SPECIAL SELF-HELP PROGRAM (698-9901): FY 2005

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001878 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/C, AF/EPS AND AF/EB; USAID/W FOR AFR/DP/PAB; BAMAKO FOR USAID/OFM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID CD SUBJECT: SPECIAL SELF-HELP PROGRAM (698-9901): FY 2005 FINAL REPORT AND REQUEST FOR FY 2006 FUNDING ¶1. Summary: Special Self-Help (SSH) program budget allowance for FY 2005 of $77,000 was transmitted to Post August 10 by USAID accounting station in Bamako and was fully obligated September 26 with the signing of seven Individual Activity Agreements (IAAs) during a ceremony at the Embassy. The continued smooth functioning of this program, the tangible results which accrue to the beneficiary groups and the public relations boost derived from regular visits by Embassy personnel to project sites militate for a modest increase in our FY 2006 SSH program. Post requests an FY 2006 SSH budget allowance of $90,000. End summary. ¶2. Upon receipt of its FY 2005 SSH allowance of $77,000, the Embassy's project selection committee met and approved six activities from more than 200 funding requests received during the past year. A signing ceremony was organized September 26 during which the Ambassador praised representatives from the six beneficiary groups for their initiative, while underscoring the important role of civil society in functioning democracies. Three of the seven activities are primarily for income generation (food processing, vegetable gardening, leather crafts),three are health-oriented activities (borehole well, urban waste recycling, clinic construction),and one is to build a river crossing to facilitate market access. In accordance with SSH guidelines, an effort was made for geographic diversity: the seven activities will be implemented in seven of the country's 18 regions, from Fada in Chad's northeastern Ennedi region to Moundou in the deep south. ¶3. A summary of the seven activity agreements obligated during FY 2005 follows: Number: SSH-05-677-01 Name/location: Mill for Besme (Tandjile) Description: This activity will result in the installation/operation of a diesel-powered mill, used by women for the grinding of cereals (millet and sorghum) into flour. It will also generate income for the women's beneficiary group. Estimated bens: 3,340 persons U.S. contribution: $7,000 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: in progress; mill has been purchased and shipped to village Unliquidated balance: $2,939 Number: SSH-05-677-02 Name/location: Borehole Well Installation for Chinguil (Guera) Description: This activity will result in the installation of a borehole well and hand pump for the provision of potable water. Estimated bens: 2,980 persons U.S. contribution: $8,000 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: in progress; borehole has been drilled and capped with hand pump; payment to vendor in progress Unliquidated balance: $750 (est) Number: SSH-05-677-03 Name/location: City Sanitation and Waste Recycling (N'Djamena) Description: This activity will result in the collection, sorting, salvage and recycling of household waste in a N'Djamena neighborhood. Estimated bens: n/a (42 association members/number of indirect beneficiaries not estimated) U.S. contribution: $10,500 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: in progress; procurement procedures for project material have been initiated Unliquidated balance: $10,500 Number: SSH-05-677-04 Name/location: Reinforcing Batha River Ford near Am Dam (Ouaddai) Description: This activity will result in the construction of a 60-meter ford across the sandy river bottom of the Batha River, dry most of the year. Estimated bens: 13,000 persons U.S. contribution: $14,500 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: implementation not yet initiated Unliquidated balance: $14,500 Number: SSH-05-677-05 Name/location: Health Clinic Construction (B.E.T.- Fada) Description: This activity will result in the construction of a health clinic to serve the inhabitants of Yogorga and Edji neighborhoods on the outskirts of Fada. Estimated bens: n/a U.S. contribution: $22,000 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: in progress; procurement of construction materials has been initiated by the grantee Unliquidated balance: $22,000 Number: SSH-05-677-06 Name/location: Vegetable Gardening in Ati (Batha) Description: This activity will result in vegetable production using an existing well for the water source, while funding a motor-pump and irrigation infrastructure. Estimated bens: n/a U.S. contribution: $5,500 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: implementation not yet initiated Unliquidated balance: $5,500 Number: SSH-05-677-07 Name/location: Strengthening Leather Crafts in Moundou (Logone Occidental) Description: This activity will result in the construction of a workshop and the provision of equipment to a group of handicapped individuals in Moundou who have already been trained in the leather crafts. Estimated bens: 16 association members U.S. contribution: $8,500 Date obligated: September 26, 2005 Status: in progress; procurement procedures for project material has been initiated Unliquidated balance: $4,514 The amount obligated for these seven activities totals $76,000. In addition, the Embassy issued September 27, 2005 Purchase Order No. NDJ-05-M-0428 in the amount of $1,000 for the construction of project identification signs. The FY 2005 SSH allowance of $77,000 was thus 100 pct obligated. ¶4. Embassy relies heavily on the types of projects funded under the SSH program to support its Economic Growth, Democracy and Mutual Understanding goals, and trusts that the modest increase in its FY 2006 SSH budget request to $90,000, as stated in para one above, will be given careful consideration. TAMLYN NNNN