Score your draft
U.S. Embassy Cotonou PDS Request for Statements of Interest. Rate your own draft against each scoring criterion in the official notice, the way a reviewer would read it.
A self-check, not a prediction. Reviewers decide the real score. GrantMe doesn't read or rate your writing; you do.
Private by design. Nothing you type or paste on this page is sent to GrantMe or saved anywhere. Reloading or closing the page clears it. Print the page to keep your scores.
Scores listed: 100 points (the notice's total wasn't found; check it). Source: the official notice, SOI_-_FY2025_PDS_Cotonou.pdf. If the notice describes rating levels for its criteria, use its words when you score.
How to use it
- Read what reviewers look for under each criterion.
- Find the part of your draft that answers it. Paste it in the box to check its length.
- Give yourself a score from 0 to the criterion's points. Start with the lowest scores when you revise.
Scoring criteria
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Quality of Program Idea · 40 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 11):
The SOI is responsive to program framework. The idea is communicated well and is feasible. SOI’s that promote crea�ve approaches to address program objec�ves are highly encouraged. The proposed �meline is reasonable.
of 40 points
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Organiza�onal Capacity and Record on Previous Grants · 30 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 11):
The SOI should demonstrate the organiza�on’s exper�se and previous experience in administering programs. If a local partner is iden�fied SOI should briefly describe the partner’s role and experience.
of 30 points
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Program Planning/Ability to Achieve Objec�ves · 15 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 11):
The SOI should clearly ar�culate proposed program ac�vi�es and expected results towards achieving program objec�ves and goal(s).
of 15 points
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Budget · 15 points
What reviewers look for (notice p. 11):
The budget jus�fica�on should be detailed. Costs should be reasonable in rela�on to the proposed ac�vi�es and an�cipated results. The budget should be realis�c, accoun�ng for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed ac�vi�es.
of 15 points
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Your total: ______ of 100 points
Length limits in this notice
- Page limit (see quote): 3 pages max (notice p. 3) “Applicants must first submit a concise (3 pages maximum) statement of interest designed to clearly communicate projects idea and objec�ves.”
- Statement of Interest: 3 pages max (notice p. 8) “The Statement of Interest (3 pages maximum) should contain sufficient informa�on that anyone not familiar with it would understand exactly what the applicant wants to do.”
Page limits can't be checked from pasted text. Check them in your word processor with the notice's font, spacing and margins. A limit marked “suggested” isn't a rule. Word and character counts can differ between tools (and some forms count spaces), so leave some room.
Count any text
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See how others wrote it
Sample proposals agencies have posted. Read them for structure; don't copy their words.
Built from the official notice's scoring section. Criteria, points and quotes come from the notice; the three questions under each criterion are GrantMe's, not the funder's.