Offices/Sections

Bilateral Assistance

The Embassy's bilateral assistance program operates in both Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. The primary goals of the program are to strengthen democracy, promote human rights, protect the environment and improve health care and education.

Current Programs

Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund (SSH): Grants from this program are awarded to governmental agencies, 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.  For this year's projects see Latest Embassy News.

Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHR): This program aims to strengthen democratic institutions, reinforce democratic values and promote human and civil rights in Africa. Project grants are available to government agencies, non-governmental organizations and community groups.

African Education Initiative (AEI) / Ambassador's Girls Scholarship Program (AGSP): This fund aims to keep bright, but vulnerable, girls in school.  President Bush announced there would be 250,000 scholarships by September 2008 in 45 countries.  The program is divided into three regions in Africa, with three implementing partners.  In Gabon, the implementing partner is Winrock International.  The program is open to any educational institution or organization. Project funds are used to support scholarships, mentor seminars and to purchase school supplies and equipment.

Ambassador’s Fund for Refugees: This program supports non-emergent refugee assistance and protection projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Designed to supplement the USG’s contribution to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), this program provides direct assistance to help host communities and NGOs for small projects in refugee-impacted areas.

Ambassador’s Cultural Preservation Fund: 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.