Programs and Events

Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund

Helping Communities Help Themselves

COMMITMENT•COMMUNITY•BENEFITS

A Commitment to Tanzania

The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund Program (ASSHF) enjoys a long history of cooperation with Tanzanian communities. This unique outreach program, which dates back to 1965, improves economic and living conditions at the village level. From Arusha to Zanzibar, ASSHF grants have contributed to improved sanitation, educational access, economic development and agricultural innovation. ASSHF demonstrates the American Embassy’s commitment to community development and goodwill towards the people of Tanzania.

A Focus on Community

The Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund promotes self-reliance through community action. The program strives to support projects that impact entire communities, through direct or indirect benefits. Groups that demonstrate a commitment to their communities and involve the community are most successful in sustaining projects. ASSHF projects must involve significant community contribution in the form of funding, materials and/or labor.

Short-term Projects with Long-term Effects

The objective of these one-time grants is to enable the development or expansion of a self-sustaining project. The community must be able to manage Ambassador’s Self-Help funded projects independently, and projects must be completed within six to twelve months of contract signing. The Embassy supports an average of 10 projects each year throughout Tanzania, with grants averaging approximately $6,500 US.

To apply for the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund, read the directions in the attached application carefully, noting that many types of projects DO NOT QUALIFY for self-help funding. If you submit an application for an ineligible project, you will not be contacted regarding your application. [hyperlink] Click here for the application.

For additional information on the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund, you may contact:

Self Help/Small Grants Coordinator
U.S. Embassy
P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Telephone: 2668001, Fax: 2668238,
Email: drsselfhelp@state.gov
http://tanzania.usembassy.gov/self_help_fund5.html