ZIMBABWEQS AMBASSADORQS SPECIAL SELF-HELP PROGRAM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000093 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/S FOR BNEULING AF/EPS FOR CAROL TRIMBLE NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE USDOC FOR ROBERT TELCHIN TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA, B. CUSHMAN PASS USTR FOR FLORIZELLE LISER STATE PASS USAID FOR MARJORIE COPSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV PREL ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWEQS AMBASSADORQS SPECIAL SELF-HELP PROGRAM FINAL REPORT FOR FY2005 AND FUNDING REQUEST FOR FY 2006 REF: STATE 1255 ¶1. (U) Post does not anticipate returning any of its USD 100,000 FY 2005 Self-Help Allowance for re-allocation. Funds were obligated on September 30, 2005 as outlined in paragraph 3 below. ¶2. (U) For FY 2006, post requests an increase in Self-Help funding from USD 100,000 to USD 120,000 for two reasons. First, the deteriorating economic situation here has led to more frequent and greater disruptions (deliveries disrupted by fuel shortages, hyperinflation-associated complications, etc.) to overall project administration, adding to per project costs. Second, the profile of humanitarian assistance in our bilateral agenda here has grown with Zimbabwe's deepening humanitarian crises and the deterioration in bilateral relations. Accordingly, the alleviation of suffering and positive publicity generated by Self-Help projects is increasingly important to achieving our MPP goals. ¶3. (U) Post funded 13 projects in FY 2005: 5 income generation projects, 5 water projects, and 3 supply requests for a training facility, medical clinic, and compost toilet producer. Project NumberQProject Name Amount Funded Description IAA-5-613-01QYouth Coalition Center Allocation: QUSD 6,000.00 The Project trains youths in income-generating projects and assists orphans with school fees and purchases of uniforms. A qualified brick molder currently trains the youths using two hand molders. However, the hand molders produce only 500 substandard bricks for sale per day despite a more than fourfold greater demand. The center is in a position to provide building materials for community members impacted by Operation Restore Order. SSH funds will provide an electric brick-molding machine, which can produce more than 1250 bricks per day while improving the quality of production. IAA-5-613-02QNew Error WomenQs Sewing Project Allocation: QUSD 3,000.00 In 2003, a group of HIV-affected women formed this sewing co-operative aimed at training disadvantaged and HIV-positive women and girls in making school uniforms for local schools. SSH funds will provide new sewing machines, an embroidering machine, and spare parts to produce more and better quality uniforms to generate income and meet local demand. IAA-5-613-03QKufunda Learning Village Allocation:QUSD 1,000.00 The project is designed to assist poor rural communities to build easy cheap compost toilets as an alternative to both the domestically popular "Blair" toilet, which many cannot afford, and the bush. The toilets provide rich humus for planting fruit trees and growing vegetables in gardens and fields. Members of this organization are working with 5 local communities and have already supplied 100 compost toilets to each community. SSH funds will provide materials for 65 compost toilet starter kits. IAA-5-613-04QKapiri Grinding Mill Allocation:QUSD 7,000.00 HARARE 00000093 002 OF 003 SSH fund will provide an income-generating grinding mill and materials for housing the mill in the local community. The local School Development Committee will provide 25 percent of the total cost of the project. IAA-5-613-05QMukaro Community Gardening Project Allocation:QUSD 6,000.00 With the help of the Rural Unity for Development Organization (RUDO),the 259-member community has worked in 39 villages in three wards to provide more than 900 orphans with access to community gardens through the purchase of materials and training in organic farming methods. Proceeds from the sale of vegetables have contributed to the purchase of clothes and food, and to school fees for these orphans. SSH funds will provide fencing, start-up materials, and toilets for the completion of an eight-hectare herbal plantation. IAA-5-613-06 Bonda Art & Craft Allocation:QUSD 8,000.00 This 30-woman co-operative, established in 1993, produces batik products using local materials such as cotton and sadza (the local corn-based food staple). SSH funds will provide new drying racks, a tin roof, and other materials to expand production. The funds will also be used to assist this group in marketing its products internationally. IAA-5-613-07 Dzidzai Foundation Trust Allocation:QUSD 9,000.00 This registered community organization offers training in sewing, knitting, and catering skills to women and youths who are unable to pursue further academic education. Formed in the early 1980s by 13 women, the organization built a training center with financial assistance from Norwegian People's Aid. Since 1998, more than 150 graduates of the center have received training in knitting and clothing design. SSH funds will provide three new electric sewing machines and spare parts for machines in disrepair. IAA-5-613-08 Dumbambwe Sangano WomenQs Training Center Allocation:QUSD 9,000.00 This training center was established in 2004 to develop income-generating skills for local women in activities such as growing vegetables and herbs, candle making, bee-keeping, and peanut butter making. The current water supply at the training center is increasingly contaminated due to the exposure of the well to grazing animals. SSH fund will complete a borehole to ensure access to safe water. IAA-5-613-09 Lupote Sustainable Agriculture Project Allocation:QUSD 17,000 Through a partnership with Painted Dog Conservancy, the Lupote Primary School established a vegetable garden in 2004 as an alternative source of income for a community largely dependent on game poaching. Although the site lacks dependable access to water, the garden has served as a training ground for the local community in small-garden techniques as well as sustainable agricultural practices. SSH fund will provide a borehole to increase income-generating activities, promote environmentally sustainable agriculture production, and provide potable water to the primary school. IAA-5-613-10 Mukauzaneni Horticulture Project Allocation:QUSD 11,500 HARARE 00000093 003 OF 003 10 women at the local primary school run this small community garden. Originally funded by SSH in 2002, this project was not completed due to technical obstacles and performance problems with the original contractor. FY05 funds are needed to provide a hand-operated mono pump and additional piping to complete the project. The SSH office plans to employ a hydrogeological consultant to ensure successful completion of the project. IAA-5-613-11QUkuthuthuka Water Project Allocation:QUSD 12,000.00 This community-based crhche currently draws water from a river 7 km away. FY02 SSH funds were provided to install a borehole, piping, and water tank. However, problems in locating water led to significant cost overruns. The current borehole site is not properly encased resulting in contaminated water. FY05 funds will complete the project under the original contract terms with the collaboration of an SSH-funded hydrogeological consultant. IAA-5-613-12QYoung Generation Pre-School and Nursery Allocation: QUSD 5,000.00 This pre-school and nursery, operated by three teachers, caters to 120 children in the Hatcliffe extension community despite the lack of any structure, toilets, or furniture. Grant funds will provide a temporary structure, toilet, and furniture for the crhche, allowing children in the community to learn under a roof for the first time. Any additional resources would be used for the purchase of school supplies. IAA-5-613-13QGokwe Jombo Horticulture Project Allocation:QUSD 11,500.00 This project was initially funded in 2002 to assist a community of eighty families with a borehole for clean drinking water and irrigation to a 2-hectare plot. The grant of USD 13,000 was used to pay for a borehole, diesel pump, security fence, and garden tools. The community provided the labor for the project. The project did not achieve its goals because of a decrease in the water table and problems with the borehole contractor. FY05 SSH funds will provide additional piping, a diesel pump, and outlet taps to complete the work. The SSH office will employ a hydrogeological consultant to ensure the work is completed to satisfaction. DELL