Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY793
2007-07-11 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:
Guinea Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) Annual
how-toVZCZCXRO9456 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHRY #0793/01 1921245 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111245Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1373 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000793
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/RSA, AFR/SD/DG
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PHUM KDEM GV
SUBJECT: Guinea Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) Annual
Status Report
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000793
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/RSA, AFR/SD/DG
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PHUM KDEM GV
SUBJECT: Guinea Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) Annual
Status Report
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. This cable serves to meet the requirement that all posts submit
a DHRF annual status report covering all obligations and
un-liquidated balances of open DHRF activities. END SUMMARY.
--------------
PRIOR FISCAL YEAR FUNDS
--------------
2. FY 2005 AMT. OBLIGATED UNLIQ. BALANCE
DHR-05-001 23,000.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-002 7,402.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-003 10,617.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-004 12,637.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-005 12,911.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-006 8,433.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
All other projects from FY05 and prior years have been liquidated.
--------------
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR
--------------
3. FY 2006 AMT. OBLIGATED UNLIQ. BALANCE
DHR-06-001 12,000.00 USD 6,000.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-002 17,000.00 USD 8,000.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-003 6,800.00 USD 2,000.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-004 9,500.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-005 14,000.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-006 6,700.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-007 5,500.00 USD 2,750.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-008 6,700.00 USD 3,350.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
--------------
Political Environment Disrupts Activities
--------------
4. This fiscal year, the Guinean political landscape has undergone
historic transformations. A series of general strikes and
associated violence resulted in the suspension of activities
throughout the country. When calm was restored, there was a long
period before activities returned to normal. In some communities,
where property destruction and divisions were most acute, life has
yet to return to normal. In this difficult national environment,
all project organizers are finding it very hard to carry out their
programs.
5. In addition to the uncertainty caused by political upheavals,
there has been a dramatic drop in the value of the dollar in
relation to the Guinea franc. In September 2006, at the time of the
contract signing 1USD = 6000 GNF. By the time we reached the
disbursement process, 1USD = 3050 GNF. Because all of the contracts
were calculated in dollars, this massive currency depreciation has
caused many of our projects to face severe funding shortfalls. In
this context, the communities have sought additional funding and
have made increased contributions. We expect that despite the
challenges, all the projects will be successfully completed.
--------------
CONAKRY 00000793 002 OF 002
Signing and Project Management Training
--------------
6. Post organized an innovative half-day training session for
self-help project managers the morning of the contract signing
ceremony. The workshop consisted of presentations by USAID staff on
implementing a results-oriented framework for project analysis and
evaluation and Peace Corps staff briefings on how to address
challenges in the project implementation process. The Special
Projects Coordinator made a presentation on project implementation
guidelines for new project grantees with topics that included: 1)
Review of the IAA; 2) How to procure materials for your project and
accounting; 3) Planning project implementation; 4) Avoiding project
failure; and 5) Brainstorming solutions to commonly faced problems.
Workshop participants found the training extremely valuable and
promised to use the guidelines to effectively carry out their
respective projects.
--------------
Post Point of Contact
--------------
7. Post Contact is Special Projects Coordinator, Abdoulaye Sougoule,
who is responsible for the management the Ambassador's Special
Self-Help Grants Program. He can be reached by email at
SougouleAS@state.gov. Mr. Sougoule works under the supervision of
Political/Economic Section Chief Shannon Cazeau, who can be reached
by email at CazeauSN@state.gov. The Embassy can be reached by phone
at (224) 30.42.08.61/62/63 (IVG code 257) and Fax (224)
30.41.15.22.
KAEUPER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/RSA, AFR/SD/DG
E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PHUM KDEM GV
SUBJECT: Guinea Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) Annual
Status Report
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. This cable serves to meet the requirement that all posts submit
a DHRF annual status report covering all obligations and
un-liquidated balances of open DHRF activities. END SUMMARY.
--------------
PRIOR FISCAL YEAR FUNDS
--------------
2. FY 2005 AMT. OBLIGATED UNLIQ. BALANCE
DHR-05-001 23,000.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-002 7,402.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-003 10,617.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-004 12,637.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-005 12,911.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
DHR-05-006 8,433.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Project is completed and closed out.
All other projects from FY05 and prior years have been liquidated.
--------------
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR
--------------
3. FY 2006 AMT. OBLIGATED UNLIQ. BALANCE
DHR-06-001 12,000.00 USD 6,000.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-002 17,000.00 USD 8,000.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-003 6,800.00 USD 2,000.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-004 9,500.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-005 14,000.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-006 6,700.00 USD 0 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-007 5,500.00 USD 2,750.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
DHR-06-008 6,700.00 USD 3,350.00 USD
Status: Waiting for advance liquidation.
--------------
Political Environment Disrupts Activities
--------------
4. This fiscal year, the Guinean political landscape has undergone
historic transformations. A series of general strikes and
associated violence resulted in the suspension of activities
throughout the country. When calm was restored, there was a long
period before activities returned to normal. In some communities,
where property destruction and divisions were most acute, life has
yet to return to normal. In this difficult national environment,
all project organizers are finding it very hard to carry out their
programs.
5. In addition to the uncertainty caused by political upheavals,
there has been a dramatic drop in the value of the dollar in
relation to the Guinea franc. In September 2006, at the time of the
contract signing 1USD = 6000 GNF. By the time we reached the
disbursement process, 1USD = 3050 GNF. Because all of the contracts
were calculated in dollars, this massive currency depreciation has
caused many of our projects to face severe funding shortfalls. In
this context, the communities have sought additional funding and
have made increased contributions. We expect that despite the
challenges, all the projects will be successfully completed.
--------------
CONAKRY 00000793 002 OF 002
Signing and Project Management Training
--------------
6. Post organized an innovative half-day training session for
self-help project managers the morning of the contract signing
ceremony. The workshop consisted of presentations by USAID staff on
implementing a results-oriented framework for project analysis and
evaluation and Peace Corps staff briefings on how to address
challenges in the project implementation process. The Special
Projects Coordinator made a presentation on project implementation
guidelines for new project grantees with topics that included: 1)
Review of the IAA; 2) How to procure materials for your project and
accounting; 3) Planning project implementation; 4) Avoiding project
failure; and 5) Brainstorming solutions to commonly faced problems.
Workshop participants found the training extremely valuable and
promised to use the guidelines to effectively carry out their
respective projects.
--------------
Post Point of Contact
--------------
7. Post Contact is Special Projects Coordinator, Abdoulaye Sougoule,
who is responsible for the management the Ambassador's Special
Self-Help Grants Program. He can be reached by email at
SougouleAS@state.gov. Mr. Sougoule works under the supervision of
Political/Economic Section Chief Shannon Cazeau, who can be reached
by email at CazeauSN@state.gov. The Embassy can be reached by phone
at (224) 30.42.08.61/62/63 (IVG code 257) and Fax (224)
30.41.15.22.
KAEUPER