PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND FOR REFUGEES: FUNDING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005642 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PRM/ANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL EAID KPAL JO SUBJECT: PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND FOR REFUGEES: FUNDING REQUEST FOR JORDAN REF: A. STATE 4483 ¶B. WARD/POLASCHIK E-MAIL OF 6/28/04 ¶1. Ambassador requests $40,000 from the PRM Ambassadors' Fund for Refugees to support two projects: a women-only internet cafe at the Women's Program Center in Baqa'a refugee camp ($20,000) and expansion of the legal aid office and women's rights awareness program at the Women's Program Center in Wihdat refugee camp ($20,000). Both projects would fill critical gaps in refugee assistance, providing much-needed financial support to refugee community-based organizations and promoting PRM cross-cutting goals of gender equality and protection. Per ref b, we understand that we can submit two proposals this year, to take advantage of the funds Embassy Tel Aviv is unable to use in Gaza. We also understand that the deadline for submitting proposals has been extended to July 8. Descriptions of the projects follow. -------------- WOMEN-ONLY INTERNET CAFE IN BAQA'A CAMP -------------- ¶2. The Women's Program Center (WPC) at Baqa'a camp seeks $20,000 in funding to build a women-only internet cafe on the top floor of its center and equip the cafe with ten computers, a printer and a server. The WPC Executive Committee reports that women and girls in Baqa'a camp do not take advantage of the camp's existing four internet cafes due to cultural prohibitions against mingling with men in public spaces. Based on preliminary surveys of interest, the WPC believes that 400 women and girls would use the cafe each month. The cafe would be open from 10 am until 6 pm (longer in the summer) and would charge 350 fils (roughly 50 cents) per hour of internet usage. The cafe would also sell drinks and small snacks to the internet users. The WPC will use $5,050 of its own funds to purchase five computers, ten computer tables and the initial ASDL subscription. The U.S. contribution would pay for construction costs, purchase of another five computers, a server, a printer and chairs. WPC leaders believe the internet cafe would not only be self-sustaining but would also generate income for the center's other programs, netting an estimated 900 JD (USD 1,260) per year in income for the center. The project would fill a critical gap in IT programs in Palestinian refugee communities and also further U.S. goals of promoting gender equality and greater access to information technology. ¶3. Established in 1987, the Baqa'a WPC is an independent, community-based organization with quasi-NGO status. It is governed by an eight-person board and has appropriate financial and management controls in place. It receives technical assistance, including in financial and management oversight, from UNRWA. The Baqa'a WPC currently offers training in basic computer literacy to 13 women per month in a small, outdated computer lab. It also offers separate classes in hairdressing, sewing and fitness, as well as daycare, legal aid and group lending programs. The center recently began a job-networking club for women in the camp. The center serves 1,200 women per month and supports its programming through rental income from two commercial spaces in the camp. ¶4. Estimated Budget (in USD) Embassy Contribution: Project Plan Design 650 Engineer 1400 External Construction 5700 Internal Construction 5700 One Printer 400 Network Server 1000 Five Computers 3500 10 Chairs 300 Contingencies (6.75 percent) 1350 TOTAL: 20000 Baqa'a WPC Contribution: Internet Subscription 850 Five Computers 3500 10 Computer Desks 700 Total Cost of Project: 25050 ¶5. Baqa'a 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 funds to the intended recipient agency. -------------- -------------- LEGAL AID OFFICE FOR WOMEN'S PROGRAM CENTER AT WIHDAT REFUGEE CAMP -------------- -------------- ¶6. One of the most active and self-sufficient community-based refugee organizations in Jordan, the Wihdat Camp Women's Program Center (WPC) seeks $20,000 to expand its legal aid services and women's rights program. The WPC would use U.S. funding to equip its new legal aid office and conduct 20 women's rights awareness programs in Jordan's ten refugee camps. With its own funds, the WPC would hire two additional attorneys (bringing total on-staff to four) who would conduct the women's rights awareness programs and offer legal advice to the seven camps that currently do not have legal aid offices. The WPC has nearly completed the physical expansion of its legal aid office, using $11,200 of its own funds to build new office space. ¶7. Separately, the WPC will use funds from four new income generation projects (commercial spaces in the heart of Wihdat's bustling commercial center) to establish a "Trust Fund" for community-based organizations that serve refugees in Jordan's nine other camps. Administered jointly by UNRWA and representatives from the ten camps, the Trust Fund will invest still more seed money into new commercial space in Wihdat camp; rental income from these spaces will then be distributed among the other refugee camps to help their community-based organizations become financially independent and increase their capacity. ¶8. The expanded legal aid program is therefore just one element of Wihdat WPC's outreach and capacity-building program for other community-based organizations throughout Jordan. The project would be sustained in following years with revenue from the WPC's existing income generation projects. The project would fill a critical gap in funding for community-based women's rights programs and would also work toward strengthening and building the capacity of other refugee community-based organizations, a key recommendation from UNRWA's Geneva Conference. The project would also further PRM cross-cutting goals of refugee protection (through promoting awareness of women's rights and expanding access to legal advice) and gender equality. ¶9. Established in 1987, the Wihdat WPC is an independent, community-based organization with quasi-NGO status. It is governed by an eight-person board and has appropriate financial and management controls in place, including technical assistance from UNRWA. In addition to the legal aid program, the center offers courses in hairdressing, sewing and computer literacy, as well as a daycare program and income generation projects. It serves 2,000 women in the eastern and southern parts of Amman. ¶10. Estimated budget (in USD) Embassy Contribution: Women's Rights Programs 14000 Secretary 2000 SIPDIS Office Furniture 1800 Cleaning Staff 1640 One Computer 560 TOTAL: 20000 Wihdat WPC Contribution (in USD) Two New Attorneys 11256 Total Cost of Project: 31256 ¶11. Wihdat WPC would implement the project, including the contracting of new staff for the legal aid office. Refcoord would monitor the project. Post has the authority and procedures in place to transfer funds to the intended recipient agency. GNEHM