U.S. Embassy Conakry, Annual Program Statement | DOS CONAK FY21 01 2

Opportunity Information: Apply for DOS CONAK FY21 01 2

The U.S. Embassy in Conakry is offering a small community grants opportunity under its Annual Program Statement (Funding Opportunity Number DOS-CONAK-FY21-01-2, CFDA 19.700). The program is intended to help local groups carry out practical, high-impact projects that quickly improve basic economic and social conditions in Guinean communities. Funding is limited and competitive, and awards are dependent on the availability of funds. For projects to be considered for funding in 2022, applications had to be submitted by October 15, 2021, with an anticipated project start date of October 15, 2022. Grants are awarded as federal assistance grants, with projects expected to run between 2 and 12 months and be completed within 12 months or less.

This small grants program focuses on community-level improvements that benefit large numbers of people and can be implemented relatively quickly. A major expectation is that the community will contribute meaningfully to the project, including contributions such as cash, labor, and locally available materials. The Embassy is looking for proposals that align strongly with these goals and demonstrate clear community ownership and the ability to maintain any equipment or infrastructure provided through the grant.

Typical projects that fit the program include small-scale community construction and durable goods that directly support community services. Examples mentioned include building or supporting school rooms, community centers, basic health facilities, foot bridges, housing for nurses or teachers paid by government or community sources, workshops, abattoirs, grain storage, rural airstrips for hospitals, and school dormitories for students who live far away. The opportunity also encourages water and sanitation projects like wells, latrines, pumps, boreholes, shower stalls, sinks, and fishponds. Education-focused requests such as desks, chairs, lab equipment, and library items are also within scope, as are shared tools like brick-making machines, durable appliances for institutions (for example stoves, refrigerators, or clinic washing machines), and income-generating equipment like weaving looms, furniture-making tools, or rice-milling machines, especially when the community can show it has a realistic plan to maintain the items over time.

Eligibility is aimed at registered local not-for-profit entities and organized community groups, including self-help groups, community-based organizations, village associations, womens groups, and NGOs with relevant programming experience. Applicants need to be able to show they are a recognized entity and must have a bank account in the name of the group. For-profit and commercial entities are explicitly not eligible to apply.

The Embassy also clearly lists what it will not fund. Ineligible activities include routine renovation or cosmetic repairs of neglected facilities (such as repainting a school), salaries, scholarships, general workshops or seminars (unless training is an essential part of implementing a specific funded project), ongoing education or training needs, office supplies like paper and folders, pesticides or herbicides, private commercial enterprises, and items like sports uniforms for national teams or musical instruments/uniforms for national performance groups. Projects with significant construction elements are generally not eligible, although limited rehabilitation projects with minimal construction risk (such as certain canteen or community center rehabilitation) may qualify. Environmentally harmful projects are also excluded, especially those with unmitigated negative impacts such as dams, roads through relatively pristine forests, activities contributing to commercial deforestation or forest-to-livestock land conversion, actions that threaten endangered species or habitats, and activities that could significantly degrade protected areas (including introduction of exotic species).

Award sizes are relatively small, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per award, with a stated ceiling of $15,000 and an expected 5 to 8 awards. The funding source is listed as Fiscal Year 2020 Economic Support Funds, though the total amount available is not specified. Recipients should expect payments to be made in at least two installments, either as advances or reimbursements, depending on what is needed to carry out the work.

Applications are submitted by email to ConakrySSH@state.gov, and proposals must be written in English. There is no mandatory application format, but an Embassy template is available online or by request. The core proposal package includes a summary cover sheet and a narrative proposal of no more than seven pages, plus a detailed budget (limited to one page) and specific required attachments. The cover sheet must identify the applicant and basic project details, including the amount requested and a short statement of purpose. The narrative proposal must explain the project in a way that a reader unfamiliar with the community can understand, and it should include: a brief project summary and expected impact; background on the organization and its experience (including any prior U.S. government or Embassy grants); a clear, evidence-based problem statement; measurable goals and objectives; a description of activities; a monitoring and evaluation plan with indicators and milestones; a sustainability plan that explains how benefits will continue after the grant ends, including risks and mitigation; key personnel and their roles/time allocations; and a proposed schedule with dates and locations. The budget must break costs into equipment, supplies, other direct costs, and indirect costs, and applicants are asked to provide pro-forma invoices for major purchases such as equipment, materials, or supplies. Certain costs are prohibited under the grant budget rules, including personnel salaries, travel, fringe benefits, and alcoholic beverages.

Applicants must also include standard federal forms and supporting documentation: SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, one-page CVs or resumes for key staff, and letters of support from partners explaining each partner role. In addition, organizations must complete required federal registrations, including obtaining a DUNS number, securing an NCAGE/CAGE code, and registering in SAM.gov (with annual renewal). These registrations are required and free of charge, but they can take time, so applicants are expected to plan ahead.

Proposals go through an initial technical eligibility screening and then are reviewed and scored by an Embassy committee. Evaluation emphasizes organizational capacity and track record (including financial management systems and an existing bank account), the quality and feasibility of the idea and implementation timeline, the clarity and measurability of goals and objectives, the reasonableness and detail of the budget and justification, the strength of the monitoring and evaluation approach (with both output and outcome indicators), and sustainability beyond the grant period. Final selections may also consider results of site visits and any other available information about the applicant organization.

Administrative terms are typical for U.S. government grants: awards are only official once signed by the Grants Officer, and expenses can only be incurred on or after the official start date in the award document. The U.S. government does not promise future or additional funding beyond the awarded amount, can reject any or all proposals, and does not cover costs associated with preparing an application. Recipients must submit both financial and program reports on a schedule specified in the award document. Questions are directed to ConakrySSH@state.gov, with the note that the Embassy will not provide pre-consultation on questions already answered in the funding notice, and will not discuss applications during the review period once submitted.

• The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Guinea in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Conakry, Annual Program Statement" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.700.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 03, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 15, 2021. (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 $15,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for DOS CONAK FY21 01 2

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