PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND REQUEST FOR PALESTINIAN

UNCLAS AMMAN 003992 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/ANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF EAID KPAL JO SUBJECT: PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND REQUEST FOR PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN JORDAN REF: A) 02 STATE 66319 B) POLASCHIK/LEVIN JUNE 23 TELCON ¶1. SUMMARY: AMBASSADOR REQUESTS USD 20,000 UNDER THE PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND FOR REFUGEES IN THE MIDDLE EAST TO BUILD A 177 SQUARE-METER ADDITION TO THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM CENTER AT JERASH REFUGEE CAMP. THE ADDITION WILL ALLOW THE CENTER TO ESTABLISH THREE INCOME-GENERATION PROJECTS (WITH A PROJECTED INCOME OF USD 250 PER MONTH) AND EXPAND ITS EXISTING DAYCARE PROGRAM TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 30 CHILDREN. THE INCOME-GENERATION PROJECTS WILL INCREASE THE FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE WOMEN'S CENTER AND ENABLE IT TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO AN ADDITIONAL 35 WOMEN PER MONTH. THE PROJECT ALSO WILL FURTHER OVERALL USG REFUGEE GOALS OF STRENGTHENING AND PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY. WITH ONLY NOMINAL UNRWA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUCH WOMEN'S PROGRAM CENTERS, THIS PROJECT RESPONDS TO A CRITICAL GAP IN REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN JORDAN. PER REF B, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEADLINE FOR OUR SUBMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JULY 3. END SUMMARY. ¶2. THE WOMEN'S PROGRAM CENTER (WPC) IN JERASH REFUGEE CAMP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1989 WITH SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FROM UNRWA. ALTHOUGH IT RECEIVES A MODEST SUBSIDY FROM UNRWA (USD 6,000 PER YEAR),THIS INDEPENDENT, COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATION RELIES ON THE FEES CHARGED TO COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND DAYCARE CLIENTS TO COVER ITS RUNNING COSTS. THE JERASH WPC DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO COVER A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. THE CENTER PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING (SEWING, COMPUTER AND HAIRDRESSING COURSES),DAYCARE, FITNESS AND LEGAL AID PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO WOMEN'S RIGHTS WORKSHOPS. 1,500 WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN THE CENTER'S PROGRAMMING EACH YEAR. A DYNAMIC AND WELL-ORGANIZED VOLUNTARY BOARD OF NINE WOMEN GOVERNS THE CENTER, AND UNRWA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CENTER. MOST OF JERASH CAMP'S RESIDENTS ARE ORIGINALLY FROM GAZA AND THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR JORDANIAN CITIZENSHIP, A SIGNIFICANT SOCIO-ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE. ¶3. PRM FUNDING IS REQUESTED TO CONSTRUCT A 177-SQUARE METER ADDITION TO THE JERASH WPC. THE ADDITIONAL SPACE WILL ALLOW THE CENTER TO ESTABLISH THREE INCOME GENERATION PROJECTS (COMMERCIAL SPACES THAT WILL BE LEASED TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES, INCLUDING THE CAMP'S FIRST PRIVATE FEMALE PHYSICIAN) AND A 50-SQUARE METER ADDITION TO ITS DAYCARE CENTER, ENABLING THE CENTER TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 30 CHILDREN. THE INCOME GENERATION PROJECTS ARE EXPECTED TO GENERATE USD 250 OF REVENUE FOR THE CENTER, STRENGTHENING THE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CENTER. THE WPC WILL USE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO INCREASE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, TO HOLD ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS ON LEGAL AID AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND TO ORGANIZE NEW PROGRAMMING FOR THE CAMP'S YOUTH. THE WOMEN'S CENTER WILL CONTRIBUTE USD 1,400 OF ITS OWN FUNDS TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS. A CONTRIBUTION OF USD 20,000 IS REQUESTED TO COVER THE REMAINING CONSTRUCTION COSTS. ¶4. JERASH CAMP'S WPC WOULD IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT, INCLUDING CONTRACTING AND SUPERVISION OF ALL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. REFCOORD WOULD MONITOR THE PROJECT. POST HAS THE AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO TRANSFER THESE FUNDS TO THE INTENDED RECIPIENT AGENCY. ¶5. PER REF B, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEADLINE FOR OUR SUBMISSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JULY 3. GNEHM