Special Self-Help Program for small, community-based development projects in Gabon. | LIBREVILLE SSH01 2024

Opportunity Information: Apply for LIBREVILLE SSH01 2024

The Special Self-Help Program for small, community-based development projects in Gabon is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Embassy in Libreville (U.S. Department of State) to fund modest, practical projects that make a clear, positive difference in Gabonese communities. The overall idea is to provide one-time, small-scale support that helps communities solve local problems themselves rather than creating long-term dependency. The program focuses on community development outcomes that improve everyday living conditions at the village or neighborhood level, with an emphasis on projects that are achievable, locally managed, and capable of continuing after the grant ends.

A central requirement is that each project must strengthen community self-reliance. Applications need to show genuine community participation and meaningful local contributions, such as volunteer labor, donated land, locally provided materials, equipment, or other in-kind support. The U.S. contribution is intended to be a one-time investment, so proposals should not be built around recurring costs that would require continued external funding. The Embassy is looking for projects with broad reach and visible impact, meaning activities should benefit as many people as possible; proposals that mainly help a small, limited group are discouraged.

Projects must address basic economic or social conditions, which can include practical improvements tied to community development, education, employment and workforce training, environmental initiatives, health, housing, transportation, or other forms of local or regional development. Sustainability is another key standard: proposals should explain how the project will remain viable after completion, including how ongoing needs will be covered (for example, if a classroom is built or rehabilitated, the community should demonstrate that staffing such as teachers and basic operations are realistically supported). Projects also need to respect environmental norms appropriate for small-scale construction or community activities, and they must be within the community’s ability to implement. Overly complex projects, or projects that require specialized capacity that the community does not have, are expected to be avoided.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations and entities: nonprofit organizations (including civil society and NGOs, with or without U.S. 501(c)(3) status), public and private educational institutions (including institutions of higher education), and individuals who are coordinating projects that benefit a large share of the community. A practical limitation noted in the opportunity is that individuals cannot use the funds for direct personal benefit; projects must be community-serving in nature. The funding opportunity is listed under CFDA number 19.220 and is administered by the U.S. Mission to Gabon.

In terms of funding scale and timeline, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number LIBREVILLE SSH01 2024) has an award ceiling of $15,000 per grant and anticipates making about four awards. The original closing date for applications is August 1, 2024, with the opportunity having been posted on June 18, 2024. Overall, the Embassy is seeking proposals for small, high-impact community projects that are locally driven, environmentally responsible, feasible to deliver, and likely to continue providing benefits after the one-time grant support is complete.

• The U.S. Mission to Gabon in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, environment, health, housing, regional development, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Special Self-Help Program for small, community-based development projects in Gabon." 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 2024-06-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-01. (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: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, Others.

Apply for LIBREVILLE SSH01 2024

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: