SELF-HELP INTERIM OBLIGATION REPORT - MALAWI

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000949 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EPS - TAWANNA DAVIDSON DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/S - KAMUNA MATHUR SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON AFIN SUBJECT: SELF-HELP INTERIM OBLIGATION REPORT - MALAWI ¶1. Post submits the following summary of cumulative Self-Help interim obligation report. All activities prior to FY06 have been completed and closed out. -------------- FY 2007 Projects -------------- ¶2. Project Name: Kalwe Gravity-fed Water Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00001-00 Location: Nkhata Bay District, Northern Region Project description: To construct a complete gravity-fed pipe borne water system including sedimentation tank and reservoir, and install public stand taps. Beneficiaries: 25,000 people in Nkhata Bay District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $12,500 Project Status: $-0- expended as of December, 2007. A topographic survey has been completed. The community has gathered sand, stones and timber. The Self-Help Office has requested the Nkhata Bay District Assembly to send their technicians to construct the weir and sedimentation tank. The Assembly has heeded the request, which will be part of government contribution to the project. ¶3. Project Name: Fulirwa CDSS Library Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00002-00 Location: Karonga District, Northern Region Project description: To construct a library block on the grounds of Fulirwa Community Day Secondary School, build shelves in the library and furnish the library with tables and chairs. Beneficiaries: 200 people in Karonga District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $6,100 Project Status: $3,033 expended as of December, 2007. The project started late due to problems with pre-financing purchases. However, that was sorted out and the project is underway. About half of the required building materials have been delivered to the building site. The foundation of the library building has been completed. ¶4. Project Name: Kavinzde Primary Library Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00003-00 Location: Kasungu District, Central Region Project description: To construct a library block and furnish the library with books. Beneficiaries: 17,000 people in Kasungu District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $1,700 Project Status: $70 expended as of December, 2007. This project is making good progress. The project manager plans to complete the 
library building and make tables and chairs before buying and stocking library books. ¶5. Project Name: Madulira Footbridge Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00004-00 Location: Blantyre District, Southern Region Project description: To construct a footbridge over Lunzu River that will link Makhetha village with the Kachere Area. Beneficiaries: 30,000 people in Blantyre District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $4,400 Project Status: $4,400 expended as of December, 2007. This footbridge project has been completed. ¶6. Project Name: Namila Irrigation and Sanitation Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00005-00 Location: Chikwawa District, Southern Region Project description: To build one reservoir near the Lykhubula River in Namila Village and install a windmill and a water pump. Beneficiaries: 446 households in Chikwawa District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $8,000 Project Status: $-0- expended as of December, 2007. Regrettably, this project has stalled. Prior to submitting the proposal, the community had not conducted a feasibility study. Recently the project manager realized that wind speed was not sufficient to turn the wind turbines. For this reason, the Embassy has suspended the entire project pending a reevaluation. ¶7. Project Name: Kabwanda Under-Five Clinic Shelter Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00006-00 Location: Mzimba District, Northern Region Project description: To construct one (1) under-five antenatal clinic shelter in Kabwanda village and furnish the shelter with ten (10) benches, eight (8) chairs and four (4) tables. Beneficiaries: A community of 1,400 women and children in nine (9) villages in Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $3,000 Project Status: $2,366 expended as of December, 2007. All walls of the under-five clinic shelter have been erected. Roofing is underway at this reporting time. The project is due for completion in January 2008. ¶8. Project Name: Nalunga CDSS Classrooms Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00007-00 Location: Dowa District, Central Region Project description: To construct one classroom block at Nalunga Community Day Secondary School and furnish the two classrooms with desks and chairs. Beneficiaries: 100 students in Dowa District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $8,200 Project Status: $8,101 expended as of December, 2007. The Classroom block has been roofed. Plastering is in progress. Flooring and painting will be completed by the end of December. Unprecedented price increases on building materials have left the project with over $3,000 shortfall for buying furniture. ¶9. Project Name: Kaseye Gravity Piped Water Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00008-00 Location: Chitipa District, Central Region Project description: To construct a complete gravity fed pipe borne water system including one sedimentation tank and one reservoir and install public stand taps. Beneficiaries: 2,000 people in Chitipa District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $19,000 Project Status: $17,808 expended as of December, 2007. Almost all the plumbing and building materials for this water project have been bought. These materials include PVC pipes, galvanized pipes, cement, and plumbing accessories. The weir (intake dam) and screening tank have been constructed. Digging of trenches is in progress. Gathering of sand, stones and cheeping of stones has been a continuous process. Community participation on this project has been exemplary. ¶10. Project Name: Nthalire CDSS Beds and Mattresses Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00009-00 Location: Chitipa District, Northern Region Project description: To purchase 160 two-inch foam mattresses and construct eighty (80) double-deck beds made from hardwood, for girls hostels at the Nthalire Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). Beneficiaries: 160 female students at Nthalire CDSS in Chitipa District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $6,000 Project Status: $5,530 expended as of December, 2007. Mattresses have been supplied as per specifications. Timber and wood accessories for making beds have been bought and bed construction is progressing normally. ¶11. Project Name: Tiza Primary School Classrooms Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00010-00 Location: Nsanje District, Southern Region Project description: To construct one two-classroom block at Tiza Primary School. Beneficiaries: 263 pupils in Nsanje District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $6,000 Project Status: $4,971 expended as of December, 2007. The building is at roofing level. Plastering and flooring are progressing normally. Painting will be done in January 2008. This project will be completed in January. ¶12. Project Name: Malembo Resource Center Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00011-00 Location: Mangochi District, Southern Region Project description: To construct one youth resource center building and a pit latrine in Chilimba Village. Beneficiaries: 20,000 people in Mangochi District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $6,500 Project Status: $-0- expended as of December, 2007. The project started off very slowly because the community changed the construction site in favor of a better-drained site. Stones and sand have been heaped at the building site. Digging of the foundation is in progress. ¶13. Project Name: Mpala Primary School Borehole Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00012-00 Location: Dowa District, Central Region Project description: To drill one (1) borehole at Mpala Primary School and install an Afridev hand pump at the borehole site. Beneficiaries: 450 schoolchildren and 50 households in Dowa District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $5,100 Project Status: $-0- expended as of December, 2007. The community has not identified a drilling company to undertake the project. With the rising water table following the onset of rains, this project will most likely be delayed until June 2008 when rains cease. ¶14. Project Name: Ndaula Cooperative Building Project UODN No.: 612-SH-00-07-00013-00 Location: Lilongwe District, Central Region Project description: To construct a farmers warehouse in Mseche Village in Traditional Authority Chimutu. The warehouse shall be used for storage of members' farm produce. Beneficiaries: 850 shareholders of a farmers cooperative society in Lilongwe District. ¶U. S. Contribution: $3,500 Project Status: $1,000 expended as of December, 2007. Some building materials have been bought. The foundation is near completion. The project is progressing normally. -------------- -------------- FY 2007 Ongoing Activities for FY06 Funded Projects -------------- -------------- ¶15. Project Name: Nathenje Chitsime Irrigation Project IAA No.: 612-SH-00-06-00005-00 Location: Lilongwe District, Central Region ¶U. S. Contribution: $2,750 Project Status: $2,725 expended as of September 2007. Due to treadle pump price hikes, only 19 of 23 treadle pumps were bought. A local Parliamentarian did not honor his promise to contribute 22 treadle pumps as per terms of agreement. $2,850 supplemental funds will therefore be re-obligated to enable completion of the project. ¶16. Project Name: Nathenje Mpenu Irrigation Project IAA No.: 612-SH-00-06-00006-00 Location: Lilongwe District, Central Region ¶U. S. Contribution: $2,750 Project Status: $2,725 expended as of September 2007. Due to treadle pump price hikes, only 19 of 23 treadle pumps were bought. A local Parliamentarian did not honor his promise to contribute 22 treadle pumps as per terms of agreement. $2,850 supplemental funds will therefore be re-obligated to enable completion of the project. ¶17. Project Name: Chimundi Water and Sanitation Project IAA No.: 612-SH-00-06-00019-00 Location: Dowa District, Central Region ¶U. S. Contribution: $6,600 Project Status: $6,600 expended as of September 2007. Although this shallow wells project was reportedly completed, the walls of two of the six shallow wells were not properly lined up with bricks and bonded with cement mortar as specified in the agreement. These repairs are expected to be completed before handover can take place. -------------- OBSERVATION -------------- All FY 2007 Self-Help projects are experiencing financial shortfalls due to an unprecedented increase in prices of building materials across Malawi. For this reason, Self-Help projects might suffer major setbacks, unless respective communities are willing to contribute money to make up for the shortfalls. It is not clear where money will be found to make up for the deficits. EASTHAM