U.S. Embassy in Chad

A. Background

The United States African Development Foundation (ADF) is an independent Federal agency established to support African‐designed and African‐driven solutions that address grassroots economic and social problems. USADF provides grants of up to $250,000 directly to underserved and marginalized community groups and enterprises. The grants help organizations create tangible benefits such as increasing or sustaining the number of jobs in a community, improving income levels, and addressing social development needs.

USADF is seeking to pair with the Ambassadors’ Special Self Help program (SSH) to reach our common goal of providing small grants for community driven development projects. Like the SSH programs, USADF’s mandate directs USADF to support projects which community groups undertake to foster their own development. Additionally, USADF’s mission includes the responsibility to ensure that funded projects focus on providing maximum benefit to poor and marginalized populations that include communities with incomes below the national per capita income level who may be in underserved geographic locations, have gender based needs, are persons with disabilities, and / or have youth oriented needs.

B. Program Characteristics

• Grant Size: Up to $20,000 (preferably $5,000 ‐ $10,000)
• Duration: Up to 12 months
• Review Cycles: Open
• Disbursements: Direct to Grantee or Third Party, Usually only 1 or 2 disbursements.
• Monitoring: Closeout Report

C. Application Process

In order to simplify the USADF funding process to accommodate the Self Help programs in various countries, USADF will rely on the application and screening processes required by the individual Ambassadors’ Special Self Help Programs. To support the decision to fund a particular project, when submitting the application to USADF, a Site Visit Report and a Recommendation from the Self Help Coordinator should also be submitted.

During the Site Visit, the Self Help Coordinator will work with the applicant to refine the project activities and budget. The recommendation to fund can be included in the Site Visit Report or as a separate memo as long as it confirms that the applicant meets the Self Help funding criteria and the seven USADF eligibility requirements (listed below). The recommended funding should be provided in USD. In cases where there is not a defined project application, the proposals submitted to USADF should include the following minimum information:

Minimum Application Requirements:

1. Country Name
2. Project Name
3. Project Supervisor Name
4. Contact Information
5. Group Name
6. Group Description (general organizational summary)
7. Project Location
8. Project Description (proposed activities)
9. Project Budget
10. Community Contribution to Project
11. Other Donor Sources (specify if group has received other USADF funding)
12. Project Start and Completion Dates
13. Project Sustainability Description
14. Number of Project Beneficiaries (direct and indirect; total and women)
15. Site Visit Report from Self Help Fund Coordinator
16. Recommendation to Fund confirming the group satisfies USADF eligibility requirements.

USADF Eligibility Requirements:

Organization Eligibility Requirements:

1. The organization must consist solely of indigenous Africans.
2. The organization and/or its members are nationals of the host country.
3. The organization must be a legally registered African entity.
4. The organization has successfully worked together and has the potential to productively utilize development funds.
5. The ownership and management must be in agreement on the problem to be addressed and have a commitment to benefit their community.
6. The organization represents a marginalized or under‐served community.
7. The outcome of the project must provide real (measurable) benefits to the community. Benefits include job creation, increased incomes levels, improved market access, and quality of life improvements.

D. Grant Award Process

Once projects are approved at the embassy through the normal Self Help program process, USADF will review grant submissions to concur that they comply with the USADF mission.

USADF’s review of proposed projects is heavily informed by the assessment of the Self Help Coordinator. However, there are some proposed activities or applicant groups that USADF does not fund through the small grants program:

• government entities
• construction of schools, clinics, or other non‐income generating facilities
• permanent construction
• activities that pose significant risk to the environment (i.e. use of hazardous materials)
• groups who have already received USADF grant funds for the same grant activity

Once approved, USADF will prepare the Grant Agreement documents and send them to the Self Help Coordinator. The Self Help Coordinator will explain the Grant Agreement terms to the grantee before the documents are signed by the grantee. The signed documents should be immediately returned to USADF, preferably in advance of the first disbursement request.

E. Disbursement Process

All disbursements will be sent via direct deposit to the bank account of the grantee or a designated third party vendor. Depending on the policy of the Self Help programs in various countries, either proforma quotes or receipts for purchased items should accomp any the Disbursement Request. The Disbursement Request Form will be sent along with the Grant Agreement.

USADF will send grant funds in one or two disbursements based on the policies of the Self Help programs in various countries. Disbursements can be transferred in a local currency equal to or less than the USD value indicated on the grant agreement. The currency of the disbursement request should be indicated on Disbursement Request Form. The first disbursement request should be submitted to USADF in the first month of the grant. All disbursement requests must be received at least 2 months prior to the end of the project period and all grant funds must be spent on approved grant activities prior to the end of the grant period. If grant funds are not spent during the grant period, the grantee must return the unused funds to USADF.

Disbursement Requirements:

1. Letter on bank stationary with account name, account number, bank address and bank

SWIFT Code for Electronic Transfer;

1. Disbursement Request form
2. Proforma quotes for requested purchases and or receipts for purchased items

Note: No date limit for receive requests; they are received continuously.

Useful Addresses:

African Development Foundation (ADF)
Embassy of United States of America
B.P. 413 N’Djamena, Republic of Chad
Email: NdjamenaGrants@state.gov
Phone 235 2251 70009,Ext. 4549