Ambassador's Self-Help Program & HIV/AIDS Community Grants

Infants in Ibuyambo HIV & AIDS Forum's safe house. Ibuyambo provides community services such as after-school care for youth, most from families affected by HIV/AIDS. Many have received training and now work as peer educators.

HIV/AIDS Community Grants

The U.S. Ambassador’s HIV/AIDS Community Grants program, funded by PEPFAR, assists small grassroots, community-run projects all over South Africa.  It aims to strengthen health service delivery in communities affected by HIV and AIDS.  The program supports community groups in such efforts as support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and for community-based HIV and AIDS palliative care and home health care.

Project members must make voluntary contributions, such as money, labor or other services toward their efforts.  The greater the involvement and contribution from the local community, the more likely the project grant will gain approval. After the money is used, the project must be able to continue on its own or with help from the community. 

Each organization that is funded will be required to measure and report the results it achieves with the grant.  Grants generally amount to US $10,000 (approximately R 75,000 at today’s exchange rates).  In special circumstances and with justification grants can be awarded up to US $20,000.  Grants will be awarded for a one year period.  Requests to renew a grant for up to three years will be carefully reviewed and in exceptional cases granted.  Organizations that already receive direct funding or substantial support from the U.S. Government are not eligible.  Please remember that the Community Grants program receives many applications and has only a limited amount of funds available.

If your organization has a project that falls within the U.S. Ambassador’s HIV/AIDS Community Grants Program guidelines, use the application to apply for a grant and send it to the office nearest you. The Community Grants Coordinator may contact you and schedule a site visit to assess the capabilities of your project.  

Self-Help Program 

Improving basic economic and social conditions of communities by financially assisting small grassroots, community-run projects, the US Ambassador’s Self Help Program assists small grassroots, community-run projects in the local communities of South Africa.

The goal of the Self Help Program is to improve the basic economic and social conditions of the community or village. Each project must help itself by giving money, labor or other services to the project.

The greater the involvement and contribution from the local community, the more likely the project grant will gain approval.

Examples of the projects funded by the Self Help Program include the building of care centers for disabled and orphaned children, children's day care centers and preschools.

Projects that have been funded in the past are still eligible for funding such as sewing, brick making and other manufacturing and farming cooperatives [We have also contributed to community water and sanitation projects].

United States law forbids the expenditure of these funds for religious purposes, or for projects that are normally the responsibility of the local government such as primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. We cannot contribute money to a building fund, nor can we pay for vehicles, computers, copiers, salaries, or other recurring costs. Please read the guidelines carefully.

Grants generally range between US $5,000 and US $15,000. After the US money is used, the project must be able to keep going on its own or with the help from the community. Please remember that we receive many applications and have only a limited amount of funds available.

If your organization has a project that falls within the Self Help Program guidelines, complete the application to apply for a Self Help grant and send it to the self help office nearest you.