CONGO/B: REPORT OF FY05 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000011 SIPDIS FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V/M - ISABELLE ZSOLDOS AND DEBORAH THOMPSON, AND AF/PDPA - DANIEL WHITMAN PARIS FOR ARS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL AMGT CF SUBJECT: CONGO/B: REPORT OF FY05 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANT - NGO MANAGEMENT I (LEMBE MOUANDZA, PATRICIA) REF A: 04 STATE 099987 REF B: 04 STATE 140953 REF C: 04 STATE 182787 REF D: 04 STATE 265125 ¶1. Program Title: NGO Management I Program Type: Multi-Regional Project Project Number: E/VM-2005-0002 Participant: Lembe Mouandza, Patricia Profession: Lawyer Title: Legal Advisor Employer: Thomas Sankara Pan-African Association Note: Ms. Lembe spoke with DCM on November 12 and presented a 6-page written report. ¶2. Participant's Assessment: Patricia Lembe said that she was particularly impressed by the variety of U.S. NGOs and the variety of relationships they have with funding sources, both public and private. She also noted the strong historic assurance of tax exemption for non-profit organizations and the indirect support provided for charitable activity by the possibility for individual U.S. taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions from taxed income. ¶3. Ms. Lembe particularly liked the ideas for fund- raising and the program focus on leadership as a "process of influencing the thinking behaviors and actions of others toward a shared purpose." She also was impressed by the level of volunteerism in the U.S. and found it useful to work with volunteers for three hours at the San Diego Food Bank. ¶4. Program structure: Ms. Lembe said that, besides the professional part of the program, she enjoyed the historic and cultural excursions. She cited the visit to the Amish community in Ohio, "which largely relies on its own members to solve local concerns without government intervention." ¶5. Goals and Impact: Ms. Lembe said that she planned to apply some of the fund-raising techniques that she learned during the program and to try to recruit more volunteers for her organization. On December 17, she hosted a round-table discussion, with lunch provided by the Embassy, on NGO management. There were 15 participants attended from Brazzaville-based NGOs. Ms. Lembe shared her experiences in the IVLP program and led a discussion on NGO fund-raising, leadership, and administration. Ms. Lembe noted the importance of attracting a variety of funding sources, as well as providing appropriate financial and program reports. She and the other participants reviewed methods for obtaining Congolese government funding, as well as the challenges they faced in recruiting volunteers. DCM discussed the purposes and requirements of USG-funded programs, such as Ambassador's Special Self-Help, Democracy and Human Rights Fund, and Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, as well as the elements of a good application for such funding. The program was received very favorably by the participants. ¶6. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders. MEECE