CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE: FY-2006 CALL FOR AMBASSADOR'S

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000144 SIPDIS FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE DEPT FOR AF/EPS/USAID, AF/C AMB-DESIGNATE WEISBERG AFR/DP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM EAID AMGT CF CG ECON XA AID SUBJECT: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE: FY-2006 CALL FOR AMBASSADOR'S SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM FUNDING REF: KINSHASA 01255 ¶1. Embassy Brazzaville's selection committee has identified six, well-developed programs for funding by the Ambassador's Special Self-Help Program in FY-06. The reputation and familiarity of this initiative have increased significantly in recent years as post endeavors to re-establish a full time presence in the Republic of Congo following ordered evacuation during the disruptive civil war period, 1997-2001. Of the nearly 100 proposals received, the selection committee felt that the six projects outlined below, totalling USD $194,585, reached across a vast spectrum of Congolese society, interest groups and technical disciplines. Your consideration to fully fund these initiatives at a crucial period of host-country economic and commercial development would be deeply appreciated. ¶2. If further project details or clarification are required, please contact Self-Help Coordinator, Mrs. Margo Mulumba, at e-mail: margommulu@yahoo.com, tel: (243)(99)800-1047; or, Charge d'affaires Mark J. Biedlingmaier, carpaemarkum@hotmail.com. Please be advised that the Embassy Brazzaville Office currently has no access to IVG, OpenNet or the Department's Global Address List (GAL). ¶3. SSH FUNDING REQUESTS: (A) Association Nationale de l'Energie Solaire (ANES) Request: USD $60,585 Location: Congo-Brazzaville Description: The Association Nationale de l'Energie Solaiare (ANES) project seeks to promote and develop solar energy technology in order to advance agro-pastoral production and livestock breeding in the peripheral zones of Brazzaville. ANES also intends to implement a youth training program in the solar technology trade as part of its economic development initiative. This project will encompass three sites: (a) local foundry; (b) agro-pastoral farm; and, (c) fruit juice cooperative. Beneficiaries: people who live in Congo-Brazzaville area Local Contribution: time, labor and expertise (B) Cooprative d'Elveurs de Btail et des Produits Agricole (COEBPA) Request: USD $25,000 Location: Congo-Brazzaville Description: The project's aim is to construct an enclosure to contain and secure COEBPA's cattle holdings within its premises, and to purchase hand farm tools, veterinary products and animal feed. As a result, residents in the Brazzaville and Pointe Noire districts will be supplied with nutritious locally-raised protein products on a consistent basis. In addition, COEBPA hopes to revive livestock ck breeding as a viable occupation in the post-conflict Congo environment. Funding this initiative would have the potential to increase urban employment and develop small- scale farm skills, generate more income for a distressed sector of the economy, contribute to commercial and food security opportunities and help improve the quality of life for Congolese citizens. Beneficiaries: Brazzaville and Pointe Noire residents Local Contribution: land, time, labor and expertise (C) Cercle d'Initiative Pour La Promotion de la Personne Handicape (CIPHACO) Request: USD $7,000 Location: Congo-Brazzaville Description: This sustainable poultry farm project is designed to introduce affordable, high-quality, locally- produced eggs to the Congolese market. Its activities will consist of the construction of a livestock building; purchase of chicks, animal feed, veterinary products and disinfectants to ensure proper sanitary and health standards. Funding this initiative has the potential to increase urban employment and develop small-scale farm skills, generate more community income, contribute to commercial and food security opportunities and help to improve the quality of life for Congolese citizens. Beneficiaries: Congo-Brazzaville area residents Local Contribution: land, time, labor and expertise (D) Mdicines d'Afrique Request: USD $50,000 Location: Congo-Brazzaville Description: The purpose of this community empowerment project is to promote malaria-prevention methods in the Congo at the family and community level. The multi-step approach consists of: (1) malaria education and prevention methodology; (2) prevention education to highlight discussion of: (a) risk awareness, (b) use of mosquito-bite avoidance measures (e.g., impregnated mosquito nets),(c) appropriate use of malaria medications, (d) prompt diagnosis and malaria- symptom recognition, (e) dangers of improper hygiene and its association with malarial diseases; and, (3) self-assessment and evaluation exercises to monitor focus group levels of comprehension and compliance; (4) environmental evaluation to ensure that participants would consider the applicability of certain programs to specific families/community groups. In addition, Mdicines d'Afrique intends to print an "ABC Guide to Malaria Prevention." The expected results of this project would be to encourage better nutritional habits, malaria- disease awareness (symptoms and treatment),and lifestyle changes to minimize exposure. The long-term goals would be reduce infection rates and to seek total eradication of the disease in the Congo. Beneficiaries: 5000 people in the Congo-Brazzaville area Local Contribution: time, labor and expertise (E) La Conadho Request: USD $25,000 Location: Congo-Brazzaville Description: The purpose of this project would be to install internet access to Conadho's community resource center. Open- use internet stations would provide students and other users with access to research materials, long-distance learning opportunities, current news reporting and online publications. This resource is vital for Congolese citizens who demand greater access to humanitarian, human rights and economic development information. At present, there are only two internet/cyber cafes available in the city of Brazzaville, with a population in excess of 500,000. Secondary schools and universities currently have limited funding and technical infrastructure to support on-line and internet activities. Beneficiaries: 5,000 people in Congo-Brazzaville area Local Contribution: office building, $5000 toward Renovation and installation costs, time, labor and expertise (F) Fdration Enfants et Femmes du Congo (FEFCO) Request: USD $27,000 Location: Congo-Brazzaville Description: The purpose of this project would be to train young, unskilled women basic income-producing skills and d micro-business management techniques. Program participants could enroll in one of four training programs: (1) pastry making; (2) tie-dye, sewing, Senegalese-style embroidery production; (3) soap making; or, (4) fish smokehouse/curing. Upon completion of the program, the women would be expected to be self-sufficient wage earners who contribute to poverty reduction and an improved quality of life for their families and community. Beneficiaries: 300-350 young women in Brazzaville area Local contribution: building, $5000 toward renovation costs, time, labor and expertise. ¶4. Criteria observed for SSH project selection include: - Post has taken into consideration the number of people these projects would benefit, the social as well as economic circumstances of those individuals making the requests, and their potential to complete and maintain the projects. The proposals selected aim to improve the socio-economic conditions of the communities at the grassroots level. Priority was given to projects which emphasized a significant contribution from the community. - Republic of Congo's population is estimated at 3 million inhabitants. Until recently, civil war had restricted travel to some parts of the country, however, as security and stability return to the region, post's SSH projects will branch out from the current focus points in the Brazzaville and Pointe Noire districts. - Post's Mission Program Plan highlights the strong U.S. national interest to pursue humanitarian goals in the Republic of Congo. These Special Self-Help projects aid in promoting that interest, and they remain a primary showcase of America's goodwill towards the people of the Congo. Peace Corps has not returned to ROC since cessation of hostilities. Embassy Brazzaville receives limited USAID support from its regional center in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), therefore, SSH programs comprise a significant share of non- NGO assistance and aid offered to the host country. ¶5. Previous post administration performance: - FY05: All six projects funded are underway. Installment advances are anticipated for three projects. - FY04: All projects have been closed out - FY03: All projects have been closed out - FY02: All projects have been closed out - FY01: All projects have been closed out - Post's FY05 Annual Year-End Report contained in reftel. ¶6. Embassy Office Brazzaville - Biedlingmaier MEECE NNNN