Assessment of Special Self-Help (SSH) Funding Needs

UNCLAS ACCRA 000411

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS
PASS AID FOR AFR/DP

E.O 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAID GH
SUBJECT: Assessment of Special Self-Help (SSH) Funding Needs
for FY 2006.



1. Post requests SSH funding in the amount of $120,000 for
FY2006. The request is based on a number of factors that
have made post's Self-Help program a success and on Post's
desire to maintain this strong grassroots program.


2. The SSH coordinator reviewed 400 formal applications in
FY05. That demonstrates the growing awareness and
popularity of the Self-Help program, which has generated
tremendous good will through coverage in state and
independent media. Thirty three applicants qualified for
funding ranged from $2,500 to $11,000. Applicants
collectively requested $186,179.00. The SSH committee
selected twenty two projects for an allocation of
$70,000.00, which means that fewer than 10% of proposals
received were selected for funding. As in prior years, many
worthwhile projects were not funded because of inadequate
resources.


3. Post was able to fund twenty two projects because we
focused on small-budget projects. The largest commitment was
$4,500 for a women's skills training center. The $120,000
allocation requested would allow post to fund projects that
went unfunded in FY05, as well as projects that were passed
over in FY04 because the costs exceeded $5,000.


4. The SSH office has sought to ensure that all ten of
Ghana's regions benefit from the program and that grants are
distributed for projects in health, education, environmental
protection, water/sanitation, housing and income generation.


5. The development of the rural areas - a prime goal of the
SSH program - will help solidify and strengthen Ghana's
efforts in democratization and ease pressure on the
country's urban centers. Our Self-Help projects instill a
sense of civic responsibility and pride in the communities
that undertake them; this in turn, contributes to a better
understanding of democracy and the benefits derived from
local empowerment.


6. Post will continue to target self-help projects that show
a strong level of community support and involvement, and for
which the community has a minimum amount of technical skill
to ensure the continued and successful operation of the
project. To ensure wide distribution of available funds and
to encourage truly small-scale projects, post established a
ceiling of $10,000 for any single grant but had to reduce it
to $5,000 to enable Mission to reach all ten regions. In
FY06, post intends to fund projects above $5,000 to increase
press participation and reduce administrative costs. Post
will continue to work with project leaders to ensure that
estimates for quantities and cost of materials are realistic
and that materials purchases are sufficient to bring the
projects to completion.


7. The following is a summary of projects targeted in FY05
but for which funding was not available. An expanded
budget for FY06 would allow for funding of these projects
and other worthy proposals post identifies during the year.

Brong Ahafo Region:
Sector: Income Generation - Mpatasie Cashew Processing
Center
Project: To complete Processing Center building and purchase
equipment
Request: $9,204
Community's contribution: Building to roofing level and
labor.

Eastern Region
Sector: Education
Project: To complete a 3-unit classroom building.
Request: $9,105
Community contribution: Previous partial construction and
labor.

Northern Region-Tamale
Sector: Water/Health
Project: Construct 5-hand dug wells.
Request: $6441
Community contribution: Labor and transportation.

Ashanti Region - Bekwai SDA Health Center Housing Block
Sector: Housing/health
Project: To construct a 2-units duplex for health staff
quarters.
Request: $10,000
Community's contribution: land, cement, iron rods, stones
and labor.

Bridgewater