MEPI PROJECTS SHOWING RESULTS IN YEMEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000310

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KMCA KMPI YM DEMOCRATIC REFORM
SUBJECT: MEPI PROJECTS SHOWING RESULTS IN YEMEN


1. Summary. MEPI programs are making progress and
solidifying MEPI's track record in Yemen. CHF's vocational
training center, forming a new partnership with local NGO
Girls World Communication Center (GWCC),opened classes
beginning in February. IFES has begun implementation of the
GIS Boundary Delineation project, and the Financial Services
Volunteer Corps (FSVC) will visit Aden mid-February to work
on a restructuring plan for the National Bank of Yemen.
Participants in the MEPI-funded e-learning initiative
concluded their training February 3, marking the occasion
with an enthusiastic graduation ceremony. End Summary.

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CHF Finds a Match
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2. CHF International began work in Yemen in June 2004.
Funded by a MEPI Standing Program Announcement, CHF initially
partnered with local women's NGO SOUL to found the Yemen
Economic Development Initiative (YEDI). The project's core
feature was a vocational training center for non-college
bound youth in such fields as graphic design, bookkeeping,
and business English. YEDI planned to offer internships with
companies, local business apprenticeships, and a development
center to help entrepreneurs start their own businesses.


3. The project was delayed six months, largely due to the
departure of two CHF Yemen directors. When current Director
Walid al-Husseini arrived, YEDI was under pressure to produce
the same number of trainees in half the time, creating
tension between CHF and SOUL. In December 2004, SOUL
formally withdrew from the project and the project's future
appeared threatened. Gabool al-Mutawakil, Managing Director
of GWCC, confided that she had great respect for SOUL and
believed that the breakdown was due simply to an
organizational mismatch.


4. In January, CHF partnered with another local women's NGO,
GWCC, specializing in youth training. GWCC has helped
recruit teachers, furnished the facility, and is evaluating
potential trainees. They are eager and able to take over
management of the center from CHF in the future, and CHF is
investing in capacity building to help them do so. According
to the staff, relations between the two organizations are
positive. The first round of classes began on February 5.
CHF still claims that it can meet all of its stated
objectives without a grant extension from MEPI, and plans to
host a March 5 ceremony to celebrate the center's success.
PD will work to ensure appropriate media coverage of the
event.

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IFES Draws the Lines
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5. IFES Yemen has begun work on a two-year, 1.2 million USD
project focused on the 2006 presidential and local council
elections. The project's main goal is to assist the Supreme
Council for Elections and Referenda (SCER) implement a GIS
system to delineate electoral boundaries. Districting proved
highly controversial in the 2003 election, when the SCER
conducted delineation behind closed doors without consulting
local councils or opposition parties. IFES intends to
introduce a more effective approach, creating an inter-party
supervision committee and processing census data through GIS
to avoid gerrymandering and institutionalize an impartial
system.


6. Success is dependent on the timely arrival of census data
from the Central Statistics Office (CSO),and SCER's ability
to adopt GIS. The CSO's progress is uncertain, but IFES
Director Paul Harris is optimistic that the data will be
available in six months. IFES asked the SCER to pay for the
GIS hardware, and SCER has agreed, but is looking for donor
commitment to support accompanying software and training for
135,000 USD. IFES is requesting these funds from major
donors.


7. In an effort to build SCER's independence, IFES formally
told SCER Chairman Khalid al-Sharef that 2006 would be the
final year for U.S. support. Harris believes that Sharef
understood the message that SCER must make the transition to
an independent and self-sustaining organization within the
next two years. (Note: SCER independence would demonstrate
the ROYG's commitment to democratic reform, a constant theme
in Embassy dialogue with the ROYG as it seeks to qualify for
MCC. End note).

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FSVC Touches Shore in Aden
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8. In an effort to help improve Yemen's investment climate,
the Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) will undertake
its first consulting project in Yemen February 19-24.
Following on their December assessment visit, FSVC will work
with the National Bank of Yemen (NBY) to analyze proposals
and select a consulting firm for the bank's restructuring
initiative. NBY is one of four government-owned banks and
its restructuring efforts have been stalled for five years.
This bank is the only national bank headquartered in Aden,
and is therefore central to municipal planning for commercial
investment related to the Aden Port and the Aden Free Zone,
both central to Yemen's future economic development. FSVC
has scheduled additional meetings with the Agricultural Bank
and the Local Economic Development Department at the
Governor's Office in Aden. FSVC will discuss future project
proposals with each group.

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E-Learning Graduates its First Class
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9. On February 3, Pol/Econoff attended a graduation ceremony
for participants in the e-learning program funded by a 1.5
million USD MEPI Education Pillar grant. The initial phase
of funding covered equipment and was administered by
AMIDEAST. The training portion of the grant was run by EDC,
an international education NGO, which subcontracted
instruction to a number of organizations, including iEarn.
The graduates were teachers from five Sanaa schools who had
completed the third stage of training. After successful
completion of methodology and information technology modules
in the classroom, trainees learned to develop regional and
international networks to begin designing their own on-line
learning programs. EDC now expects these teachers to provide
"cascading training" to their fellow teachers in the Sanaa
school system. The same courses will soon be offered to
teachers in Aden.


10. Response to the program was extremely positive, and many
participants expressed their thanks for U.S. support.
E-learning was also embraced by the Ministry of Education,
which is encouraging EDC to offer similar classes within the
Ministry's training centers. Project Director Towfik Sufian
said that, at present, e-learning is Yemen in still in the
development phase and he does not have the staff or resources
to expand the program, but hoped this would change in the
future.


11. Comment. MEPI programs are playing an increasingly
important role in furthering the Mission's reform agenda in
Yemen. In education, the MEPI projects are helping improve
the quality of the workforce, contributing to preparation for
a post-petroleum economy and the creation of domestic
investment. FSVC restructuring assistance will provide a
model for reform for Yemen's financial institutions to make
economic growth possible. IFES's delineation project is part
of the Mission's broader efforts to support independent
institutions and give ordinary Yemenis a role in determining
their own future. CHF's difficulties reflect the capacity
issues faced by NGOs in Yemen. Future MEPI projects will
help build NGO capabilities in Yemen so that they can be more
effective in realizing their shared goals. End comment.
Krajeski