Opportunity Information: Apply for NIGER SSH FY2021
The Ambassadors Special Self-Help Fund (Funding Opportunity Number NIGER-SSH-FY2021, Assistance Listing 19.220) is a U.S. Department of State program run through the U.S. Embassy in Niamey that provides small, short-term grants to support community-level socio-economic development projects across Niger. The program is designed as a rapid, grassroots mechanism that responds to locally identified needs and backs practical projects that improve everyday living conditions. A core idea behind the fund is self-reliance: projects must be initiated and managed locally and should leave behind lasting value so communities can maintain the results and replicate similar efforts in the future without depending on continued outside support. Proposals can target any of Niger’s eight regions.
The opportunity focuses on basic economic and social improvements, reflecting Niger’s development challenges, including persistent extreme poverty and heavy reliance on subsistence agriculture alongside very rapid population growth. Projects are expected to produce clear, tangible benefits at the village or local community level. Examples of eligible project areas include strengthening education through classroom or library construction, student materials, or school latrines; improving health services through community health center construction or essential medical equipment; expanding access to safe water and sanitation via wells, boreholes, or latrines; and creating youth employment opportunities through income-generating activities, vocational training, or building simple workshops for skills development. The fund also supports women’s and girls’ economic empowerment (for example, grain mills or oil extraction machines), initiatives that reduce the gender gap in education (such as girls’ education support or literacy classes), household food security projects (like community gardens, livestock breeding, or crop storage), livelihood and income growth efforts for farmers, inclusion projects benefiting people with disabilities, and environmental protection activities such as improved cookstoves, land restoration, natural fertilizer production, or recycling.
Grant size is intentionally modest. Awards typically range from USD 3,000 to USD 10,000, with an anticipated 5 to 10 awards depending on available funding. The performance period is expected to fall between 3 and 12 months, and proposed projects must be completed within 12 months or less. Funding is provided as a grant under FY2021 Economic Support Funds, and the program start is subject to the availability of funds.
Eligibility is centered on locally grounded, community-serving organizations. Applicants must be registered non-profit organizations, including community-based groups and NGOs that work directly with communities, and they must be able to show adequate internal controls and financial systems. Proposals should come from organized groups that are motivated, have identified a real community need, and have already demonstrated success implementing projects in the community. Only one proposal per organization is allowed. Entities listed on the Excluded Parties List System in SAM are not eligible. While a UEI and SAM.gov registration are encouraged (and SAM registration must be renewed annually), the notice emphasizes readiness to manage funds responsibly and deliver results.
A major requirement is meaningful community participation and cost-sharing. Projects must be community-based, initiated and administered locally, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor, or materials. The local contribution must be at least 10 percent of the total project cost, provided in cash or in-kind (for example, labor, sand, gravel, bricks, seeds, land, buildings, or other inputs). Community leadership buy-in is also required: at least one community leader (such as a municipal, religious, tribal, clan, or other governing authority with oversight in the project area) must sign a statement of interest, and additional signatures and letters of support are strongly encouraged. Applicants are expected to collaborate with local authorities and community leaders to confirm the need and plan the activities.
The grant has clear spending restrictions that shape what a competitive proposal looks like. The program may only pay for items and technical assistance that are absolutely necessary to complete the project. It cannot be used for administrative costs and salaries, vehicles or office equipment, office supplies like paper and folders, scholarships or honorariums, personal businesses, or projects that are purely police, military, or cultural in nature. Religious projects are generally excluded unless they clearly serve the entire community without regard to religious affiliation. The fund also does not support projects focused on refugees or displaced persons.
Applications were due May 31, 2022, and had to be submitted by email to Niameygrants@state.gov. The notice was also posted on the U.S. Embassy Niamey website and Grants.gov, and required forms could be requested by email. The application package must include a completed SSH proposal template, a detailed line-item budget spreadsheet in Excel, and a separate budget justification narrative in Word explaining each expense. Applicants must also submit the required federal forms from the SF-424 family (SF-424 plus the appropriate budget and assurances forms depending on whether the project is construction or non-construction). Submissions must be in English (with an optional French version attached to support the English narrative), budgets must be in U.S. dollars, and documents must follow specific formatting rules (single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, one-inch margins). Required attachments include one-page CVs for key personnel, partner support letters if available, any necessary official permissions, the organization’s registration certificate, and a letter of approval from the relevant local authority or council. Incomplete applications or those that do not follow the required format are not considered.
Proposals are scored on a 100-point scale by the Embassy’s Grants Committee, with emphasis on whether the project is well explained, feasible, and clearly tied to a real community need (25 points), as well as sustainability (20 points) and monitoring and evaluation (15 points). Additional criteria include organizational capacity and prior experience (10 points), the number of beneficiaries and the ability to quantify them (10 points), planning and timeline realism (10 points), and whether the budget is complete and reasonable (10 points). Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for clarifications or additional information. If selected, the award is issued and managed by a Grants Officer, and recipients may only begin spending on or after the official start date on the signed award document. Recipients must submit both program and financial reports at intervals specified in the award terms, and the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and is not obligated to provide future or additional funding beyond the awarded amount.Apply for NIGER SSH FY2021
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Niger in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ambassadors' Special Self Help Fund" 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 Apr 19, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2022. (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 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Next opportunity: Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
Previous opportunity: California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover Nest Monitoring
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for NIGER SSH FY2021
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (NIGER SSH FY2021) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| U.S. Embassy Baku PAS Annual Program Statement Apply for DOS AZE PD 22 02 Funding Number: DOS AZE PD 22 02 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Azerbaijan Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund (FTIF) Apply for NG FTIF 2022 Funding Number: NG FTIF 2022 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Niger Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $210,000 |
| Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils (CJCCs) Resources Project Apply for 22CS24 Funding Number: 22CS24 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| DRL Advancing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) Apply for SFOP0008904 Funding Number: SFOP0008904 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Small Grants for Media Programs Apply for DOS KAZ NS AEECA 22 005 Funding Number: DOS KAZ NS AEECA 22 005 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Brussels PAS Annual Program Statement (APS) Apply for PAS BE200 FY22 02 Funding Number: PAS BE200 FY22 02 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Belgium Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| U.S. Embassy Brussels PAS Annual Program Statement (APS) Apply for PAS BE200 FY22 01 Funding Number: PAS BE200 FY22 01 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Belgium Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| SRP Statement of Interest NOFO Apply for SRP SSY FY2022 Funding Number: SRP SSY FY2022 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Turkey Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Afghan Women Economic Empowerment Through Leveraging the Private Sector Apply for SFOP0008919 Funding Number: SFOP0008919 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,481,481 |
| Transforming the International Humanitarian Data Ecosystem Apply for 720BHA22APS00001 Funding Number: 720BHA22APS00001 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Formula Grant Administrative and Legal Requirements (ALRD) Announcement No. DE – FOA-0002736 Apply for DE FOA 0002764 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002764 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DRL FY21 IRF Promoting Interfaith Respect and Social Inclusion in Bulgaria and Romania Apply for SFOP0008788 Funding Number: SFOP0008788 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $987,654 |
| TEC Inc Pre-Award Notice - PLSO Apply for PLSO00001 Funding Number: PLSO00001 Agency: Agency for International Development, Ethiopia USAID-Addis Ababa Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $1,665,269 |
| Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Apply for AF RW600 FY22 002 Funding Number: AF RW600 FY22 002 Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Rwanda Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $41,000 |
| Tax Counseling for the Elderly Apply for TCE 2023 Funding Number: TCE 2023 Agency: US Department of the Treasury, Tax Counseling for the Elderly Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Apply for VITA 2023 001 Funding Number: VITA 2023 001 Agency: US Department of the Treasury, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA) - Region 9 Apply for DHS 22 MT 082 09 01 Funding Number: DHS 22 MT 082 09 01 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $765,352 |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA) - Region 10 Apply for DHS 22 MT 082 10 01 Funding Number: DHS 22 MT 082 10 01 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $178,528 |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance Apply for DHS 22 MT 082 00 01 Funding Number: DHS 22 MT 082 00 01 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Individual State Earthquake Assistance (ISEA) - Region 7 Apply for DHS 22 MT 082 07 01 Funding Number: DHS 22 MT 082 07 01 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security - FEMA Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification) Funding Amount: $66,024 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "NIGER SSH FY2021", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.