GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC

UNCLAS KIGALI 000728 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR R/PPR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KICA KPAO OIIP AMGT SUBJECT: GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMS REF: SECSTATE 105588 ¶1. Summary. Post welcomes the Department's solicitation of information on the administrative burden of administering grants and the level of support being provided by ICASS service providers for PD operations in the field. PAS enjoys strong support at post from ICASS service providers; those gaps in service that do exist are not unique to PAS though they are sometimes exacerbated by the particular demands placed on service providers by PAS programs and activities. PAS grants are modest both in terms of the number of awards made in any given year and the dollar value of those awards. Post's grants portfolio has, however, grown in recent years as a result of the addition of programs funded through Washington (e.g., G/TIP). Additional training opportunities for both Locally Engaged Staff (LES),eligible family members, and American officers working outside of PAS would contribute immensely to improved management and oversight of grants at post. End Summary. ¶2. SUPPORT FROM ICASS SERVICE PROVIDERS: PAS Kigali receives strong support from and enjoys a collegial working relationship with post's ICASS service providers. Service provision in the past suffered as a result of extended staffing shortages within the mission but has improved steadily over the past 18 months. Gaps in service provision that do arise generally are the direct result of the particular nature of PAS programs and activities. For instance, because local postal services and Internet penetration are limited, PAS continues to hand deliver invitations and publications to contacts. In the past, the Embassy's motorpool lacked sufficient driver/vehicle capacity to support the distribution needs of PAS. As a result, PAS was frequently required to provide a staff member to serve as driver. The creation of an additional motorpool driver position recently and increased GSO awareness of the issue has greatly reduced the reliance on PAS to furnish a driver. ¶3. MANAGEMENT BURDEN OF GRANT AWARDS: a) The volume of grants has increased in the past five years, but has fluctuated greatly because of the inconsistent nature of funding from sources outside of post's PD allotment. For instance, in FY2006 post received $110,000 in funding for grants from G/TIP; in FY2007 post has thus far received $20,000 for one grant under the Ambassador's Refugee Fund. The establishment of a CDC office has also added marginally to the increased grants management workload. The volume of PD grantmaking will double in the next year as the result of reprogramming of $100,000 in PEPFAR funds to establish a grants program for HIV/AIDS-related activities. b) The PAO is the only grants officer at post. He signs grants for CDC and other State elements at post. c) Staffing levels are adequate; training levels are not. d) The majority of grants at post continue to be related to mission public diplomacy objectives. e) Training opportunities for American direct-hires, LES, and EFMs should be expanded. Given the frequency with which political and economic officers are involved in grants at post awarded through G/TIP, PRM, and others, an overview of the grants process and potential sources of funding should be incorporated into the ECON/POL Tradecraft Course. Economic and political officers should also be encouraged to obtain a grants warrant prior to arrival at post. Regional training opportunities should also be expanded, especially for LES and EFMs. Currently there are no LES or EFMs at post who have completed grants training. ARIETTI