Opportunity Information: Apply for SSG200 16 GR 001 AF 110415
The U.S. Embassy in Dakar (Public Affairs Section) announced a FY 2016 small grants competition designed to support projects that benefit Senegalese youth and strengthen mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Senegal. The opportunity is framed around the idea that helping young Senegalese build practical, real-world skills is a strong way to support an open, prosperous, and stable Senegal, while also encouraging cooperation and shared values through people-to-people programs. The Embassy is looking for activities that equip youth to participate more actively in civic life and to develop as community leaders who can contribute to social and economic progress.
The competition focuses on cultural, educational, athletic, environmental, and related initiatives that build skills for youth ages 15 to 35. Priority skill areas are leadership, civic engagement and volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and science and technology. Proposals are expected to be concrete and action-oriented, with clear goals and a realistic plan for implementation rather than broad concepts or purely theoretical programming. The Embassy also signals that it is interested in programs that can create durable benefits, either by reaching a significant number of participants directly or by creating a multiplier effect where trained participants go on to teach, mentor, or influence others.
A key feature of the announcement is its emphasis on inclusion and geographic reach. Projects should primarily serve one or more priority audiences: young women and girls, youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, youth in underserved regions outside Dakar, and youth with disabilities. During review, preference is given to proposals that help create geographic balance across Senegal, meaning strong applications are likely to show activities outside the capital or include participants from regions that typically receive fewer resources.
Funding amounts are relatively small, with requests allowed from $500 up to $10,000, and the Embassy encourages cost-sharing (financial or in-kind contributions). The announcement anticipates up to about 10 awards, depending on available funds. Project periods must be no longer than 12 months, with proposed start dates falling between January 15 and May 31, 2016. The award instrument is a discretionary grant, and the sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of African Affairs).
Eligibility is limited to Senegalese local associations or NGOs that can demonstrate basic organizational and financial capacity. Applicants must have a bank account, a physical address, and an accounting system. Selected organizations will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is a standard identifier used in U.S. federal assistance processes. Individuals are not the intended applicants for this competition; the focus is on organizations capable of managing and reporting on grant-funded activities.
The application package must be complete and structured around five core elements. Applicants need to submit a program title and clear narrative description that explains what the project will do and what outcomes it will achieve. An itemized budget and budget narrative are required, and the notice specifically mentions that allowable costs may include honoraria, costs linked to preparing financial reports, and staff costs. Organizations must also provide proof of management capacity, describing their management structure, key project and accounting staff, and relevant experience managing grants or projects. A timeline listing major dates and activities is required, along with a monitoring and evaluation plan. The notice stresses that objectives and indicators should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and reliable, signaling that the review panel will be looking closely at how performance and results will be tracked.
Proposals are reviewed competitively by the Public Affairs Section through a panel of at least three reviewers. Evaluation is based on the completeness and quality of the five required application elements, alignment with Public Affairs priorities, feasibility, and the likely sustainability and lasting impact of the project. Cost-sharing and geographic balance are explicit advantages in the selection process, and strong applications will typically show both a credible implementation plan and a practical approach to measuring results.
The timeline for the opportunity is clearly defined: the funding announcement was issued on November 4, 2015, and proposals were due by Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Applicants are told not to begin activities until the Embassy grants officer signs the official notice of award; any costs incurred before that signature are not authorized and will not be reimbursed. Applicants are notified of results before awards are issued, and unsuccessful applicants are informed after the selection process concludes.
Reporting and compliance expectations are also spelled out. Successful grantees must submit program and financial reports, with exact schedules depending on the type of award, but reports will be no more frequent than quarterly and no less frequent than annually. A final financial report covering the full agreement period is due within 90 days after the award end date. While proposals are encouraged in English, initial submissions can be in French; however, if selected, the final application and all grant-related reports must be in English. Questions and proposals are submitted via email to pasmallgrant@state.gov.
In short, this opportunity offered small, targeted grants to Senegalese NGOs and associations for practical youth skill-building projects aligned with leadership, civic participation, entrepreneurship, and science/technology, with a strong preference for inclusive programs that reach underserved groups and regions and that can demonstrate measurable, sustainable impact within a 12-month project period.Apply for SSG200 16 GR 001 AF 110415
- The Bureau of African Affairs in the business and commerce, community development, environment, natural resources, other, regional development, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funding Opportunity for Projects Benefiting Senegalese Youth" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2015-11-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-12-15. (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 $10,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Embassy Dakar FY 2016 Small Grants (Youth Skills)
1) What is this grant competition?
This is a FY 2016 small grants competition from the U.S. Embassy in Dakar (Public Affairs Section) to support projects that benefit Senegalese youth and strengthen mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Senegal through people-to-people programming.
2) Who is the sponsor of this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of State (Bureau of African Affairs), implemented through the U.S. Embassy in Dakar Public Affairs Section.
3) What is the main goal of the program?
The program aims to help young Senegalese build practical, real-world skills so they can participate more actively in civic life, develop as community leaders, and contribute to social and economic progress, while also strengthening mutual understanding between Senegal and the United States.
4) What kinds of projects are a good fit?
The competition focuses on cultural, educational, athletic, environmental, and related initiatives that build youth skills. Proposals are expected to be concrete and action-oriented, with clear goals and a realistic implementation plan (not broad concepts or purely theoretical programming).
5) Which youth age range should projects serve?
Projects are intended to build skills for youth ages 15 to 35.
6) What priority skill areas does the Embassy emphasize?
Priority skill areas are leadership, civic engagement and volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and science and technology.
7) Are there priority audiences that projects should focus on?
Yes. Projects should primarily serve one or more of these priority audiences: young women and girls, youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, youth in underserved regions outside Dakar, and youth with disabilities.
8) Does the Embassy prefer projects outside Dakar?
Geographic balance is a stated preference. During review, preference is given to proposals that help create geographic balance across Senegal, so competitive proposals will typically include activities outside Dakar or include participants from underserved regions.
9) How much funding can an applicant request?
Applicants may request between $500 and $10,000.
10) How many awards are expected?
The announcement anticipates up to about 10 awards, depending on available funds.
11) Is cost-sharing required?
Cost-sharing is encouraged (financial or in-kind contributions). It is also described as an explicit advantage during selection.
12) How long can the project period be?
Project periods must be no longer than 12 months.
13) What are the allowable proposed start dates?
Proposed start dates must fall between January 15 and May 31, 2016.
14) What type of award is this?
The award instrument is a discretionary grant.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Senegalese local associations or NGOs that can demonstrate basic organizational and financial capacity.
16) Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are not the intended applicants; the competition focuses on organizations capable of managing and reporting on grant-funded activities.
17) What basic organizational capacity must an applicant demonstrate?
Applicants must have a bank account, a physical address, and an accounting system, and must be able to show basic management and financial capacity.
18) Is a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) required?
Yes. Selected organizations will be required to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which is used in U.S. federal assistance processes.
19) What must be included in the application package?
The application must be complete and structured around five core elements: (1) a program title and narrative description with expected outcomes, (2) an itemized budget and budget narrative, (3) proof of management capacity, including management structure, key project and accounting staff, and relevant experience, (4) a timeline with major dates and activities, and (5) a monitoring and evaluation plan.
20) What does the Embassy mean by “concrete and action-oriented” proposals?
The announcement indicates that proposals should include clear goals and a realistic implementation plan. It discourages broad concepts or purely theoretical programming, suggesting reviewers will look for practical activities that can be carried out within the project period.
21) What types of costs are mentioned as allowable?
The notice specifically mentions that allowable costs may include honoraria, costs linked to preparing financial reports, and staff costs.
22) What is expected for monitoring and evaluation (M&E)?
An M&E plan is required, and the notice stresses that objectives and indicators should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and reliable. This signals that reviewers will look closely at how performance and results will be tracked.
23) How are proposals reviewed and by whom?
Proposals are reviewed competitively by the Public Affairs Section through a panel of at least three reviewers.
24) What criteria does the panel use to evaluate proposals?
Evaluation is based on the completeness and quality of the five required application elements, alignment with Public Affairs priorities, feasibility, and the likely sustainability and lasting impact of the project. Cost-sharing and geographic balance are explicit advantages.
25) What does “sustainability” or “lasting impact” mean in this announcement?
The Embassy signals interest in durable benefits, either by reaching a significant number of participants directly or by creating a multiplier effect where trained participants go on to teach, mentor, or influence others.
26) When was the funding announcement issued?
The announcement was issued on November 4, 2015.
27) What was the application deadline?
Proposals were due by Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
28) Can an organization start project activities before the award is signed?
No. Applicants are instructed not to begin activities until the Embassy grants officer signs the official notice of award. Any costs incurred before that signature are not authorized and will not be reimbursed.
29) How and when are applicants notified?
Applicants are notified of results before awards are issued. Unsuccessful applicants are informed after the selection process concludes.
30) What reporting is required if an organization is selected?
Successful grantees must submit program and financial reports. The schedule depends on the type of award, but reports will be no more frequent than quarterly and no less frequent than annually. A final financial report covering the full agreement period is due within 90 days after the award end date.
31) What language should the proposal be written in?
Proposals are encouraged in English, but initial submissions can be in French.
32) If selected, what language is required for final documents and reporting?
If selected, the final application and all grant-related reports must be in English.
33) How do applicants submit questions and proposals?
Questions and proposals are submitted via email to pasmallgrant@state.gov.
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