Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS ZAMBIA PE 2022 01
The U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help (ASSH) Program is a small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka to support practical, community-driven development projects in Zambia. It is designed as a flexible, grassroots fund that lets the Ambassador respond to direct requests from local communities for activities that can deliver visible, near-term benefits. A core aim is also public awareness: funded projects should help communities see and understand U.S. foreign assistance in action, especially in areas that are not already covered by larger, established U.S. assistance programs. Just as important, the program is meant to reinforce self-reliance, encouraging communities to contribute, take ownership, and be able to carry on similar efforts independently in the future. Because the program typically receives far more applications than it can support, the Embassy emphasizes that well-prepared proposals and realistic budgets are essential to be competitive.
The program focuses on small-scale community development, with example objectives grouped into several broad themes. Under economic diversification and livelihoods, projects may aim to create local income and employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship, improve basic living conditions, and make productive use of local natural resources. This can include purchasing income-generating equipment such as weaving looms, threshing machines, oil presses, or beehives when those items clearly support sustainable community income. Under social services, the program can support projects that assist disadvantaged or at-risk groups, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly, and female-headed households. Social services support can also include construction or improvement of facilities such as health clinics or workshops, as well as water and sanitation initiatives. A third area is youth and child development, which can include efforts to help young people gain skills and tools to live positively, set goals, and improve their health, safety, and security, along with projects that create youth opportunities, including employment. In this category, the program may support construction of schoolrooms or community centers and procurement of school-related equipment, furniture, and books. Finally, community-based natural resource management is an eligible area, including projects that expand community ownership and management of natural resources, promote conservation, and develop sustainable community-based tourism.
Construction can be funded, but it is expected to be modest in scale and clearly oriented toward public benefit, with a stated benchmark of under 10,000 square feet. The opportunity provides a detailed explanation of what it considers "construction activities," which can range from architectural conservation and preservation of historic structures, to modernization and rehabilitation of existing buildings, to new construction. New construction may include erecting a new structure, replacing an existing one on the same site, and also digging new wells or constructing new latrines. The guidance highlights a practical risk that applicants are expected to manage: building material prices can rise between proposal submission and implementation, so budgets need to be carefully built and sufficiently realistic to avoid projects stalling due to cost overruns.
Eligibility is limited to non-profit organizations registered in Zambia at the provincial or national level. The Embassy specifically welcomes applications from community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations that work directly with communities. The funding is offered as a discretionary grant by the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Zambia), listed under CFDA 19.220, with an award ceiling of USD 15,000. The opportunity anticipated making around four awards for the cycle referenced, with the original closing date listed as February 28, 2023.
The program also sets clear boundaries on what it will not fund, largely to avoid political activity, duplication of existing U.S. government efforts, prohibited or high-risk uses, and costs that do not align with a small community project model. Ineligible activities include partisan political projects; surveillance equipment; stand-alone technical assistance programs; projects duplicating other U.S. government programs; and any activity that could personally or politically benefit U.S. government employees or their family members. It also excludes export-oriented agricultural commodity production that could significantly affect competing U.S. exports, as well as any activity linked to worker rights violations. The program does not fund charitable donation-style activities, fundraising campaigns, lobbying, or scientific research, and it will not support projects primarily aimed at growing the applicant organization itself rather than delivering direct community benefit.
Additional exclusions cover a wide range of restricted purchases and sectors: alcohol; medicines; school uniforms, school fees, bursaries, or personal expenses; luxury goods and gambling equipment; and toxic or unsafe products such as certain pesticides or hazardous chemicals. The program generally avoids used equipment due to maintenance and support challenges, preferring new equipment unless it is simple and spare parts are available locally. It also prohibits support for abortion-related facilities and services, and it bars support connected to illegal drug trafficking or entities associated with terrorism under relevant U.S. authorities. Operationally, applicants should note that salaries for the implementing organization staff are not eligible, and the program will not purchase food or food parcels. It also does not support specific religious or military activities, and it excludes police, prisons, and other law enforcement-related projects. Finally, it generally does not support private businesses, private creches, or public/government schools unless the request is channeled through the involvement of a Parent-Teacher Association, reflecting the program's emphasis on community ownership and appropriate local participation.Apply for DOS ZAMBIA PE 2022 01
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Zambia in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. 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 Jun 27, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 2023. (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 $15,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help (ASSH) Program (Zambia)
What is the U.S. Ambassador's Special Self Help (ASSH) Program?
The ASSH Program is a small-grants opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka to support practical, community-driven development projects in Zambia. It is meant to be flexible and grassroots, allowing the Ambassador to respond to direct requests from local communities for activities that deliver visible, near-term benefits.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to fund small-scale community projects that produce clear public benefits in the near term, increase public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance (especially in areas not covered by larger U.S. assistance programs), and reinforce self-reliance by encouraging community contribution, ownership, and the ability to carry on similar efforts independently in the future.
Who can apply for ASSH funding?
Eligibility is limited to non-profit organizations registered in Zambia at the provincial or national level. The Embassy specifically welcomes applications from community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations that work directly with communities.
Is the grant open to for-profit businesses or private enterprises?
No. The program generally does not support private businesses. It also generally does not support private creches.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is USD 15,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipated making around four awards for the referenced cycle.
What is the CFDA number for this grant opportunity?
The grant is listed under CFDA 19.220 as a discretionary grant by the U.S. Department of State (U.S. Mission to Zambia).
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed for the referenced cycle was February 28, 2023.
What types of projects does ASSH fund?
The program supports small-scale community development projects. Example objectives are grouped into broad themes: economic diversification and livelihoods, social services, youth and child development, and community-based natural resource management.
What kinds of projects fit under economic diversification and livelihoods?
Projects may aim to create local income and employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship, improve basic living conditions, and make productive use of local natural resources. The program can include purchasing income-generating equipment (for example weaving looms, threshing machines, oil presses, or beehives) when the items clearly support sustainable community income.
What kinds of projects fit under social services?
The program can support projects assisting disadvantaged or at-risk groups, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly, and female-headed households. Social services support can also include construction or improvement of facilities such as health clinics or workshops, as well as water and sanitation initiatives.
What kinds of projects fit under youth and child development?
Projects can focus on helping young people gain skills and tools to live positively, set goals, and improve health, safety, and security. This can also include projects that create youth opportunities, including employment. The program may support construction of schoolrooms or community centers and procurement of school-related equipment, furniture, and books.
What kinds of projects fit under community-based natural resource management?
Eligible projects may expand community ownership and management of natural resources, promote conservation, and develop sustainable community-based tourism.
Does ASSH fund construction?
Yes, construction can be funded, but it is expected to be modest in scale and clearly oriented toward public benefit. The guidance provides a benchmark of under 10,000 square feet.
What does the program consider "construction activities"?
The opportunity describes construction activities broadly. They can include architectural conservation and preservation of historic structures, modernization and rehabilitation of existing buildings, and new construction.
What counts as "new construction" under the program?
New construction may include erecting a new structure, replacing an existing structure on the same site, and also digging new wells or constructing new latrines.
What budgeting risks should applicants plan for, especially for construction?
The guidance highlights that building material prices can rise between proposal submission and implementation. Applicants are expected to manage this risk by preparing careful, realistic budgets that help prevent projects from stalling due to cost overruns.
How competitive is ASSH?
The program typically receives far more applications than it can support, so the Embassy emphasizes that well-prepared proposals and realistic budgets are essential to be competitive.
What are examples of activities that are not eligible for funding?
Ineligible activities include partisan political projects; surveillance equipment; stand-alone technical assistance programs; projects duplicating other U.S. government programs; and any activity that could personally or politically benefit U.S. government employees or their family members.
Does ASSH fund projects that duplicate existing U.S. government assistance?
No. Projects that duplicate other U.S. government programs are specifically listed as ineligible.
Can the grant be used for political or lobbying activities?
No. Partisan political projects are ineligible, and the program also excludes lobbying.
Can the program fund fundraising campaigns or donation-style charity projects?
No. The program does not fund charitable donation-style activities or fundraising campaigns.
Does ASSH fund scientific research?
No. Scientific research is listed as an ineligible activity.
Can grant funds pay salaries for the implementing organization staff?
No. Salaries for the implementing organization staff are not eligible.
Can the grant be used to buy food or food parcels?
No. The program will not purchase food or food parcels.
Are alcohol, luxury goods, or gambling equipment allowed purchases?
No. The program excludes alcohol, luxury goods, and gambling equipment.
Can ASSH funds be used to purchase medicines?
No. Medicines are listed among the excluded purchases.
Can the grant pay for school uniforms, school fees, bursaries, or personal expenses?
No. The program excludes school uniforms, school fees, bursaries, and personal expenses.
Does the program allow purchasing pesticides or hazardous chemicals?
No. Toxic or unsafe products such as certain pesticides or hazardous chemicals are excluded.
Can applicants buy used equipment with grant funds?
Generally no. The program generally avoids used equipment because of maintenance and support challenges, preferring new equipment unless it is simple and spare parts are available locally.
Are there restrictions related to abortion?
Yes. The program prohibits support for abortion-related facilities and services.
Are there restrictions related to illegal drug trafficking or terrorism?
Yes. The program bars support connected to illegal drug trafficking or entities associated with terrorism under relevant U.S. authorities.
Does ASSH fund military, police, prisons, or other law enforcement-related projects?
No. The program does not support specific religious or military activities, and it excludes police, prisons, and other law enforcement-related projects.
Does ASSH fund religious activities?
No. The program does not support specific religious activities.
Can public or government schools receive support?
The program generally does not support public/government schools unless the request is channeled through the involvement of a Parent-Teacher Association, reflecting the emphasis on community ownership and local participation.
Are there restrictions on export-oriented agricultural commodity production?
Yes. The program excludes export-oriented agricultural commodity production that could significantly affect competing U.S. exports.
Are there restrictions related to worker rights?
Yes. Any activity linked to worker rights violations is excluded.
Will ASSH fund projects that primarily help the applicant organization grow?
No. The program will not support projects primarily aimed at growing the applicant organization itself rather than delivering direct community benefit.
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