GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000665 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR R/PPR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KICA KPAO OIIP AMGT SUBJECT: GRANTS ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY PROGRAMS Ref: State 105588 ¶1. The following is in response to reftel regarding request for information on PD support gaps and the management burden of all grant awards. ¶2. ICASS Support: The PA section receives excellent support in PD budget planning and execution, IRM system management, HR matters, financial management issues and GSO matters. Nicosia PAS has noticed that requests take longer than they did prior to consolidation. One senior FSN colleague noted that what used to take hours now takes days, whether it's printing invitations or asking for budget information. Procurement and the processing of purchase orders take much longer. These longer process times are due to the fact that PA requests are now in the queue with all other Embassy sections. Where there were two people doing part-time procurement for just USIS, PA now shares the assistance of two procurement staff along with the rest of the Embassy. Where there was one dedicated driver for USIS, PA now has to share three ICASS drivers with the entire Embassy. It should be noted that the vast majority of services provided to PA are done so within the established ICASS standards, and that the PAO is the State representative on the ICASS Council. ¶3. Grants: The following answer a-e in para 3 of reftel: * A) The volume/dollar amount of awards has not increased in the past five years. * B) Other embassy co-located agencies or mission elements are not requesting PAOs or CAOs to sign grants. * C) There are adequate staffing and financial resources to monitor the performance of grantees. * D) The majority of grants being written at post are for public diplomacy objectives. * E) The support problems here are not so severe. The main problem is the length of time it takes for grantees to receive their funds, sometimes months after the completion of the program. SCHLICHER