The 2008 U.S. Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program - Invitation to Submit Proposal

October 23, 2008

The Embassy of the United States in Mauritius has the pleasure to invite proposals from non-governmental organizations, schools, community groups, health and environmental associations and others for the 2008 Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund Program.  The U.S. Ambassador’s Self-Help Program is a grassroots assistance program that responds to requests for financial assistance from small community-based projects that are initiated and administered at the local level.

Self Help Program Project Guidelines

There is no ideal Self-Help Project however the successful projects share the following features:
• Respond to community needs and improve basic economic and social conditions of the local community;
• Show local initiative and involvement;
• Benefit a substantial number of people in the community;
• Involve women as participants and beneficiaries;
• Involve a significant contribution of labor, money or materials by members of the local community;
• Be within the means of the local community to operate, maintain and sustain; and
• Be able to implement the activity within the one-year agreement period.

Self-Help regulations prohibit funding projects of a purely religious nature.

The grants, usually between Rs 20,000 - Rs 200,000, are designed to supplement funding and resources already available from other sources. All non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply.

Application Forms and additional information are available online from the Embassy’s website: http://mauritius.usembassy.gov.  To download forms, the following link "Self-Help Program" must be followed.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is December 15, 2008.