BRAZIL: SECRETARY'S INITIATIVE ON GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM

UNCLAS BRASILIA 001922 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/CIP/BA - NICOLAS FETCHKO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS EINT EAID PHUM BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL: SECRETARY'S INITIATIVE ON GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM (GIFT) AND PERTINENT USAID PROGRAMS REF: STATE 142147 ¶1. This cable responds to reftel request for information on USAID programs in Brazil that would be supportive of the Global Internet Freedom "GIFT" objectives. The three USAID programs described below have a significant internet access component: ¶A. Project Name: Youth Employability Program Recipient: The American Institutes for Research Project Description: Expanding disadvantaged youth's access to employment opportunities through ICT-based training IT Component: Provision of ICT-based, basic, intermediate and advanced training to 4,000 youth from poor communities in Northeast Brazil. Training includes Microsoft Office tools, internet access and research, web design and computer programming. USAID utilizes a network of 20 ICT community based schools that are equipped through private sector and individual donations. FY 05 Funding: U.S. $800,000 FY 06 Funding: U.S. $755,000 ¶B. Project Name: Productive Uses of Renewable Energy - Digital Inclusion Component Recipient: Winrock International Project Description: Installation of seven solar-powered and satellite-based internet access telecenters in remote communities in Brazil's North and Northeast regions. Five telecenters were installed in the sate of Alagoas and two in the state of Ceara, providing internet access to disadvantaged groups of society. FY 05 Funding: U.S. $57,000 FY 06 Funding: U.S. $0.00 ¶C. Project Name: At-risk Youth Renewable Energy Training Recipient: Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy Institute - IDER Project Description: Renewable energy and information technology training provided to youths at risk in the states of Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte. Total duration of training is 392 hours over a seven-month timeframe. 170 youths were trained in 2005 and 2006. FY 05 Funding: U.S. $70,000 FY 06 Funding: U.S. $100,000 SOBEL