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Funding Opportunity Title: Ambassadors' Special Self-Help Fund Funding Opportunity Number: NIGER-SSH-FY2022 Deadline for Applications: April 30, 2023 Assistance Listing Number: 19.220 A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy Niamey / Bureau of African affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help (SSH) to carry out a program to support the Socio-Economic development of communities in Niger. The Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help (SSH) program is a grass-roots assistance program that allows U.S. embassies to respond quickly to local requests for small community-based development projects. Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. The Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region: Applicants can submit project proposals to be implemented in any area of the eight regions of Niger. Program Objectives: The Self-Help fund provides small, short-term grants to community groups that are working to improve the basic economic and social conditions of their communities. In other words, the fund provides groups with resources to implement projects that improve living and social conditions in their communities. Specific results could include, but not limited to the following: • Improved educational facilities (Example: Classroom construction, Library construction, Acquisition of student materials, Construction of latrines at school) • Improved health facilities (Example: improvement of community health centers, provision of medical equipment to community health centers) • Improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities (Example: well or borehole construction, latrine construction) • Youth employment opportunities (Example: Income generating activities, vocational training, Construction of a workshop for vocational skills learning) • Social and economic empowerment of women and girls (Example: Provisions of grain mills in rural communities, provision of oil extraction machines, other income generating activities) • Reduction in gender gap for education benefits (Example: girls’ education, literacy classes) • Increased households food security (Example: community garden, livestock breeding, crops storage) • Increased household income (Example: Livelihood Development, improving farmers’ productivity and profitability) • More opportunities for people living with disabilities (Example: craftmanship skill, special education, creation of job opportunity) • Reduction in environment degradation (Examples: Provision of environmentally friendly cooking stoves, Climate Smart Agriculture, land restoration, production of natural fertilizers, recycling) The Self Help Program may only pay for items and technical assistance that are absolutely necessary for the completion of the project. The Self Help Program cannot be used: - for administrative costs and salaries. - to buy equipment like vehicles and office equipment. - Activities with a purely police, military, or cultural emphasis. - Religious projects unless they genuinely assist the whole community without regard to religious affiliation. - Personal businesses. - Scholarships, donations, or honorariums. - Office supplies such as pencils, paper, forms, and folders. - For projects that focus on refugees or displaced persons. - to fund project with any affiliation to Human Rights activities Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award. Participants and Audiences: Community members/groups with a real need should benefit from SSH project activities. Organizations that want to submit a proposal must collaborate with local authorities and community leaders to assess the need and plan for activities. B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: Proposed programs should be completed in 03 to 12 months. Number of awards anticipated: 5 to 10 awards (dependent on amounts) Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $3,000 to a maximum of $10,000. Type of Funding: FY2021 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act Anticipated program start date: July 2022 This notice is subject to availability of funding.

The U.S. Embassy Niamey Public Diplomacy Section (PDS Niamey) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This is an Annual Program Statement, outlining our funding priorities, the strategic themes we focus on, and the procedures for submitting requests for funding. Please carefully follow all instructions below. Purpose of Small Grants: PDS Niamey invites individuals or organizations interested in submitting a proposal to use the award as seed money to generate buy-in from other stakeholders. We will be looking for partnerships and cost-sharing with host country civil society organizations and the business community that can extend the impact of your proposals. Competitive proposals will also address the issue of sustainability — explaining how the project or program will continue beyond the initial support from the U.S. government. All programs must include an American cultural element, or connection with American expert(s), organization(s), or institution(s) in a specific field that will promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives.

As a result of continuous deterioration of security in its borders, Niger has been accumulating situations of forced displacement (out and in) since 2012, including waves from Burkina Faso, Mali and northwestern Nigeria. Based on its mandate, UNHCR, in coordination with the Government as well as key humanitarian and development actors, are working to provide protection and seek solutions for the benefit of refugees, Internally Displaced peoples (IDPs), returnees, persons at risk of statelessness and host communities. In the September 2022 operational update, the UNHCR reported that “Niger is currently hosting 251.081refugees and asylum seekers, with 63% coming from Nigeria, 22% from Mali, 7% from Burkina Faso, and 8% from other countries (Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad, etc.). Furthermore, there are more than 376,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Nigerien returnees (long-time residents in Nigeria, who were forced to flee alongside refugees). UNHCR’s work in Niger focuses on the protection, assistance, and solutions for persons of concern, with particular attention to women, children and persons with specific needs guided by a community-based approach.” [1] As of December 8th, no more than 69% from the $130.7 million financial requirement of the UNHCR 2022 operation were funded[2]. Therefore, a large gap had remained infilled. Challenges were considerable, and refugees’ needs could not be entirely met in some areas. Have you identified a gap in humanitarian assistance in an area in Niger? The Julia Taft Fund is here to support local or national NGOs fill those gaps, and thereby build capacity in refugees assistance. The U.S. Embassy Niamey announces an open competition for local/national organizations to submit applications to carry out projects that seek to provide assistance to vulnerable refugee and returnee’ families in Niger. Please carefully read all instructions below for details. [1] https://reporting.unhcr.org/document/3575 [2] https://reporting.unhcr.org/niger-funding-2022

The U.S. Embassy Niamey Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out training for community radio technicians in Niger. This program aimed at reinforcing capacity and skills of community radio in the era of new technology in broadcasting rooms and studios.

The Public Diplomacy Section of U.S. Embassy Niamey of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to develop and implement a nationwide program to support women entrepreneurs. This program will be designed to support women-owned businesses which often struggle to get access to capital, markets, and products and generally lack business training. The program will provide training and mentorship to women business owners from all eight regions of Niger and will also include a local shark tank followed by a nationwide shark tank event where finalists from will pitch their business to the public and on television. The top two or three from each training site will compete in a nationwide event in Niamey. Please follow all instructions below. This notice is subject to availability of funding.

Ambassadors' Special Self Help FundU.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE U.S EMBASSY, NIAMEY Notice of Funding OpportunityFunding Opportunity Title: Ambassadors' Special Self Help Fund Funding Opportunity Number: NIGER-SSH-FY2021Deadline for Applications: May 31, 2022Assistance Listing Number: 19.220A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe U.S. Embassy Niamey / Bureau of African affairs of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications for the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) to carry out a program to support the Socio-Economic development of communities in Niger. The Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help (SSH) program is a grass-roots assistance program that allows U.S. embassies to respond quickly to local requests for small community-based development projects. Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. The Special Self-Help program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Please follow all instructions below. Priority Region:Applicants can submit project proposals to be implemented in any area of the eight regions of Niger Program Objectives: Despite significant strides made by Niger over the past decade, the country’s extreme poverty rate remained high at 42.9% in 2020, affecting more than 10 million people. Niger’s economy depends primarily on subsistence agriculture, and hence faces with multiple development issues. The most crucial is a rapid population growth (a fertility rate of over seven live births per woman) contrasted with low economic growth. Consequently, population growth outpaces the government’s ability to offer sustained basic services. In such situations, community members often organize themselves for community development and improvement. The Self-Help fund provides small, short-term grants to community groups that are working to improve the basic economic and social conditions of their communities. In other words, the fund provides groups with resources to implement projects that improve living and social conditions in their communities. The Niger 2022 Ambassadors’ Special Self-Help (SSH) program aims at improving basic economic or social conditions at the local community or village level. Specific results could include the following:• Improved educational facilities (Example: Classroom construction, Library construction, Acquisition of student materials, Construction of latrines at school)Ambassadors' Special Self Help Fund• Improved health facilities (Example: Construction of community health centers, provision of medical equipment to community health centers) • Improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities (Example: well or borehole construction, latrine construction) • Youth employment opportunities (Example: Income generating activities, vocational training, Construction of a workshop for vocational skills learning) • Social and economic empowerment of women and girls (Example: Provisions of grain mills in rural communities, provision of oil extraction machines, other income generating activities) • Reduction in gender gap for education benefits (Example: girls’ education, literacy classes) • Increased household food security (Example: community garden, livestock breeding, crops storage) • Increased household income (Example: Livelihood Development, improving farmers’ productivity and profitability) • More opportunities for people living with disabilities (Example: craftmanship skill, special education, creation of job opportunity) • Reduction in environment degradation (Examples: Provision of environmentally friendly cooking stoves, land restoration, production of natural fertilizers, recycling) The Self Help Program may only pay for items and technical assistance that are absolutely necessary for the completion of the project.The Self Help Program cannot be used: - for administrative costs and salaries. - to buy equipment like vehicles and office equipment. - Activities with a purely police, military, or cultural emphasis. - Religious projects unless they genuinely assist the whole community without regard to religious affiliation. - Personal businesses. - Scholarships, donations, or honorariums. - Office supplies such as pencils, paper, forms, and folders. - For projects that focus on refugees or displaced persons. To be eligible for funding the project must meet the following criteria: - The project should help improve basic economic or social conditions at the local community level, and have long-term value. - The project should be high impact, benefiting the greatest number of people possible. - Substantial community participation in the activity is required. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money that is given to ensure the success of the project. Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. Any applicant listed on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) in the System for Award Management (SAM) is not eligible to apply for an assistance award. Participants and Audiences: Community members/groups with a real need should benefit from SSH project activities. Organizations that want to submit a proposal must collaborate with local authorities and community leaders to assess the need and plan for activities.B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATIONLength of performance period: 03 to 12 monthsNumber of awards anticipated: 5 to 10 awards (dependent on amounts)Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $3000 to a maximum of $10000Type of Funding: FY2021 Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance ActAnticipated program start date:This notice is subject to availability of funding.Funding Instrument Type: GRANT Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 12 months or less.C. ELIGILIBITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants An SSH project must be submitted by an organized group that is motivated, has identified a real need, and has already successfully implemented projects in the community. The project should be feasible and based on the socio-economic context of the local community. All applicants must be registered Non-Profit Organizations. We welcome proposals from Community and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work directly with communities. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial systems in place.2. Local Community InvolvementAll Special Self-Help projects are community-based, initiated locally, administered at the local level, and include significant community contributions in cash, labor or materials. Substantial community participation in the activity is required. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money to ensure the success of the project. Local involvement of the organization or group must be at least 10% in cash or in kind of the total project costs. The personal contribution of funding may be crucial to make a choice between two viable requestors.Additionally, community leaders must also sign the statement of interest. Community leaders include local municipal leaders, religious leaders, tribal or clan leaders, or any governing body that has oversight over where the project will be implemented. At least one community leader must sign the statement of interest, however, multiple signatures are strongly encouraged. Community leaders may also submit letters of support for the project, so long as they specifically mention the project by title. 3. Other Eligibility Requirements Organizations are encouraged to have a unique entity identifier (UEI), as well as a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please go to SAM.gov to register your organization. SAM registration must be renewed annually.D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package This Notice of Funding Opportunity will be posted on the US Embassy, Niamey website: https://ne.usembassy.gov/embassy/embassy-solicitations/, and on grants.gov. Application forms required to submit a proposal are available upon request at Niameygrants@state.gov 2. Content and Form of Application Submission Please follow all instructions below carefully. Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Content of Application Please ensure:• Completed SSH Proposal Template• Completed Budget package:- Budget spreadsheet: detailed line-item budget (in Excel) - Budget Justification Narrative: use a separate sheet of paper (Word) to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. • Mandatory application forms to be downloaded at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html - SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) - SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) or SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Programs) - SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) or SF-424D (Assurances - Construction Programs) (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov)Format • All documents are in English (a French version of the proposal template could be joint to support the English version) • All budgets are in U.S. dollars • All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. 3. Attachments: • 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program• Letters of support from program partners (if available) describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner • Official permission letters (if required for program activities) • A copy of the organization’s registration certificate. • A letter of approval for proposed project from the local authority, and/or local town or district council.Note: Applications that do not follow this format or are incomplete will not be considered. 4. Other Submission Requirements All application materials must be submitted by email to Niameygrants@state.govE. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION1. Criteria Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below. The total possible score is 100 points. Quality and Feasibility of the Program Idea – 25 points (Is the project idea communicated well and feasible? Does the project adequately fulfill a stated need within a community? Does the project show strong community support? Does the project benefit the broadest numbers of beneficiaries possible? Is there a substantial impact on the affected community?) Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants – 10 points (Is the organization well-known by the public? has the organization carried out similar activities in the targeted area?) Number of Beneficiaries – 10 points (The project needs to be able to quantify and report on the number of beneficiaries served with the funding received. Is the beneficiary number significant in relation to the proposed project activities and funding?) Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 10 points (Are the project objectives clearly stated? Does the proposal include a reasonable implementation timeline?) Budget (spreadsheet and narrative)– 10 points (Is the budget complete, and well defined? Is the budget reasonable?) Monitoring and evaluation plan – 15 points (has the organization set a well-defined M&E mechanism?) Sustainability – 20 points (Is the project sustainable in the long term? Will the project be able to continue without additional investment? Are the suggested measurements of success adequate?) 2. Review and Selection Process The U.S. Embassy’s Grants Committee will review all submissions and short-listed candidates will be contacted with requests for additional information and may be asked to submit additional information. F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Federal Award Notices The grant award agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document, and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email.The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State. Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.2. Reporting Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports. The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.

Background: In 2021, Niger scored 31 on the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 124 out of 180 countries, and according to the World Bank, Niger’s performance in terms of transparency and accountability is low. Even though Niger’s Cour des Comptes – the national board of auditors and the highest jurisdiction for auditing public finances- does release the results of its national budget audit, pointing out significantly questionable spending, little media attention is drawn to these matters. Print, television, and online media rarely investigate cases of corruption, and normally report only information released by the government. The fight against corruption is an ongoing battle that requires the contribution of all actors, among whom the media is prominent. This year, the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund (FTIF) will support programs that aim to create a self-sustaining journalistic ecosystem which can investigate and report on corruption independent of official government statements and create evidentiary reporting that the government must respond to. Niger’s only journalism academy, the Technical Training Institute for Information and Communication (IFTIC in French), does not have a concentration in investigative journalism. The lack of properly trained and motivated investigative journalists in Niger offers buoyancy to this system of impunity as it lessens public pressure to hold the government accountable to investigate and prosecute corruption. If the pool of properly trained investigative journalists expanded and included regular reporting on fiscal malfeasance, then the government would be forced to investigate and prosecute corrupt actors because of greater public knowledge of corrupt acts revealed through the media more readily. Goal: Decrease the level of corruption, fiscal malfeasance, and budget irregularities in Niger Project Objectives: The Government of Niger enhances fiscal transparency measures and more readily investigates and prosecutes corruption as a result of an increase in investigative media reporting into corruption and fiscal malfeasance. Outcomes: The pool of trained investigative journalists in Niger capable of reporting on corruption and fiscal malfeasance is considerably expanded Media reporting by Nigerien journalists on corruption, fiscal malfeasance, and budget irregularities is noticeably increased. The Government of Niger enacts necessary fiscal transparency measures as a result of investigative journalists reporting. The Nigerien public has a greater understanding of the “watchdog” role of the media regarding corruption and fiscal transparency and can use this information to pressure the Government of Niger for effective prosecutions against known corruption cases. Nigerien investigative journalists have enhanced communications with West African and international investigative journalist groups to coordinate on investigations, reporting, and best practices. Nigerien investigative journalists are better organized through a formal self-sustainable structure, capable of creating broader outreach to Nigerien media at large, civil society, educational institutions, and government officials. Nigerien investigative journalists also have a centralized online platform for support and technical collaboration to distribute published materials for citizen and international consumption. Activities: The Project core activity is to: Recruit and train about 50 journalists on investigative best practices and journalistic ethics in Niger’s four largest cities: Niamey, Zinder, Maradi, and Agadez. Journalists selected in other locations will participate in the trainings at the nearest training location. If feasible, the project should reach journalists from all regions of Niger. The training may be carried out in conjunction with an internationally based investigative journalist organization. The aim of the training is to equip journalists for better production of press articles that could serve as a credible basis for the Niger official anti-corruption body: the Haute Autorité de Lutte contre la Corruption et les Infractions Assimilées (HALCIA) to carry out investigations The following elements should be considered in carrying out the training: · Training sessions will be conducted in each location of these four Niamey, Zinder, Maradi, and Agadez, at intervals throughout the 12-month implementation period, with a combination of representatives of West African and international investigative journalist organizations. · Training will be specific to best practices to investigate government financial corruption, private sector financial corruption, fiscal forensic practices, ethics in reporting on government officials and private citizens, judicial practices on investigating and prosecuting corruption, and adherence to Niger’s privacy and defamation laws. · Training will be in consultation with the Nigerien High Authority for the Prevention of Corruption (HALCIA) and the National Court of Auditors (Cour des Comptes) to understand legal regulations and government procedures. · The program implementers will work with the participants and trainers to formalize and register the network of Nigerien investigative journalists in order to provide a platform for support and technical collaboration for the investigative journalists in Niger. This network will be a sustainable resource maintained by members to run training and workshops for future iterations following the completion of the FTIF program. The network will maintain a website to post investigatory pieces and content for the benefit of the public. · Throughout the project, implementing partners will work to ensure appropriate gender and ethnic representation. Participants and Audiences: About fifty (50) journalists will be engaged in the project’s trainings. Some of the project’s activities will involve collaboration with the HALCIA, la Cour des Comptes, and some CSOs performing in the field of fiscal transparency and combatting corruption.