KENYA FY2006 DHRF BUDGET REQUEST

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001434

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KWMN PHUM SOCI KE
SUBJECT: KENYA FY2006 DHRF BUDGET REQUEST

REF: A. STATE 44425


B. NAIROBI 70


1. Embassy Nairobi requests USD100,000 for our FY2006
Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) program. This
represents a USD9,000 increase over the amount obligated in
FY2005. Post is requesting this small increase to have the
flexibility to either fund one more deserving organization
than the four awarded in FY2005, or to be able to provide
slightly more funds to each grantee. As Kenyan civil society
continues to strengthen, it is important to encourage their
activism.


2. Post proposes to use this increase to advance the
objectives of the Mission Performance Plan in the area of
democracy and human rights. Recent events in Kenya, notably
the constitutional referendum of November 2005 and the
exposure of large scale corruption, as well as the upcoming
2007 general election, provide increased opportunities for
civil society organizations to participate in the political
process. Over the past three years, Post has used its DHRF
funding to support organizations working to provide civic
education, sensitize women on their legal rights with respect
to spousal abuse and inheritance, end torture in custody, and
encourage alternatives to female genital mutilation.


3. Grassroots organizations in Kenya still face many
obstacles -- political, ethnic, attitudinal, and financial --
to effective operations, but their motivation is great. Each
year we receive a number of qualified applications, both from
new organizations, and others who wish to continue the work
they began through the DHRF. This year, we have already had
expressions of interest and applications from a number of
organizations, and expect to hear from several more. We
would like to fund four or five projects at about USD 20,000
to 25,000 each. For this reason, we are requesting
USD100,000 in FY2006 DHRF funding.
BELLAMY