Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program – Julia Taft Refugee Fund | 004 2020

Opportunity Information: Apply for 004 2020

The Ambassador's Special Self-Help (SSH) Program - Julia Taft Refugee Fund is a U.S. Department of State grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Embassy in Harare. It is designed to support quick, one-time, low-cost projects that address urgent gaps in refugee protection and assistance in Zimbabwe, particularly in and around refugee centers. The fund is channeled through the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and is meant to complement, not duplicate, work already covered by UNHCR, ICRC, IOM, or other international and non-governmental organizations that are already receiving U.S. government funding. In practical terms, applicants are expected to propose a focused intervention that solves a clearly defined problem and can be completed within a short timeframe, rather than a continuing or recurring service program.

The award structure is small and targeted. The Embassy anticipates making one grant, with a total funding pool of USD 25,000 and an award ceiling of USD 25,000. Projects must be completed within 12 months or less, and the anticipated program start date listed is May 2021, subject to funding availability. The funding instrument is a grant funded under FY21 Migration and Refugee Assistance resources authorized through the Migration and Refugees Assistance Act of 1962, as amended (with OCO/Global War on Terrorism-related funding noted in the announcement).

Eligibility is limited to Zimbabwe-registered non-governmental, non-profit, or community-based organizations. This includes registered trusts, associations, schools, and churches, but it specifically excludes individuals, businesses, and government entities. A core requirement is that at least 50 percent of the direct beneficiaries must be refugees or returned refugees (returnees). Another major condition is that proposals must include a significant community contribution, which can be in cash, labor, and/or materials, showing local buy-in and shared responsibility for the project. Applicants also need to demonstrate sound financial and administrative management systems capable of preventing fraud, waste, and abuse.

Beyond local registration, organizations must meet U.S. government compliance and registration requirements to be eligible for an award. This includes having a unique entity identifier (DUNS number through Dun and Bradstreet, as referenced in the notice) and an active registration in SAM.gov. The announcement also emphasizes debarment and suspension compliance: any organization or partner listed on the Excluded Parties List System within SAM is not eligible to apply or participate in funded activities. Applicants are guided to obtain a DUNS number and NCAGE/CAGE code and then complete SAM registration, noting that SAM must be renewed annually and that no award will be issued until these steps are fully complete.

The application package is available through the U.S. Embassy Harare website (the Embassy's SSH program page) or via grants.gov. Applications must follow strict formatting and content rules. All documents must be submitted in English, budgets must be in U.S. dollars, pages must be numbered, and documents must be formatted for 8.5 x 11 paper. Microsoft Word documents must be single-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman, with at least 1-inch margins. Failure to follow the required instructions can make an application ineligible, so compliance is treated as a gatekeeping requirement, not a suggestion.

A complete submission includes standard federal forms and a structured proposal package. The required forms include SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance), SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), and SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs), with the notice indicating SF-424B is only required for individuals and organizations not registered in SAM.gov (even though individuals are not eligible, the instruction is still included in the source text). Applicants must also include a summary cover sheet identifying the organization and proposal basics (date, title, proposed start and end dates, and a short purpose statement). The main narrative proposal is limited to 10 pages and must be detailed enough that someone unfamiliar with the project can clearly understand what will be done, why it is needed, and how it will be implemented and measured.

The proposal narrative is expected to cover several specific elements: a concise proposal summary explaining objectives and anticipated impact; an introduction to the applicant organization showing relevant experience and the ability to implement the project (including any prior U.S. Embassy or U.S. government funding and other donor support); a well-supported problem statement; clearly defined goals and measurable objectives; a description of activities; the program design/methodology (including a logic model where appropriate); a schedule and timeline with dates and locations; key personnel information (roles, qualifications, and level of effort); partner and sub-awardee roles; a monitoring and evaluation plan explaining how progress and results will be tracked; and a sustainability section describing whether and how the effort could continue after the grant period or what other resources might support longer-term continuation if relevant. Even though the fund is explicitly for one-time interventions, applicants are still asked to address sustainability to show whether benefits can persist beyond the one-off activity.

Budget documentation is a major component and must be supported with detailed justification. Applicants must submit the SF-424A budget along with a separate budget justification narrative explaining each cost line in detail. The announcement also requires substantial attachments: one-page CVs/resumes for key personnel; letters of support from partners that clearly describe responsibilities; a NICRA document if indirect costs are charged under an approved negotiated rate; official permission letters or MOUs from relevant local authorities and proof of land ownership where land will be used; the provided budget template (Annex B); the organization registration certificate; the completed proposal narrative using the required structure (Annex A); and original pro-forma invoices/quotations for budgeted items, including three quotes per item. These quotation requirements signal that the Embassy expects strong cost realism and procurement transparency even at a small funding level.

The deadline in the announcement is firm: applications were due by Friday, January 29, 2021 at 5:00 pm, and late applications would not be considered. The opportunity is identified in the source data as Funding Opportunity Number "004 2020," with an assistance listing reference of 19.517, an award ceiling of USD 25,000, and an expected number of awards of one, all under the U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe. Overall, the program is best understood as a small-grants mechanism for Zimbabwe-based organizations to deliver a fast, practical solution to a specific refugee-related gap, with strong emphasis on local legitimacy, shared community contribution, compliance registrations, and clearly documented budgeting and implementation plans.

• The U.S. Mission to Zimbabwe in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program – Julia Taft Refugee Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.517.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-12-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-29. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 004 2020

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