U.S. Embassy in Liberia is now accepting applications for the 2021 cycle of Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program.

The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund allows the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from communities for small-scale, community-based development projects that promise to have immediate impact.

The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (SSH) assists community groups in Liberia to develop lasting, self-sustaining projects that benefit entire communities.  Since 2004, SSH grants have contributed to agricultural modernization, economic development, improving sanitation, empowering vulnerable populations (women, youth, and persons with disabilities), improving learning conditions, and expanding access to clean water, health services, and education.

Goal: The goal of this program is to encourage community involvement and the use of local resources and expertise to improve the basic economic and social conditions at the local community level.

Concept: The concept of self-help is one in which the people achieve a development goal using their own available resources, with material assistance as necessary, from the Self-Help Fund.

Funding Information

• Floor of Individual award: $1,000
• Ceiling of Individual award: $10,000
• The average range for grant awards is from $5000.

Activities: The program will continue to support construction projects, short term skills development initiatives, provision of school furniture and textbooks, as well as supporting income generation activities like producing vegetables, cassava, pineapple, peanuts, and plantains, animal husbandry and fishponds. Other income generation activities include provision of small-scale agricultural machines, farming tools and seeds. The program also supports health and sanitation activities including construction of hand pumps and clinics and well as maintaining clean environment.

Evaluation Criteria

• Sustainability: The organization demonstrates a clear plan for sustainable activity or impact of the activity after the grant period of performance
• Beneficiary contribution: Beneficiary contribution is very important to the program as the name “Self Help” suggests and beneficiaries are expected to contribute significantly to their project. The contribution may include labor, local materials (sand, wood, rocks and bricks) land, cash, etc.
• Impact: The project benefits the greatest number of people possible or has significant community effect.
• Achievable within SSH program cycle: The application demonstrates the activity can be implemented within twelve months.
• Capacity of Grantee: The grantee has expertise and demonstrates the ability to perform the proposed activities.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy.