Funding Wizard

The U.S. Embassy Gaborone of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for registered organizations to submit proposals to implement community-initiated development projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF) Small Grants Program. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is a grass-roots assistance program that provides small-scale assistance to communities throughout Botswana as part of an ongoing commitment by the U.S. government to support development activities at the local level. The ASSHF program provides targeted grants to assist short term, community-driven projects that improve economic and social conditions at the community level. The program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects that have immediate impact, and further Mission priorities. Equally important, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Proposed projects must be well planned, ready to be implemented, and easily self-sustaining when the project is completed. The organization must obtain approval from the local development committee, local authority, town and/or district council before submission of the proposal to the U.S. Embassy. Successful applicants should demonstrate strong ties and support from their local community and governmental bodies. Recipient organizations must demonstrate their substantial commitment by either contributing to the project financially or providing labor or supplies (in kind contribution) to carry out the project. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place. Acceptable project objectives include, but are not limited to the following: • Economic diversification, including small business creation and income generation Generate sustainable income and employment opportunities in local communities; Advance economic diversification at the grassroots level and promote a culture of entrepreneurship; Encourage use of local natural resources for income generation; Purchase of income generating equipment; Improve basic economic or living conditions of a community. • Social services to assist disadvantaged populations Assist populations which may be disadvantaged or at-risk, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly and female heads of household; Construct and/or furnish community-initiated health facilities or clinics; Construct water and sanitation related projects such as latrines, wells, pumps, and bore holes. • Community-based natural resource management Expand effective community ownership and management of natural resources; Preserve and/or expand wildlife corridors; Develop sustainable community-based tourism; Promote conservation of natural resources. • Youth and child development Assist youth to gain knowledge and tools to live positively, set life goals and enhance their own health, safety and security; Purchase of school equipment, furnishings, and books; Construct school rooms or community centers; Create opportunities for youth, including employment. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION Length of performance period: One (1) year Number of awards anticipated: Five (5) to ten (10) awards (dependent on grant amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $20,000 Anticipated project start date: October 1, 2023 Funding Instrument Type: Grant. Funding authority rests in Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act, U.S. Department of State Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in twelve (12) months or less. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION a. Mandatory application forms required below are available at: https://www.grants.gov or the U.S. Embassy Gaborone website. These forms are ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE. Fill out the forms, print immediately, sign, and scan all three together into .pdf format document and include in your application package. · SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) · SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) · SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) b. Summary Coversheet: Coversheet stating the applicant’s name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. c. Proposal (5 pages maximum): Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. Dollars All pages are numbered All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. · Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives, description of community contribution and involvement, anticipated impact, and the number of female and male beneficiaries. · Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. · Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. · Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. What aspect of the relationship between the U.S. and Botswana will be improved? The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. · Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. · Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. · Proposed Program Schedule: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. · Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? · Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees, if any. · Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? · Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. d. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. e. Required attachments: Please see Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for other requirements. Submission Dates and Times Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time, but will not be considered after August 4, 2023, for this funding cycle. Applications received by the U.S. Embassy after the closing date will not be considered. All application materials must be submitted in English. Please make a copy of your entire application for your own records. Complete proposals can be: · Emailed to: SSHBotswana@state.gov · Mailed to: U.S. Embassy, ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator, Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund Program, P.O. Box 90, Gaborone · Hand delivered to: U.S. Embassy, Government Enclave, Gaborone, ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator. Review and Selection Process The Small Grants Office will conduct a preliminary review of all applications to determine completeness and technical eligibility. If the proposal meets the criteria, the Coordinator will schedule a site visit or meeting to discuss the proposal and review the organization’s capacity. All projects eligible for funding are then reviewed by the U.S. Embassy Small Grants Committee, which will evaluate all eligible/complete applications and recommend funding priorities to the Ambassador for his final approval. The Small Grants Office will notify each applicant about the status of his/her proposal. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION The Grant agreements will be written, signed, and awarded by the Grants Officer and administered by the Grants Officer or his/her Representative. The Grant agreement is the authorizing document and will be provided to the recipient for review by email before being invited to sign. The recipient may only start incurring project 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. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Terms and Conditions: Before submitting a proposal, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include: 2 CFR 25; 2 CFR 200; 2 CFR 175; 2 CFR 182; 2 CFR 183; 2 CFR 600; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact the Small Grants Office at: SSHBotswana@state.gov or call (+267) 373-2325. OTHER INFORMATION: Please see Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for full details.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The U.S. Embassy in Botswana’s Public Diplomacy (PD) Section 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: PD Gaborone invites proposals for programs that strengthen the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Botswana, build up Botswana’s knowledge-based economy, promote renewable energy, promote climate change adaptation and mitigation, empower women in public leadership, enhance security, reinforce conservation roles, motivate the development of civil society, encourage diversity and inclusion of minority groups, and facilitate cultural and exchange programming that promotes shared values and bilateral cooperation. 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. Examples of PD Small Grants Program programs include, but are not limited to:· Academic and professional lectures, seminars, exchanges, and speaker programs.· Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions.· Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs.· Natural resource management workshops for local community-based organizations.· Anti-pollution and waste management awareness workshops for communities and cities management officials

U.S. Embassy Gaborone of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to promote greater social acceptance of LGBTQI+ persons, including among influential religious groups and traditional groups; and to advocate for protection against discrimination in the workplace, equal access to government services, an inclusive national identity registration policy, and improved law enforcement relations with the LGBTQI+ community. Program Objectives: To support LGBTQI+ groups to inform Botswana’s population of the landmark 2021 decision decriminalizing same-sex relations; to promote greater social acceptance, including among influential religious groups and traditional groups, using the decision as a catalyst; and to advocate for equal rights in areas such as the workplace, access to government services, national identity registration policy, and law enforcement relations with the LGBTQI+ community. The proposed project may include the following activities: Raise public awareness of the human rights implications of Botswana’s decriminalization of same sex relations while socializing ongoing challenges LGBTQI+ persons face in securing equal rights; Bolster LGBTQI+ community’s initiatives to build support networks and organizations across Botswana, including in cities beyond the capital; Build the capacity of LGBTQI+ organizations as they evolve from challenging Botswana’s legal restrictions to becoming more robust civil society organizations that can better advocate for LGBTQI+ persons on a wide range of issues. The role of the grantee will be the following: Organize logistics, present information, and host a series of events or educational/cultural sessions, each focused on at least one of the priority areas listed above; The award amount is inclusive of venue, travel, speaker, media, refreshments, or any other fees. No funding proposal above or beyond the $300,000 award ceiling will be considered; Applicants should consider that some of this work may occur outside of Botswana’s capital and major population centers, which will require budgeting for travel to rural areas outside of public transportation networks. Successful applicants will also detail a strategy for gaining access to traditional leaders, religious groups, Dikgosi, advocacy groups, LGBTQI+ communities, government officials, including the Police, and the general public; Given the ongoing constraints on public gathering and travel posed by COVID-19, grantees should be prepared to explain how their proposals could be conducted virtually as a contingency if in-person events are not possible. Participants and Audiences: Participants and audiences include: LGBTQI+ communities and advocates; Religious groups; Dikgosi; Parents and other family members of of LGBTQI+ persons; Government of Botswana officials, including the Police; Botswana’s Parliament and political parties; The general public; Human rights advocacy groups; Indigenous groups in Botswana FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION: Length of performance period: 18 months: Number of awards anticipated: 1 award: Award amounts: awards may: range to a maximum of $300,000: Total available funding: $300,000: Type of Funding: FY 2021 Economic Support Funds: Anticipated program start date: January 1, 2023 This notice is subject to availability of funding. Funding Instrument Type: Grant; Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in 18 months or less. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION: Eligible Applicants: The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations; Public and private educational institutions; Individuals; Public International Organizations; Other Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a unique entity identifier (go to www.SAM.gov), and a valid registration on www.SAM.gov. Please see Section D.3 for information on how to obtain the registration. Individuals are not required to have a unique entity identifier or be registered in SAM.gov. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION Application forms required below are available at grants.gov 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: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity; All documents are in English; All budgets are in U.S. dollars; All pages are numbered; All documents are formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper, and; All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The following documents are required: Mandatory application forms SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) or SF-424-I (Application for Federal Assistance --individuals) at Grants.gov SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) at Grants.gov SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) at Grants.gov (note: the SF-424B is only required for individuals and for organizations not registered in SAM.gov) Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. Proposal (10 pages maximum): The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. Introduction to the Organization or Individual applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Include a logic model as appropriate. Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the time-frame of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? The performance indicators must include Future Funding or Sustainability: Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. See section H. Other Information: Guidelines for Budget Submissions below for further information. Attachments: 1-page CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program; Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner; If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, your latest NICRA should be included as a PDF file; Official permission letters, if required for program activities Required Registrations: Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) 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 in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 CFR 180 that implement Executive Orders 12549 (3 CFR, 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 CFR, 1989 Comp., p. 235), “Debarment and Suspension.” Additionally, no entity listed on the EPLS can participate in any activities under an award. All applicants are strongly encouraged to review the EPLS in SAM to ensure that no ineligible entity is included. All organizations, whether based in the United States or in another country, must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), formerly referred to as DUNS, and an active registration with SAM.gov before submitting an application. U.S. Embassy Gaborone may not review applications from or make awards to applicants that have not completed all applicable UEI and SAM.gov requirements. A UEI is one of the data elements mandated by Public Law 109-282, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), for all Federal awards. The 2 CFR 200 requires that sub-grantees obtain a UEI number. Please note the UEI for sub-grantees is not required at the time of application but will be required before the award is processed and/or directed to a sub-grantee. Note: The process of obtaining a SAM.gov registration may take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. Please begin your registration as early as possible. Organizations based outside of the United States and that do not pay employees within the United States do not need an EIN from the IRS but do need a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code and UEI number prior to registering in SAM.gov. All organizations applying for grants (except individuals) must obtain these registrations. All are free of charge: NCAGE/CAGE Code Unique Entity Identifier from SAM.gov SAM.gov registration Step 1: Apply for a NCAGE Code NCAGE application: Application page here: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx Instructions for the NCAGE application process: https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/Docs/US%20Instructions%20for%… For NCAGE help from within the U.S., call 1-888-227-2423; For NCAGE help from outside the U.S., call 1-269-961-7766 Email NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in getting an NCAGE code. Step 2: After receiving the NCAGE Code, proceed to register in SAM.gov by logging onto: https://www.sam.gov. All prime organizations must, at all times during which they have an active Federal award or application under consideration by any Federal awarding agency, maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information. SAM.gov requires all entities to renew their registration once a year to maintain an active registration status in SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it has an active registration in SAM.gov and to maintain that active registration. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements at the time of application, the applicant may be deemed technically ineligible to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. Submission Dates and Times: Applications are due no later than August 21, 2022 Funding Restrictions: Funding is intended for activities in Botswana All application materials must be submitted by email to schaperd@state.gov, mashingaidzek@state.gov, and moreengar@state.gov OTHER INFORMATION: See NOFO for more details and additional information.

Program Description and ObjectivesU.S. Embassy Gaborone through the PEPFAR Botswana Coordination Office (PEPFAR/PCO) is pleased to announce an open competition for local key population (KP)-led civil society organizations (CSOs) and KP-led non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to submit applications to carry out a Community-Led Monitoring (CLM) program. The CLM program is funded through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Botswana (PEPFAR/Botswana) in support of the Government of Botswana’s (GoB) effort to achieve HIV epidemic control through the implementation of evidence-based and client-centered interventions to accelerate progress in HIV prevention, care and treatment, and ultimately, save lives. This NOFO is specific to PEPFAR monitoring health services for HIV key populations (KP), which in the Botswana context include gay and other men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers and both male and female-identifying transgender persons. PEPFAR recognizes the importance of engaging with communities in the development and implementation of effective health services. HIV services for KPs in Botswana continue to face the challenge of finding those KPs living with HIV and linking and retaining patients on life-long ART. Collaboration with communities and clients is critical to ensure that health services in the facilities and communities are accessible and of high quality. The overall goal of the CLM program is to ensure the availability, access to, and delivery of quality health and HIV services. The CLM program’s main objective is to provide a direct feedback mechanism to clients and beneficiaries of these services throughout the health service delivery experience to diagnose persistent issues and barriers to service uptake. The expectation is that this feedback loop will help identify gaps and workable solutions that are driven by the community to overcome them. Currently, the PEPFAR CLM program provides grants to three local CSOs who have established, trained, and supported networks of clients and beneficiary groups to monitor and address persistent problems and barriers to effective, client-centered HIV and health services. All three partners have recruited representative beneficiaries from groups including people living with HIV, people living with disabilities, youth groups that include adolescent girls and young women, key populations, DREAMS ambassadors, PrEP ambassadors, and ART champions. Grantees have set up monitoring groups that are diverse, inclusive and gender-and-age balanced. With the support of the grant recipients, the monitoring groups collect quantitative and qualitative data and observations using standardized tools, developed with the assistance from the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) Global. The data is be synthesized using a variety of methods to provide insights on barriers to service uptake and workable solutions to address them at the appropriate service delivery levels – local (community and facility), district, and national. The CLM program findings are analyzed and discussed collaboratively between community representatives, service providers and facility managers to ensure dialogue and help all participating sides identify, implement and monitor follow up actions. By capturing clients’ and beneficiaries’ perspectives on these barriers and enablers and engaging them in identifying and adopting corrective actions, the CLM program seeks to improve service quality, continuity of care, and retention for all clients and beneficiaries. This includes expanded treatment literacy, improved access to services, and increased service uptake. The current CLM program covers specific facilities in 10 of the country’s 27 districts, including Francistown, Greater Gaborone, Kgatleng, Kweneng East, Lobatse, Moshupa, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, and Serowe. The scope and scale of monitoring is determined by the participating client and beneficiary groups, in consultation with the grantees and PEPFAR/PCO. For example, monitoring activities are somewhat limited to facilities and community sites supported by PEPFAR or expanded to cover all health facilities and sites in a district. However, there is need to expand the geographies covered by CLM in Botswana, recognizing there are additional districts that are priority for KPs. In addition to the above-mentioned districts, applicants may consider assessing services in these additional districts which have more formalized KP programs: Boteti, Kasane, Mahalapye, and Ngamiland. The CLM grant deliverables are: Formation and training of monitoring groups for selected districts; must be diverse and inclusive of all constituencies that access health and HIV services; Data collection, consolidation, and analyses; Formulation, implementation, and monitoring of follow up actions to improve service uptake at the local and district levels; Quarterly financial and activity reports; Participation in quarterly meetings with the PEPFAR CLM Community Consultation Group (CCG), comprised of PEPFAR, government, PLWHA CSO representatives and other stakeholders, to provide in-depth discussion of work and results at the local, district and national levels; Participation in national level advocacy activities when/where relevant.Currently, CLM partners are assessing HIV services provided at GoB facilities. However, there is a need to also assess the role of PEPFAR-supported CSO/NGO and private sector implemented activities specifically focused on KPs. These services include the full HIV cascade: prevention (including PrEP); testing; linkage to ARVs and viral suppression strategies, offered in community settings/facilities and virtually.Performance Period: 1August 2022- 31 August 2023; Anticipated Program Start Date: 1 August 2022; Proposed activities should be completed no later than 31 August 2023. Eligibility Information: Not-for-profit organizations led by KP community members themselves or organization who are KP-competent, including think tanks, civil society or NGOs, and CBOs, that are currently not receiving PEPFAR funding to deliver health services are eligible to apply. Organizations currently funded by PEPFAR to deliver health services either in the community or at the health facility are excluded. Eligible organizations should also meet the following criteria:Be registered as a not-for-profit organization with the GoB (proof is required).Must have experience of successfully implementing programs with funding of a minimum of $40,000.Must apply for only one CLM award, which can cover multiple districts; only one proposal per organization is allowed.Must either have:a majority of board/senior staff who are representatives from KP communities (KP-led)articulated how the organization meets the standards set by PEPFAR to KP-competent*In the COP22 Guidance, PEPFAR has defined KP-competence (please see NOFO for details).Other Eligibility Requirements:Must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process but may take weeks for validation and confirmation of registration. Please begin the process immediately. Until registration is complete, you will not be issued a user password for Grants.gov, which is required for application submission. There are four steps that you must complete before you are able to register: (1) obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet by visiting http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform; (2) register with System for Award Management (SAM) www.SAM.gov; (3) register yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (4) be authorized as an AOR by your organization. For more information, go to www.grants.gov. SAM registration must be annually renewed and failure to renew may prohibit submission of an application through Grants.gov. The U.S. Department of State will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements by the time the Department is ready to make an award.Application and Submission Information: Proposals that do not meet the requirements of this NOFO or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible. Applicants must ensure:The proposal should clearly address the goals and objectives of this NOFO and be aligned with the requirements of the CLM program. All documents must be in English. All budgets must be in U.S. dollars and calculated at USD 1= BWP 11.95 (as of June 2022).All pages must be numbered, including budgets and attachments.All documents must be formatted to 8 ½ x 11 paper.All Microsoft Word documents must be 1.15 spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins.All materials must be submitted in pdf format.All proposals should be no more 15-page long and all budget narratives should be no more than 3-page long.The follow documents are required:Mandatory Applications forms can be found at https://www.grants.gov/forms/sf-424-family.html. SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs)SF-424B (Assurance for Non-Construction Programs)Summary Page: Cover sheet stating the organization’s name, districts to be covered, and brief overview of the organization’s implementation strategy for the CLM program.Proposal: The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with CLM program would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. Applicant may use their own proposal format, but it must include all the items below:Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines your organization’s proposed CLM program, including the program objectives, districts and public facility/NGO service points to be covered, and anticipated results and outcomes.Introduction to the Applying Organization: A description of past and present operations, documenting status as a KP-led and/or KP-competent organization, efforts working with KP community communities and abilities to carry out the CLM program, including the descriptions of funding programs of more than $40,000, and all previous grants from U.S. government agencies. Program Goals and Objectives: The goals should describe what the organization’s CLM program intends to achieve, with which KP populations, and in which districts. The objectives refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. Both should be measurable and achievable during the grant period. Applications may consider assessing PEPFAR-supported services for KPs in either public facilities or NGO community partners, however, applications assessing both will be prioritized. Applications may also choose to assess HIV services for specific KP communities; however, applications that assess services for all KP communities served in Botswana will be prioritized.Program Strategic Approach and Tools: A description of how the organization’s CLM program is expected to achieve the goals, including how monitoring groups will be formed; which monitoring tools will be used; which health services will likely be prioritized; how data will be collected, reported, consolidated and analyzed; how follow up actions will be identified, implemented, monitored and reported; etc.Program Activities: A description of the CLM activities, their expected output and outcomes and how they will help achieve the objectives.Proposed Program Schedule and Timeline: The proposed timeline for the CLM activities. It should include dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events.Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles, membership in KP communities, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the CLM program. Key personnel include the head of the organization, the program manager, and the finance officer in charge of the CLM program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of the CLM program?Program Partners: List the names of key partner organizations and sub-awardees and describe their specific roles and responsibilities in the implementation of grant activities. If appropriate, partnerships between KP-led organizations serving other KP communities are encouraged. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: The M&E plan should cover the life of the grant; and describe how activities will be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner and how and when the CLM program will be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant.Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget form, use a separate document to describe each of the budget expenses in detail.Attachments:Proof of registration with the government of Botswana.CV or resume of key personnel who are proposed for the program.Letters of support from program partners describing the roles and responsibilities of each partner (if applicable).Three (3) Reference letters; one (1) letter must be from a donor organization of $40,000 or more.Questions: Please submit your questions on this solicitation to PEPFAR Botswana/PCO at: PEPFARBotswana@state.gov.Questions will be received until June 27, 2022 and the answers to all questions received will be provided by July 1, 2022 via the PEPFAR Botswana website at https://bw.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/pepfar/ or during a virtual Bidding Conference to be organized by that date. For questions relating to www.grants.gov, please contact them at +1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. All application materials must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov. If you are unable to submit your proposal on www.grants.gov, you may submit via email at PEPFARBotswana@state.gov before the deadline. The subject line should be as follows: Applicant Organization name: Community Led Monitoring Grants Program. All applications must be submitted digitally; paper applications will NOT be accepted. Application Deadline: July 8, 2022 Application Review and Selection Process: Each application will be evaluated and rated based on the criteria. The criteria are designed to assess the quality of the proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success. Applicants will receive acknowledgment of receipt of their proposal. A technical review panel will review the proposal based upon the criteria noted in evaluation section. A determination will be made regarding the CLM proposals and activities, and those applications that are the best fit will be recommended to the U.S. Embassy Grant Officer for consideration for an award. Applicants will be notified within 30 days after the NOFO deadline regarding the results of the review panel.Criteria: Please see NOFO for detailed information.Quality and Feasibility of the CLM Implementation Idea (20 points)Program Planning and Ability to Achieve Objectives (15 points)Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (15 points)Organizational Capacity and Experience (25 points)Budget and Financial Management Capacity (15 points)Collaboration and Sustainability of Planned Activities (10 points) Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Terms and Conditions: Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications that will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions that are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive/. Note the U.S. Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions. Federal Awarding Agency Contact: If you have any questions, please contact PEPFAR Botswana/PCO via email at PEPFARBotswana@state.gov. or TEL: +267 367-2400

The U.S. Embassy Gaborone announces an open competition for organizations to submit proposals to implement community-initiated development projects through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (ASSHF) Small Grants Program. Purpose of Small Grants: The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is a grass-roots assistance program that funds grants for small development activities that generate public awareness of U.S. foreign assistance efforts that fall outside the structure of other established U.S. assistance projects. This program provides targeted grants to assist small-scale, short term, community-driven projects that improve economic and social conditions at the local level. The ASSHF program is intended to be flexible and allow the Ambassador to respond directly to requests from local communities for assistance with projects that have immediate impact, and further Mission priorities. Equally important, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund program is structured to encourage communities to be self-reliant and undertake similar activities on their own in the future. Proposed projects must be well planned, ready to be implemented, and easily self-sustaining when the project is completed. The organization must obtain approval from the local development committee, tribal authority, local town and/or district council before submission of the proposal to the U.S. Embassy. Successful applicants should demonstrate strong ties and support from their local community and governmental bodies. Recipient organizations must demonstrate their substantial commitment by either contributing to the project financially or providing labor or supplies (in kind contribution) to carry out the project. Contributions may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds, etc.), land, buildings, or money to ensure the success of the project. Organizations must be able to demonstrate that they have adequate internal controls and financial monitoring procedures in place. Acceptable project objectives include, but are not limited to the following: Economic diversification, including small business creation and income generation: Generate sustainable income and employment opportunities in local communities; Advance economic diversification at the grassroots level and promote a culture of entrepreneurship; Encourage use of local natural resources for income generation; Purchase of income generating equipment; Improve basic economic or living conditions of a community. Social services to assist disadvantaged populations: Assist populations which may be disadvantaged or at-risk, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the elderly and female heads of household; Construct and/or furnish community-initiated health facilities or clinics; Construct water and sanitation related projects such as latrines, wells, pumps, and bore holes. Community-based natural resource management: Expand effective community ownership and management of natural resources; Preserve and/or expand wildlife corridors; Develop sustainable community-based tourism; Promote conservation of natural resources. Youth and child development: Assist youth to gain knowledge and tools to live positively, set life goals and enhance their own health, safety and security; Purchase of school equipment, furnishings, and books; Construct school rooms or community centers; Create opportunities for youth, including employment. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION: Length of performance period: One (1) year Number of awards anticipated: Five (5) to ten (10) awards (dependent on grant amounts) Award amounts: Awards may range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $20,000 Anticipated project start date: October 1, 2022 Funding Instrument Type: Grant. Funding authority rests in Economic Support Funds under the Foreign Assistance Act, U.S. Department of State Program Performance Period: Proposed programs should be completed in twelve (12) months or less. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION The following documents are required: a. Mandatory application forms required below are available at: https://www.grants.gov. These forms are ALWAYS FREE OF CHARGE. Fill out the forms, print immediately, sign, and scan all three together into .pdf format document and include in your application package. SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance – organizations) SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs) SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) b. Summary Coversheet: Coversheet stating the applicant name and organization, proposal date, program title, program period proposed start and end date, and brief purpose of the program. c. Proposal (5 pages maximum): Please ensure: The proposal clearly addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity All documents are in English All budgets are in U.S. Dollars All pages are numbered All Microsoft Word documents are single-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The proposal should contain sufficient information that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do. You may use your own proposal format, but it must include all the items below. Proposal Summary: Short narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives, description of community contribution and involvement, anticipated impact and the number of female and male beneficiaries. Introduction to the Organization applying: A description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the program, including information on all previous grants from the U.S. Embassy and/or U.S. government agencies. Problem Statement: Clear, concise, and well-supported statement of the problem to be addressed and why the proposed program is needed. Program Goals and Objectives: The “goals” describe what the program is intended to achieve. What aspect of the relationship between the U.S. and Botswana will be improved? The “objectives” refer to the intermediate accomplishments on the way to the goals. These should be achievable and measurable. Program Activities: Describe the program activities and how they will help achieve the objectives. Program Methods and Design: A description of how the program is expected to work to solve the stated problem and achieve the goal. Proposed Program Schedule: The proposed timeline for the program activities. Include the dates, times, and locations of planned activities and events. Key Personnel: Names, titles, roles and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. What proportion of their time will be used in support of this program? Program Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations and sub-awardees, if any. Program Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: This is an important part of successful grants. Throughout the timeframe of the grant, how will the activities be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner, and how will the program be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant? Future Funding or Sustainability Applicant’s plan for continuing the program beyond the grant period, or the availability of other resources, if applicable. d. Budget Justification Narrative: After filling out the SF-424A Budget (above), use a separate sheet of paper to describe each of the budget expenses in detail. e. Required attachments: Please see Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for other requirements. Submission Dates and Times Applications may be submitted for consideration at any time, but will not be considered after July 29, 2022 for this funding cycle. Applications received by the U.S. Embassy after the closing date will not be considered. Complete proposals can be: Emailed to: SSHBotswana@state.gov Mailed to: U.S. Embassy, ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator, Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund Program, P.O. Box 90, Gaborone Hand delivered to: U.S. Embassy, Government Enclave, Gaborone, ATTN: Small Grants Coordinator. Review and Selection Process The Small Grants Office will conduct a preliminary review of all applications to determine completeness and technical eligibility. If the proposal meets the criteria, the Coordinator will schedule a site visit or meeting to discuss the proposal and review the organization’s capacity. All projects eligible for funding are then reviewed by the U.S. Embassy Small Grants Committee, which will evaluate all eligible/complete applications and recommend funding priorities to the Ambassador for his final approval. The Small Grants Office will notify each applicant about the status of his/her proposal. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION The Grant agreements will be written, signed, and awarded by the Grants Officer and administered by the Grants Officer or his/her Representative. The Grant agreement is the authorizing document and will be provided to the recipient for review by email before being invited to sign. The recipient may only start incurring project 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. Payments will be made by electronic funds transfer in at least two advances, as needed to carry out the project activities and based of agreed milestones. Organizations whose applications will not be funded will also be notified via email. Administrative and National Policy Requirements Terms and Conditions: Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at: https://www.state.gov/about-us-office-of-the-procurement-executive. *Note the U.S. Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact the Small Grants Office at: SSHBotswana@state.gov or call (+267) 373-2325. OTHER INFORMATION: Please see Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for full details.