Statement (202KB)

Statement of Interest Template Here (28KB)

Funding Opportunity Title:  U.S. Embassy Luanda Public Diplomacy Section Request for Statements of Interest: Annual Program Statement

Funding Opportunity Number: DOS-PAS-ANG- FY23-01

Deadline for Applications:    Round 1: March 28, 2023 (11:59 p.m. W.A.T.)  Round 2: April 28, 2023 (11:59 p.m.W.A.T.)

Assistance Listing Number:  19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs, 19.022 Education and Cultural Exchange Programs Appropriation Overseas Grants

Maximum for Each Award: $50,000

Minimum for Each Award:  $20,000

The U.S. Embassy Luanda Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce this Request for Statements of Interest (SOI) from organizations interested in applying for funding of program proposals that strengthen ties between the people of the United States, Angola, and Sao Tome and Principe through cultural and exchange programs that highlight our shared values and promote bilateral cooperation. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below.

The submission of a SOI is the first step in a two-part process. Applicants must first submit a SOI, which is a concise, one-to-two page concept note in English designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application. The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants the opportunity to submit program ideas for PDS to evaluate prior to requiring the development of full proposal applications. Upon review of eligible SOIs, PDS will invite selected applicants to expand their ideas into full proposal applications.

Program Objectives: These small grants intend to strengthen ties and build relationships between the United States, Angola, and São Tomé and Principe through activities that highlight shared values, goals, and cooperation. All proposals must have a strong American cultural element, or a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

Examples of PAS-funded programs include, but are not limited to:

• Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs;
• Artistic and cultural programs, joint performances, and exhibitions involving the work of American artists or American subjects;
• Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs;
• Programs that expand PDS American Corners and American Spaces activities;
• Professional and academic exchanges and programs;
• Media training;
• Programs developed by an alumnus/a of a U.S.-government sponsored educational or professional exchange program;
• Experiential learning activities (e.g. Model UN, Model Government).

Note: Proposed programs may take place virtually or in-person with public health protocols in place, or a combination of both.

Priority Program Areas for Angola:

U.S.- Angola Partnership: Activities to promote a deeper understanding of the United States’ long support for Angola’s development and prosperity and the celebration of the 30th anniversary of our bilateral relationship. Target audiences include youth and young adults who may be unaware of U.S. initiatives in Angola.

Build Communication Capacity: Activities that link Angolan journalists to American journalists or media institutions, and/or promote the production of high-quality reporting on topics of shared U.S.-Angolan interest such as the impact of climate change, effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance programs, human rights and trafficking, etc., in order to strengthen free press and journalism as an institution in Angola.  Activity should develop and deepen the creative, idea-forming sectors of Angolan society, including journalists, artists, broadcasters, and publishers. Target audience: mid-career journalists.

Skills for Success: Activities to promote professional skills such as resume writing, digital literacy, basic financial literacy, public speaking, and entrepreneurship drawing on American and Angolan examples, in order to encourage successful participation in the global economy. Applicants are strongly encouraged to partner with English Clubs, American Spaces, or U.S. exchange alumni to conduct these activities. Target audiences include but are not limited to: underemployed and unemployed youth who will soon complete or have completed formal education; and/or graduate/undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math with a strong interest in improving their English or pursuing graduate study in the United States.

Priority Program Areas for São Tomé and Principe:

Improve Economic Growth and Inclusion: activities that connect and sustain networks between small to medium sized businesses, to promote local entrepreneurial ecosystem growth in order to advance competitiveness and job creation for youth, women, and other disadvantaged groups.

Promote Civic Engagement: activities that encourage civic education for active participation in government and community engagement while promoting democratic values; encourage professional media coverage of elections and social issues; and increased awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion for strong communities with attention to gender and at-risk youth through education, the arts, sports, etc.

Reinforce Mutual Understanding between the U.S. and São Tomé and Principe: present accurate information on the U.S. and build connections between American and Santomean institutions at all levels; support the promotion of American cultural heritage; and foster English language proficiency for strategic audiences such as disadvantaged youth, entrepreneurs, and mid-career professionals in government service.

Participants and Audiences:

Proposals must identify a clearly defined target audience that the project seeks to influence. Well-defined audiences are countable and accessible through the project’s activities. Proposals should specify the changes in knowledge, understanding, attitudes, or behavior change in attitudes or behavioral action that they seek with the project – and how they plan to measure these outcomes.

Please contact PASInboxLuanda@state.gov with any questions about the application process, including APS 2023 in the subject line.