Apply for Grant at U.S. Embassy Cotonou

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Grants are available at various times during the year. Please refer to the link below to find out more each grant program available. Selection Committees review the proposals once the Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) are posted. Typically, the notification of funding opportunity will be advertised for sixty days and the potential grantees can apply following rigorously the administrative process. After that, the selection committee will review the proposals and notifies the winners of their selection to receive an award. For more information, please email CotonouGrants@state.gov

Through its public diplomacy small grants program, U.S. Embassy Cotonou welcomes applications for educational, cultural and development projects led by Beninese citizens, by local NGOs, and educational institutions. U.S. citizens may apply in conjunction with Beninese groups. Projects must help Beninese better understand the society, culture, and values of the United States. Proposals can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. The Public Affairs Section usually takes 2-3 months to review and make awards. Grants are typically in the range of 1,000 – 5,000 USD. While co-sponsor funding is not required, it greatly adds to the likelihood that your project will be selected. Funds are extremely limited, and we generally cannot fund food, entertainment, alcohol or the travel of non-U.S. citizens from the U.S. to Benin.

We do not fund Beninese travel to the U.S. or other countries via this program. We cannot fund building or infrastructure projects. Projects consisting only of a single meeting or brief conference are also discouraged. The public diplomacy section administers special grants to further mission goals when funding exists, if applicable notice of funding opportunities will be posted below.

This fund was established to help less developed countries preserve cultural heritage and demonstrate US 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.

Available NOFO

N/A

The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund (SSH) assists Beninese community groups to develop lasting, self-sustaining projects that benefit entire communities.  SSH grants in Benin have contributed to agricultural modernization, economic development, combatting early marriages and gender-based violence, improving sanitation, empowering women, improving learning conditions, and greater access to clean water, health services, and education.  Each year, the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Fund supports approximately six to ten projects with grants typically under $5,000.

Grants from this program are awarded to non-governmental organizations and community groups to carry out small development projects.  The goal of this program is to encourage community involvement and the use of local resources and expertise to improve basic economic and social conditions of the local community.

The Embassy administers the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HA), which is designed to offer friendly nations and allies of the United States support, basic humanitarian aid, and services to their populations in need.  Through this program, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) seeks to help avert humanitarian crises, promote democratic development and regional stability, build local capacity, and enable countries to begin to recover from conflicts.  HA projects are managed by the DOD, and awards may be granted to governmental agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and community groups to support DOD’s program objectives.  Projects eligible for the HA program fall into three major categories including education, health, and basic infrastructure.

The Humanitarian Assistance Program (HA)

Please email or call the SSH/HA Coordinator, Cosme Quenum, with any questions at CotonouGrants@state.gov or Telephone:  21 36 77 24.

Before submitting a grant application electronically to the U.S. Embassy in Cotonou, an individual or organization applying for the grant must complete a one-time registration at Grants.gov following the steps to register. All registration formalities must be completed prior to submission of the grant proposal. If you have not previously completed any of the registration formalities, read all instructions below before you register. To start your registration, go on www.grants.gov

Registering as an Individual

Before applying for a funding opportunity, you need to register with Grants.gov. Below are instructions for registering as an individual.

An individual is an applicant who submits grant applications on their own behalf, not representing an organization, institution, or government. Individual applicants can only apply for funding opportunities that allow individual people to receive the funding. Before applying, individual applicants should confirm the eligibility requirements in the Synopsis and Full Announcement portion of the funding opportunity.

Most funding opportunities on Grants.gov are only eligible to organizations, but there are opportunities for individuals. Review the Check Your Eligibility page to learn about how to find the specific eligibility requirements for an opportunity you’re interested in.

How Do I Register?
To register as an individual, there are three main steps:

Individual Applicant Registration Steps
1. Find a funding opportunity that individuals are eligible to apply for
→ 		 2. Use the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) to register
→ 		 3. Complete the registration form to create a username and password

Registering as an Organization

Before applying for a funding opportunity, your organization needs to register with Grants.gov, and so do you as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). We recognize registration activities are not fun and take up your time, but these are parts of the security process the U.S. Government must use to prevent fraud and abuse of funds. Below are instructions for registering as an organization.

An organization is an entity that submits grant applications on behalf of the group, such as a state government, nonprofit organization, or a private business. Registering as an organization has five main steps. Below is an overview of the registration process. Click one of the steps to view more detailed instructions.

Please make sure to begin registration early, as the process takes between three business days and three weeks. If you do not complete your registration by the submission deadline, then you are unlikely to be allowed to submit an application. You should contact the agency point of contact listed on the grant opportunity to discuss that agency’s policy.

 1. Obtain a DUNS Number 
How do I get a DUNS number?
→ 		 Call 1-866-705-5711 or access the Dun & Bradstreet website http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
→ 		 How long does this step usually take?
→ 		 1-2 business days
2. Register with SAM 
How do I register with the System Award Management (SAM)?
→ 		 Access https://www.sam.gov. You’ll also need the authorizing official of your organization and an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
→ 		 How long does this step usually take?
→ 		 7-10 business days (2 more weeks to acquire an EIN)
3. Create Username and Password
How do I create a username and password with Grants.gov?
→ 		 Complete your Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) profile and create your username and password. You’ll need to use your organization’s DUNS Number.
→ 		 How long does this step usually take?
→ 		 Same day
NOTE: Passwords expire every 60 days and accounts inactive for 1 year or more result in removal of all account roles. For more Account Management information, review the Applicant FAQs.
4. Authorize the AOR
How is my request for AOR access authorized by the EBiz POC? → Request approval, then your organization’s EBiz POC must log in to Grants.gov to confirm you as an AOR. → How long does this step usually take? → Same day (depends on your EBiz POC)
5. Track AOR Status
How do I track my AOR status? → Log in to Grants.gov and look at the Applicant Center welcome box for your current status. → How long does this step usually take? → Same day

 Grants.gov Online User Guide

Find registration, login, and search instructions for all users in the Grants.gov Online User Guide.

For detailed applicant information, review the Applicants section of the online user guide.

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This is the official website of the U.S. Embassy in Benin. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

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