By Almot Maqolo.
HARARE (News of The South) – The United States government has provided more than $422 000 in small grants support to community-based organizations in seven Zimbabwean provinces.
Announcing the awards, Ambassador Brian Nichols said the funding will assist the southern African nation’s communities unlock their potential and improve their economic situation.
“The people of Zimbabwe face great economic challenges, but everywhere I go I see enormous potential and determination,” said he said.
“The United States will continue to help the people of Zimbabwe through programs that help communities unlock their own potential and improve their living standards.”
Sixteen organizations based in Harare, Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and Matabeleland North received grants through one of the funding sources that feed into the U.S. Embassy’s small grants program.
These funding sources are the Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF), U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) small grants fund, Julia Taft Refugee Fund, and the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (SSH) Fund. The U.S. Embassy’s small grants funds focus on small-scale, short-term, community projects that bring about improvements in people’s lives.
The one-time grants help local organizations and communities begin or continue sustainable projects designed to improve economic or social conditions. PEPFAR small grants assist communities in improving their living standards and provide care and support to orphans, vulnerable children, and their households, while the Julia Taft Refugee Fund assists refugees.
The ARDF grant provided $250,000 to the Zimbabwe Community Development Association to enhance traditional leaders’ roles in promoting human rights of women and children in Manicaland Province. The U.S. Embassy has supported numerous community development projects to improve basic economic or social conditions at the village level across Zimbabwe since 1980. The U.S. Embassy has awarded more than $2 million for community-driven projects over the past ten years.
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