U.S. Embassy Grants Programs
Throughout the year, the U.S. Embassy in Bamako publishes Notices of Funding Opportunities for grants. These limited opportunities are funded by the U.S. taxpayer to improve conditions and governance in Mali, and to increase Malian and U.S cooperation.
When funding is available, the U.S. Embassy Bamako will publish the opportunity on the website and U.S. Embassy Facebook page.
Funding Opportunity Title: Countering Violent Extremism in West Africa – Please apply by April 30, 2022
The Department of State accepts applications from organizations to carry out virtual and in-person thematic programs in Africa. This grant focuses on public diplomacy efforts for countering violent extremism. It is not a development grant, nor is it a security project, but is a public diplomacy initiative to develop and train a network of credible messengers in the priority countries of Mali, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.
Please read the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and fill out the required application forms available at https://www.grants.gov, AF/PDPA social media platform. Deadline for Applications is April 30, 2022. This NOFO will be posted on grants.gov.
Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program Please apply by January 31 or May 31, 2022
The U.S. Embassy Bamako’s Public Affairs Section invites proposals for projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Mali by highlighting shared values and promoting bilateral cooperation. All programs must advance one of the key priorities listed below, promote an element of American culture, or have a connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in a specific field that will promote increased ties between the United States and Mali and foster understanding of U.S. policies and perspectives.
Applications are now open. Deadlines are January 31 and May 31, 2022. Please click here for more information.
Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund (SSH):
This grass-roots assistance program, first initiated in Togo in 1964, provides small grants to support community-based development projects that improve basic economic or social conditions in local communities across Mali. The program aims to encourage self-reliance within local communities by assisting them with the resources they need to move from a good idea to taking action. The community organization often makes a significant contribution to the project in the form of labor, land, materials, or money. Eligibility is restricted to local NGOs, community associations, and cooperatives. This fund is administered by the Embassy Political and Economic Section.
Julia Taft Fund for Refugees:
This fund is an initiative by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) to respond to critical unmet needs of refugees. Created in 2000, the Julia Taft Fund for Refugees support community-based projects that fill gaps in refugee services not already being addressed by other organizations and that can be filled locally. Successful projects respond to needs that are not being addressed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other international organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are already receiving U.S. government funding. This fund is administered by the Embassy Political and Economic Section.
Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP):
This fund was established to help less-developed countries preserve cultural heritage and demonstrate U.S. respect for other world cultures. This program offers assistance to governmental agencies, community groups or individuals who wish to preserve a cultural site, object, collection or traditional expression. These occasional funding opportunities when available are announced and administered through the Embassy Public Affairs Section.
Public Affairs Small Grants:
The U.S. Embassy Bamako Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State has some funding available all year round through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. PAS Bamako invites proposals for projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Mali by highlighting shared values and promoting bilateral cooperation as outlined in the Annual Program Statement.
Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund (SSH)
This grass-roots assistance program, first initiated in Togo in 1964, provides small grants to support community-based development projects that improve basic economic or social conditions in local communities across Mali. The program aims to encourage self-reliance within local communities by assisting them with the resources they need to move from a good idea to taking action. The community organization often makes a significant contribution to the project in the form of labor, land, materials, or money. Eligibility is restricted to local NGOs, community associations, and cooperatives. This fund is administered by the Embassy Political and Economic Section.
What projects are eligible for funding?
The project must be initiated by the community and should benefit the community by increasing income or improving living conditions. If the project is designed to generate income, it must be truly community-based and not a for-profit enterprise or sole proprietorship.
The project should be sustainable and not require continued support after the one-time contribution from the Self-Help Program. The community must make substantial contributions to the project in money or in kind. All projects must be completed in a year.
How much are the grants?
Individual grants typically range from $2,000 to $10,000.
How are projects approved?
An Embassy committee meets once a year to review proposals.
How does an organization apply?
Application forms are available through the coordinator of the Self-Help Program at the U.S. Embassy.
What does not qualify for a Self-Help grant?
The Self-Help Program cannot fund political, religious, military, or recreational activities. Funds cannot be used for administrative costs, transportation, training, scholarships, consumable items, vehicles, or to finance repairs. Funds are not provided to government agencies.
For more details, please send an email to BamakoEcon@state.gov
Julia Taft Fund for Refugees
This fund is an initiative by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) to respond to critical unmet needs of refugees. Created in 2000, the Julia Taft Fund for Refugees support community-based projects that fill gaps in refugee services not already being addressed by other organizations and that can be filled locally. Successful projects respond to needs that are not being addressed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other international organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are already receiving U.S. government funding. This fund is administered by the Embassy Political and Economic Section.
For more details, please send an email to BamakoEcon@state.gov
Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP)
This fund was established to help less-developed countries preserve cultural heritage and demonstrate U.S. respect for other world cultures. This program offers assistance to governmental agencies, museums, and other cultural heritage entities who wish to preserve a cultural site, object, collection or traditional expression. These grants, when available, are administered through Embassy Public Affairs Section.
Once the funding is available, the Notice of Funding opportunity will be announced on the U.S. Embassy Bamako website or Facebook page.
Public Affairs Small Grants
The U.S. Embassy Bamako Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce that funding is available through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. PAS Bamako invites proposals for projects that strengthen ties between the United States and Mali by highlighting shared values and promoting bilateral cooperation as outlined in the Annual Program Statement.
How do I apply?
See the Public Affairs Small Grants Annual Program Statement (Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program) for a complete description of eligible projects deadlines, and application procedures.
