U.S. Provides $370,900 for Community Development Projects in Nine Provinces

HARARE, Zimbabwe, November 21, 2018/ — In a signing ceremony today with U.S. Ambassador Brian A. Nichols, the United States government provided $370,900 in small grants to community based organizations in nine provinces. Through its small grants program, the U.S. Embassy is awarding grants to 17 organizations in Harare, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North, and Bulawayo. Funding sources include the Africa Regional Democracy Fund (ARDF), U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) small grants fund, the Julia Taft Refugee Fund, and the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (SSH) Fund.

U.S. Embassy small grants focus on supporting small-scale, short-term, community projects that bring about improvements in people’s lives. The one-time grants help local organizations and communities start up or continue sustainable projects designed to improve economic or social conditions. PEPFAR small grants assist communities improve their living standards and provide care and support to orphans, vulnerable children, and their households. The Julia Taft Refugee Fund assists refugee populations.

The ARDF is providing $200,000 to the Legal Resources Foundation to strengthen citizen and elected official engagement to improve accountability, broaden access to justice, and address human rights issues in Zimbabwe.

Since 1980, at Zimbabwe’s independence, the Embassy has supported community development projects that improve basic economic or social conditions at the village level all across the country. The U.S. Embassy has awarded more than $2 million for community-driven projects over the past ten years.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe.