Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NDJAMENA1741
2005-12-07 16:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ndjamena
Cable title:  

USAID/OFDA PROGRAMMING IN EASTERN CHAD

Tags:  EAID SOCI PREF PREL CD USAID 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

071633Z Dec 05


ACTION AF-00 

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 A-00 CA-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 
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 NIMA-00 EPAU-00 PA-00 MCC-00 PM-00 GIWI-00 PRS-00 
 P-00 ISNE-00 SP-00 IRM-00 TRSE-00 FMP-00 EPAE-00 
 IIP-00 SCRS-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 G-00 
 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /002W
 ------------------6AB4D1 071759Z /38 
FM AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2698
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 
INFO AMEMBASSY ACCRA 
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR 
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 
AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 
USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001741

SIPDIS


STATE FOR AF/C, AF/EPS, EB AND PRM
USAID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA, FFP, CMM AND OTI

ACCRA FOR USAID/WARP
NAIROBI FOR OFDA AND RFFPO
DAKAR FOR RFFPO
LIBREVILLE FOR REO, M. CASSETTA
ROME FOR FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SOCI PREF PREL CD USAID
SUBJECT: USAID/OFDA PROGRAMMING IN EASTERN CHAD

REF: NDJAMENA 01708

Reftel provided summary report of USG team which
conducted project monitoring trip to eastern Chad
November 17-25. Final nine paragraphs were truncated
from that message during transmission and are being
repeated below.

---
CRS
---


39. Funds were provided through CRS to its local
partner, Secours Catholique pour la Development
(SECADEV),a leading Chadian NGO working in three
refugee camps on behalf of UNHCR. Based in Abeche,
SECADEV has been active in the area since 1987, and has
also received funding directly from CRS, from CARITAS
and other international sources. The OFDA-funded inputs
consisting of vegetable seeds and garden tools are
targeted to 7,708 participants in 48 villages near the
Kounoungo and Farchana refugee camps. The team visited
a garden plot at Kondoko village, located at a distance
of 6 km from the Kounoungo camp, where tomatoes and
water melon were in abundance; the team also met with
the SECADEV regional staff in Abeche.


40. According to the Kondoko village leader, the
village has about 150 families scattered along the wadi
where they practice some vegetable gardening using
traditional shallow wells. With the support of SECADEV,
which has provided tomato, pepper, onion, melon,
watermelon and lettuce seeds, and will shortly
distribute tools including watering cans, wheelbarrows
and hoes, the villagers have a sizable vegetable garden.


41. The village leader said they plan to keep most of
the vegetables for their own use, but do sell some in
Guereda, and sell watermelons to dealers who visit them
with pickup trucks. They are appreciative of the help
provided by SECADEV, especially the technical expertise
in preparing the soil beds and strengthening the
traditional wells. They said their children are
healthier, they have more disposable income and an
alternate food/income source to their livestock.


42. The SECADEV representative was well-known by the
villagers, who gave the group a warm reception, clearly

thankful for the project. If the villagers are able to
retain some seeds from their crop and expertise from
SECADEV's technicians, then the project should have some
lasting benefit.

---
FAO
---


43. The three objectives of FAO's project are to
provide material inputs and technical advice for rain-
fed and irrigated agriculture, vaccinate 500,000 animals
and establish coordination in the food security sector.
It also hopes to shift efforts on behalf of refugees
from food distribution to food security. To this end,
it reports that most local authorities are open to the
idea of making government land available for refugee
cultivation, as long as the international community is
willing to help with required funding.


44. The team was not able to visit any actual FAO
projects. Because the OFDA funds arrived too late for
the 2005 rain-fed cereal season, FAO only opened the
office in Abeche in early October. It has brought in an
experienced Burundian agronomist to manage the program,
with three local experts to assist. FAO has also
received a grant for 670,000 Euros from the European
Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) for similar

activities in the area.


45. According to the international consultant, the need
for coordination is growing. There are 12 NGOs now
engaged in food security in eastern Chad. The
ministries of agriculture and livestock are both
represented in Abeche by delegates, but they are
constrained by a lack of logistical capacity and
experience with international NGOs. FAO will focus on
supporting government coordination efforts.


46. In terms of the food security sector in general,
FAO believes a conceptual shift from food provision to
assisting refugees and local people to produce their own
will be important. In the agriculture sector, improved
seeds, research efforts, introduction of improved
cultivation and water management techniques are
required. For livestock, vaccination, marketing, and
animal productivity could be improved. In general, the
FAO consultant believes, eastern Chad has enormous
potential for improved food production, but requires
material resources, expertise and time to achieve it.

--------------
CONCLUSION
--------------


47. OFDA's partners in eastern Chad have gotten off to
a good start. The fact that most are also partners of
UNHCR and State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration means they were able to capitalize on their
existing capacity to get a quick start. It also means
they have a good sense of the tensions and issues
between the refugees and local population.


48. NGOs funded by OFDA need to address several issues
going forward. First, USAID's new branding policy needs
to be communicated to them from their respective
headquarters, and implemented. OFDA's Nairobi rep was
happy, however, to hear from IRC in Bahai that it is
already aware of the new policy and will be implementing
it. Second, they will need to continue making every
effort to fully coordinate activities within their
sectors and geographic areas. Third, it will be
important to maintain the unity of purpose and message
within the assistance community that appears now.
Finally, they will want to step up efforts to keep
embassy assistance officer and Nairobi OFDA rep informed
of developments affecting their projects, and of
progress made.


49. The good rains in eastern Chad this year have
provided a needed respite, and have alleviated some of
the tension between the refugees and Chadians.
Nevertheless, the activities of OFDA's partners and
those funded by UNHCR and other sources on behalf of the
local population are vital to maintain the hospitable
atmosphere and welcome extended to the refugees.

WALL


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