WARRI FORUM ON PEACE PROJECT

UNCLAS ABUJA 002085 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DRL/PHD FOR SONDRA GOVATSKI AND PATRICK HARVEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM NI SUBJECT: WARRI FORUM ON PEACE PROJECT REF: A. STATE 327030 ¶B. ABUJA 1488 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR PUBLICATION ON THE INTERNET OR INTRANET. ¶1. The Warri Forum on Peace, Security and Human Rights is an important project of our Mission in Nigeria, and it has already achieved some successes. One month later than the original approved proposal, and reported in several e-mails to DRL, the Field Research and Writing of the Working Paper Phase 1 of the project was done in August and September 2003, the Phase 2 Analysis and Planning meeting in Abuja with leaders of the Warri communities, the oil companies, NGOs, the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders was October 16, and the Phase 3 Establishment of the Warri Forum three-day conference in Asaba was November 17-20. In the absence of funds from DRL, post received funding from other sources for Phases two and three, and the implementing organization AAPW did Phase 1 out of its own funds. A front-channel septel reporting on the three-day conference will be forthcoming from Consulate General Lagos. ¶2. The fourth Phase, titled Facilitation of the Warri Forum's Meetings and including monitoring continued progress of the Forum, was to be six months from November 2003 to April 2004. To respond to Ref A, Post requests guidance from DRL about continuing the Warri Forum program with DRL funding, for which we see three alternatives: ¶A. Implementing Phase 4 as per the original proposal and budget approved by DRL, where the grantee AAPW would facilitate continuing activities for only six months, spending USD 7,578. ¶B. Expanding the project beyond its original communication/conflict resolution/peacebuilding focus to tackle root causes of the conflicts in the Warri area per Ref B, and likely spending close to the USD 50,000 figure in the original DRL approval. ¶C. Extending the originally approved project's Phase 4 Facilitation from six months to one year, improving the Warri Forum's sustainability, with a budget of around USD 14,000. ¶3. Post recommends Option C. The preliminary budget breakdown would be: Honoraria - 2 persons for 36 days at USD 100 per day, totaling USD 7200. Lodging - 2 persons for 24 days at USD 40 per day, totaling USD 1920. MI&E - 2 persons for 36 days at USD 48 per day, totaling USD ¶3456. Travel - 1 person for 12 days at USD 115 per day, totaling USD 1380. ¶4. If DRL decides on HRDF funding for this option, we will prepare a grant agreement draft with AAPW, the implementing organization, per Ref A modified in line with DRL's decision. Please advise. Please also send an info copy of all cables and e-mail on this subject to Consulate General Lagos, slugged for Economic Officer Jeff Mazur, who is now handling the Corporate Responsibility portfolio for Warri and the rest of the Delta. MEECE