Opportunity Information: Apply for NGA POLECON GR 24 001 02282024
The 2024 Ambassador's Special Self-Help (ASSH) Program is a small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja under the U.S. Mission to Nigeria. It is designed to fund modest, community-driven projects that improve living conditions at the grassroots level and can be completed quickly while still delivering long-term value. The program is intentionally flexible so the U.S. Ambassador can respond directly to local community requests that have immediate, visible impact and that also align with broader Mission priorities. ASSH funding is provided as a one-time, fixed contribution rather than ongoing support, with a strong emphasis on helping communities become more self-reliant and capable of sustaining similar efforts on their own after the grant ends.
The program prioritizes projects across four main objective areas. First, it supports economic diversification and opportunity creation, especially efforts that generate sustainable revenue and local jobs beyond just the project members. Competitive proposals in this category typically promote entrepreneurship, including women-led businesses or innovations that can be copied by other communities, and may encourage income generation through diversified agriculture that uses locally available natural resources. Second, it funds social inclusion and basic services initiatives that improve conditions for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly, and female heads of household, including practical access to essentials like water and sanitation. Third, it backs youth and child development projects that expand opportunities for young people, whether through employment pathways or by strengthening access to and quality of early childhood and primary education. Fourth, it supports environment and community-based natural resource management projects that build community ownership of natural resources, conserve ecosystems, strengthen resilience, and improve local capacity to adapt to environmental and climate-related changes.
To be considered eligible and competitive, proposed projects must meet several practical requirements. They must address a real, community-level need and improve basic economic or social conditions in a way that remains valuable over time. The Embassy expects high impact relative to cost, meaning a strong beneficiary-to-budget ratio and clear benefits to a significant portion of the community. Projects must be initiated by the community and show strong local participation, not just top-down implementation. Proposals must be realistic and feasible within the community's socioeconomic context and should be structured to finish within 6 to 12 months. Just as important, they must be self-sustaining after completion, with a coherent plan for ongoing operation and maintenance and evidence that the community can manage the result (for example, by showing experience with prior successful local projects). Applicants must also demonstrate financial responsibility, including having a bank account in the organization's name, and show strong coordination with local leaders and local government representatives. The implementing group must be organized and motivated, and the project manager should be a capable long-term resident of the community.
ASSH requires cost-sharing from the community: the community must contribute at least 10 percent of the total project cost, either in cash or in-kind support. In-kind contributions can include volunteer labor and time, donated land, locally provided materials, transportation, accommodation or food for volunteer workers, and similar tangible support. On the U.S. funding side, the request cannot exceed USD 7,000, and the budget must be clear and well-defined. Funding is intended for permanent items or narrowly necessary technical assistance directly tied to completing the project, rather than recurring expenses.
The notice is also explicit about what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include partisan political work or fundraising, personal expenses, support to private businesses, surveillance equipment, and ongoing or duplicative technical assistance programs. Projects cannot provide personal or political benefit to U.S. Government employees or their immediate family members. The program does not fund charitable donation-style activities, religious or military activities, or anything tied to police, prisons, or other law enforcement. It also excludes projects that are purely cultural, large-scale agriculture or major construction, scientific research, and costs associated with the project manager. It will not pay for organizational growth or institutional development items like vehicles and office equipment/supplies, and it will not cover alcohol, medicine, school uniforms, school fees, or facilities that significantly serve U.S. employees or dependents. Abortion-related facilities/services are barred, as are toxic or unsafe products (including certain hazardous chemicals). Salaries for the applicant's staff or contractors are not allowed, and the program will not buy consumables such as food parcels, refreshments, or medicines. It does not support training, travel, seed capital/loans, previously owned equipment, luxury goods, or gambling equipment. It also will not fund renovations of facilities that fell into disrepair due to neglect or lack of funds. Finally, projects cannot be partially funded by another donor or the Government of Nigeria, and ASSH funds may not be commingled with other donor or other U.S. government funding streams; additional restrictions may apply under the Foreign Assistance Act and ASSH rules.
Eligibility is limited to non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations that are legally registered in Nigeria at either the federal or state level and that work directly with communities. The Embassy strongly prefers established local grassroots groups that are based in the same communities where the projects will be implemented. Organizations that previously received funding through the Ambassador's Special Self-Help program are not eligible for this round. For-profit entities, commercial businesses, and individual applicants are not eligible.
Key opportunity details included in the notice list the funding opportunity title as "2024 Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program," with funding opportunity number NGA POLECON GR 24 001 02282024, categorized as an earmark and using a grant instrument under community development (CFDA 19.220). The award ceiling is USD 7,000, with an expectation of around 10 awards, and the original closing date is May 31, 2024. Application instructions are not fully included in the text provided and must be followed from the full Notice of Funding Opportunity referenced by the Embassy.Apply for NGA POLECON GR 24 001 02282024
- The U.S. Mission to Nigeria in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2024 Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.220.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-28.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-31. (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 $7,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - 2024 Ambassador's Special Self-Help (ASSH) Program (U.S. Embassy Abuja)
1) What is the 2024 Ambassador's Special Self-Help (ASSH) Program?
The 2024 Ambassador's Special Self-Help (ASSH) Program is a small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja under the U.S. Mission to Nigeria. It funds modest, community-driven projects designed to improve living conditions at the grassroots level. Projects are expected to be completed quickly while still delivering long-term value, and the program emphasizes community self-reliance after the grant ends.
2) Who runs and administers this grant opportunity?
The program is run by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja under the U.S. Mission to Nigeria.
3) What kinds of projects does ASSH aim to support?
ASSH supports modest projects that are community-driven, have immediate and visible impact, and improve basic economic or social conditions at the community level. Projects should be feasible to complete within a short timeframe and still remain valuable over time.
4) What are the priority objective areas for ASSH projects?
The program prioritizes projects in four main objective areas:
- Economic diversification and opportunity creation (including sustainable revenue generation and local jobs beyond project members; entrepreneurship; women-led businesses; innovations that can be replicated; diversified agriculture using locally available natural resources)
- Social inclusion and basic services (improving conditions for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly, and female heads of household; practical access to essentials like water and sanitation)
- Youth and child development (expanding youth opportunities through employment pathways and/or strengthening access to and quality of early childhood and primary education)
- Environment and community-based natural resource management (building community ownership of natural resources, conserving ecosystems, strengthening resilience, and improving capacity to adapt to environmental and climate-related changes)
5) How much funding can an applicant request?
The U.S. funding request cannot exceed USD 7,000. The budget must be clear and well-defined.
6) Is ASSH funding one-time or renewable?
ASSH funding is provided as a one-time, fixed contribution rather than ongoing support.
7) How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates an expectation of around 10 awards.
8) What is the expected project duration?
Projects should be structured to finish within 6 to 12 months.
9) What are the core requirements for a project to be considered eligible and competitive?
To be considered eligible and competitive, projects must:
- Address a real community-level need and improve basic economic or social conditions in a way that remains valuable over time
- Show high impact relative to cost (a strong beneficiary-to-budget ratio and clear benefits to a significant portion of the community)
- Be initiated by the community and demonstrate strong local participation (not just top-down implementation)
- Be realistic and feasible within the community's socioeconomic context
- Be completable within 6 to 12 months
- Be self-sustaining after completion, with a plan for ongoing operation and maintenance
- Demonstrate the community can manage the results (for example, through experience with prior successful local projects)
- Demonstrate financial responsibility (including having a bank account in the organization's name)
- Show strong coordination with local leaders and local government representatives
- Have an organized and motivated implementing group, with a project manager who is a capable long-term resident of the community
10) Is cost-sharing required? If so, how much?
Yes. The community must contribute at least 10 percent of the total project cost. This contribution can be cash or in-kind support.
11) What counts as in-kind cost-sharing?
Examples of acceptable in-kind contributions include volunteer labor and time, donated land, locally provided materials, transportation, and accommodation or food for volunteer workers, as well as similar tangible support.
12) What is ASSH funding intended to pay for?
Funding is intended for permanent items or narrowly necessary technical assistance that is directly tied to completing the project. It is not intended for recurring expenses.
13) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to non-governmental, not-for-profit organizations that are legally registered in Nigeria at either the federal or state level and that work directly with communities.
14) Are local grassroots groups preferred?
Yes. The Embassy strongly prefers established local grassroots groups that are based in the same communities where the projects will be implemented.
15) Can individuals apply?
No. Individual applicants are not eligible.
16) Can for-profit companies or commercial businesses apply?
No. For-profit entities, commercial businesses, and private businesses are not eligible for support under this program.
17) Can an organization that previously received ASSH funding apply again this year?
No. Organizations that previously received funding through the Ambassador's Special Self-Help program are not eligible for this round.
18) Does the applicant organization need a bank account?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility, including having a bank account in the organization's name.
19) What expectations exist for community involvement and leadership?
Projects must be initiated by the community and show strong local participation. The Embassy also expects strong coordination with local leaders and local government representatives.
20) Does the project manager have to be from the community?
The notice states the project manager should be a capable long-term resident of the community.
21) What types of activities are explicitly ineligible for ASSH funding?
The notice lists multiple ineligible activities, including:
- Partisan political work or fundraising
- Personal expenses
- Support to private businesses
- Surveillance equipment
- Ongoing or duplicative technical assistance programs
- Projects providing personal or political benefit to U.S. Government employees or their immediate family members
- Charitable donation-style activities
- Religious activities
- Military activities
- Activities tied to police, prisons, or other law enforcement
- Purely cultural projects
- Large-scale agriculture or major construction
- Scientific research
- Costs associated with the project manager
- Organizational growth or institutional development items (such as vehicles and office equipment/supplies)
- Alcohol, medicine, school uniforms, school fees
- Facilities that significantly serve U.S. employees or dependents
- Abortion-related facilities/services
- Toxic or unsafe products (including certain hazardous chemicals)
- Salaries for the applicant's staff or contractors
- Consumables such as food parcels, refreshments, or medicines
- Training, travel, seed capital/loans
- Previously owned equipment
- Luxury goods
- Gambling equipment
- Renovations of facilities that fell into disrepair due to neglect or lack of funds
22) Can ASSH funds be used to pay salaries, wages, or contractor fees?
No. Salaries for the applicant's staff or contractors are not allowed.
23) Can ASSH funds be used for consumables like food, refreshments, or medicines?
No. The program will not buy consumables such as food parcels, refreshments, or medicines.
24) Can ASSH funds be used for training or travel?
No. The notice states that the program does not support training or travel.
25) Can ASSH funds be used for loans, seed capital, or financing for individuals or groups?
No. The notice states the program does not support seed capital/loans.
26) Are vehicles and office equipment allowed under ASSH?
No. The program will not pay for organizational growth or institutional development items like vehicles and office equipment/supplies.
27) Can ASSH support major construction or large-scale agriculture?
No. The notice excludes major construction and large-scale agriculture.
28) Can ASSH be used to renovate a facility that deteriorated due to neglect or lack of funds?
No. The program will not fund renovations of facilities that fell into disrepair due to neglect or lack of funds.
29) Can a project be partially funded by another donor or the Government of Nigeria?
No. Projects cannot be partially funded by another donor or the Government of Nigeria, and ASSH funds may not be commingled with other donor or other U.S. government funding streams.
30) What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The funding opportunity title is "2024 Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program." The funding opportunity number is NGA POLECON GR 24 001 02282024.
31) What is the program category/instrument mentioned in the notice?
The notice describes the opportunity as an earmark and indicates it uses a grant instrument under community development (CFDA 19.220).
32) What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed is May 31, 2024.
33) Where can applicants find the full application instructions?
The text provided notes that application instructions are not fully included and must be followed from the full Notice of Funding Opportunity referenced by the Embassy.
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