PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND REQUEST FOR PALESTINIAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 004082 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/ANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF EAID KPAL LE SUBJECT: PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND REQUEST FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN JORDAN REF: A. STATE 15910 ¶B. JUNE 25 BARTLETT/POLASCHIK E-MAIL ¶1. Summary: Ambassador requests $40,000 under the PRM Ambassadors' fund for refugees in the Middle East, to purchase a 14-passenger minibus for the Community Rehabilitation Center (CRC) at Baqa'a camp ($20,000) and to build an addition to the Women's Program Center (WPC) at Jebel Hussein camp ($20,000). The minibus purchase would allow Baqa'a camp's CRC to shuttle 215 disabled students from their homes to the center, and to bring therapists to homebound disabled children. Both the GOJ's Department of Palestinian Affairs and UNRWA have identified support for disabled programs as one of the greatest needs in the refugee community. PRM support for an addition to Jebel Hussein camp's WPC would allow the center to serve an additional 100 vocational trainees per month, provide additional revenue-generating programs and further overall USG refugee goals of strengthening women's programs. Both projects would respond to critical gaps in refugee assistance programs. We are submitting two funding requests based on PRM's indication (ref b) that up to $40,000 may be available for projects in Jordan. If only $20,000 is available, our first priority is the minibus for Baqa'a camp's CRC. End summary. A Bus for Disabled Children -------------- ¶2. In separate meetings with refcoord, both the GOJ's Department of Palestinian Affairs and UNRWA relief officials identified support for disabled programs as one of the greatest needs in Jordan's refugee community. UNRWA provides assistance to disabled Palestinian refugees through Jordan's 10 Community Rehabilitation Centers (CRC) -- independent, community-based organizations that are severely underfunded. Although UNRWA provides financial and technical support to the CRCs in Jordan (an average of $12,500 per center per year),this is not enough to cover the centers' running costs, much less major purchases. In addition to UNRWA support, the CRC in Baqa'a camp (established in 1998 with significant support from PRM) receives rental income from commercial properties it owns in the camp, as well as income from the nominal fees paid by families who benefit from its services. The center relies heavily on contributions from international NGOs and local embassies. The center is managed by an active, voluntary board and well-qualified professional staff. With technical support from UNRWA, it also has strong financial management procedures in place. ¶3. PRM funding is requested to purchase a minibus for the center, to shuttle to and from the center the 215 disabled children it serves, and to bring therapists to homebound disabled children -- a new program that can be implemented only with a new bus. The center currently provides services for the hearing-impaired; speech therapy; physiotherapy; primary education for the mentally impaired; and family counseling services. ¶4. Baqa'a camp's CRC would implement the program, purchasing the bus from a local vendor as soon as funding is available. The GOJ's Department of Palestinian Affairs, which identified this project to refcoord, has indicated it will facilitate a tax-exempt purchase and vehicle registration. The sole cost of the project is the $20,000 purchase price, which reflects local market value for a 14-passenger minibus. Refcoord would monitor the project. ¶5. Support for this key disabled assistance program is the Ambassador's first funding priority. Expanded Programs for Refugee Women -------------- ¶6. Jordan's 27 women's program centers (WPC) provide vocational training, daycare, fitness and education programs to Palestinian refugee women. Although they receive some financial and technical support from UNRWA (an average of $8,000 per center per year),these independent, community-based organizations do not have enough resources to cover capital improvements. The centers' programs typically are self-sustaining, financed by the fees charged to course participants and daycare clients. Support for the WPCs would further overall USG refugee goals of strengthening women's programs. ¶7. The WPC in Jebel Hussein camp was established in 1987, with significant support from UNRWA. It currently provides vocational training (sewing, computer and hairdressing courses),daycare and fitness program to 220 women per month. It also runs a groundbreaking legal aid bureau (one of only two in Jordan),where Palestinian refugee women can seek specific legal advice and also attend workshops and seminars on more general legal issues. The center is governed by a dynamic, voluntary board of 7 women, with strong organizational skills, and has stringent management and financial controls. ¶8. PRM funding is requested to build a 107 square meter addition to the existing Jebel Hussein WPC building, which would enable the center to expand its programs significantly and serve an additional 100 trainees per month. (All training currently takes place in a cramped library and two classrooms.) The addition also would include space for a small canteen, which would provide the center with another source of income. The women's committee will provide $6,740 of its own funds toward construction costs. A contribution of $20,000 is requested to cover the remaining construction costs. A budget breakdown reflecting both the USG contribution and the Women,s Committee contribution is as follows: Project Costs Design Plans $ 350 Site Supervision $ 2,120 External Construction $11,300 Internal finishing $10,850 Inflation & contingencies $ 2,120 Total Cost $26,470 Women,s Program Center (WPC) Contribution Design Plan $ 350 Site Supervision $ 2,210 Internal Finishing $ 1,880 Inflation & Contingencies $ 2,120 Total $ 6,470 USG Contribution External Contribution $11,300 Internal Finishing $ 8,700 Total $20,000 ¶9. Jebel Hussein Camp's WPC would implement the project, including contracting and supervision of all construction services. Refcoord would monitor the project. Administrative Note -------------- ¶10. Post has the authority and procedures in place to transfer these funds to the intended recipient agencies. Gnehm