Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KINSHASA144
2006-01-27 12:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kinshasa
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  KDEM EAID AMGT CF CG ECON XA AID 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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

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


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