Office of Transition Initiatives' Wendy Henning

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000527

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FOR DCHA OTI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID CG
SUBJECT: Office of Transition Initiatives' Wendy Henning
DRC visit March 12 - 27, 2006



1. Summary: USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
Program Manager, Wendy Henning visited the DRC from March
12 - March 27, 2006. The purpose of this visit was to
assist with closeout activities and the smooth handover of
CTO and other management responsibilities to the Mission.
Ms. Henning joined OTI Country Representative Stacia
George and USAID/DRC General Development Officer Jeff
Bryan on a visit to Bukavu and Bunia to observe project
implementation; to meet with implementing partner staff;
and to discuss next-steps for projects the Independent
Electoral Committee (CEI),and CONADER, the national
institution in charge of disarmament, demobilization, and
reintegration (DDR) are planning. She also spent time in
the Mission assisting with final closeout of the OTI/DRC
office. End Summary.



2. Bukavu Visit March 13 - 15: In Bukavu the team
observed the work of the International Rescue Committee,
Chemonics International's sub-contractor for the South
Kivu Community Reintegration project. IRC is running the
"Synergy D'Education Communautaire et Appui a la
Transition" (SECA) program in two war-affected areas
outside of Bukavu, Kabare and Walungu. The team visited
three community rehabilitation project sites and five
Youth Education and Skills training sites. Overall, the
project is progressing well though there is reason for
concern that some rehabilitation efforts may be behind
schedule for the planned June 1 completion.


3. The team also held meetings with the Bukavu branches of
the IEC and CONADER. The discussions with the IEC focused
on their preparations for national elections in June and
identifying gaps that USAID might address through the
Rapid Response mechanism. IEC's main challenge is
information dissemination, in particular messages related
to how to vote and acceptance of election results. Use of
Rapid Response grants to address last minute needs for
information dissemination was very effective in the lead-
up to the December 2005 Constitutional referendum. With
more advance planning, the grants could have a similarly
positive impact on the June 2006 national elections.


4. Discussions with CONADER focused on the status of the
demobilization program, in particular access to ex-
combatant identification cards and other anticipated
services. The South Kivu SECA program has encountered a
large number of "spontaneously demobilized" ex-combatants
who have not been through any official processes. CONADER
explained that its reintegration system --sensitization
efforts, mobile disarmament teams, Orientation Centers,
and follow-on programs -- cannot keep up with current
demands but that it is in the process of engaging more NGO
and IO partners to assist with the effort. CONADER
expects to have demobilized 10,000 ex-combatants in South
Kivu province by the end of June and is aiming for 15,000
by the end of the year.



5. Bunia Visit March 15-18: The main purpose of the Bunia
visit was the final OTI National Team meeting with staff
from IRC Bukavu; Chemonics International, Bunia and
Kinshasa teams; OTI; and the USAID Mission. There were
some 40 participants including Project Development
Officers (PDOs),Master Trainers (MTs),administrative
support and management. During the two-day gathering,
staff reviewed project progress, identified lessons
learned, and discussed next steps. Overall, meeting
participants were satisfied with the project's impact to
date, highlighting strong project design, staff
commitment, and flexibility as main reasons for success.
There was extensive discussion of the OTI focus on
targeted assistance to the transition versus a longer-term
development approach.


6. CONADER Bunia staff paid a visit to the meeting. This
was a unique opportunity for the project staff, in
particular the Mater Trainers and Project Development
Officers, to speak directly with CONADER and to voice
their concerns. In particular, the staff raised the
issues of CONADER and its partners delivering consistent
messages to ex-combatants and the need for CONADER support
in reaffirming these in the field. Unfortunately, CONADER
made a number of promises of information and meetings
that, to date, have proven empty.


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7. Kinshasa - Closeout: While in Kinshasa, Henning
assisted with a number of tasks related to OTI closeout
and handover of the project to the DRC Mission. Henning
handed over and reviewed copies of OTI-Washington CTO
files. She also drafted the OTI closeout cable, portions
of the OTI quarterly report, and the Activity
Implementation Report on the current SECA program in Ituri
and South Kivu for an upcoming Mission review. Lastly,
Henning clarified details of post-handover procedures to
share with the Chemonics International Washington team
upon return to the US.
MEECE