Embassy Cotonou's Small-Grants Program | 2017001

Opportunity Information: Apply for 2017001

Embassy Cotonou's Small-Grants Program (ECSG) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Mission to Benin. It is designed for community-based organizations in Benin that want to carry out practical, locally driven projects with clear benefits for their communities. The core idea behind the program is to help Beninese groups launch or expand projects that are meant to last beyond the grant period, with an emphasis on self-sustaining results and meaningful community impact in areas tied to health, social needs, and broader development challenges.

The competition described in this notice opened in late July 2017 and accepted applications through August 31, 2017, with awards dependent on the availability of funds. The Embassy typically funds a small number of projects each year, generally around six to ten, and the grants are usually modest in size. While many awards are commonly under $5,000, the listing notes an award ceiling of up to $10,000, suggesting that stronger proposals or higher-need projects may be considered for larger amounts within that cap. The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 19.700 and uses the standard grant funding instrument.

The types of activities supported reflect common community development priorities in Benin and similar contexts. Past or illustrative projects include agricultural modernization efforts, local economic development initiatives, programs aimed at reducing early marriage and gender-based violence, sanitation improvements, women’s empowerment activities, improvements to learning environments, and projects that expand access to clean water, health services, and education. In practice, this means proposals can be competitive if they address a clearly defined community problem, present a realistic plan to solve or reduce it, and show how the project will keep delivering benefits after the grant ends.

A major eligibility and selection theme in the notice is community ownership. To qualify, projects must include significant contributions from the community itself, which can be cash, donated materials, and/or volunteer labor. This requirement signals that ECSG is not meant to fully fund projects from start to finish; instead, it is meant to catalyze efforts that communities are already invested in and willing to support. Applicants also need to show they can manage the project independently, including basic implementation and oversight, and that they can complete the work within a 12-month period. That timeline implies the Embassy is looking for focused, achievable projects rather than multi-year programs or highly complex interventions.

The eligible applicant category is geared toward nonprofit and community organizations that do not hold U.S. 501(c)(3) status (with language also referencing entities other than institutions of higher education). In other words, this opportunity is oriented toward local Beninese civil society and community groups rather than U.S.-registered charities. Applicants were directed to consult detailed guidelines and application instructions on the Embassy website and could also contact the Embassy's Small-Grants Team directly by email at CotonouGrants@state.gov for questions or clarification.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Benin in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Embassy Cotonou's Small-Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.700.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 28, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2017. (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 $10,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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