UNHCR Jordan Budget and Program planning for

UNCLAS AMMAN 002599

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

Department for NEA/ELA and PRM/ANE

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF EAID JO
SUBJECT: UNHCR Jordan Budget and Program planning for
2009


1. (SBU) Summary: UNHCR Jordan Deputy Representative
Arafat Jamal told RefCoord September 3 that the UNHCR 09
budget would be approximately 44 million USD. Some of
those funds, he noted, would go directly to Jordanian
line ministries that provide services to Iraqi refugees.
Food distribution would give way to cash distribution for
urban refugees. UNHCR planned to allocate resources to
learning more about the caseload, including the effect of
returns, resettlement, and internal relocation. Public
outreach to the beneficiaries continues to be a challenge
for UNHCR. End summary.

Serving Iraqis with a Leaner Budget in 09
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2. (SBU) In 2009, UNHCR-Jordan will propose to Geneva a
budget of approximately USD 44 million. In 2007-08 UNHCR
assisted 3000 Iraqi refugee families and hopes to reach
7000 Iraqi refugee families in FY09 with appropriate
assistance programs. Jamal said that UNHCR contributions
to the budgets of the education and health ministries
would reach a total of USD 9 million. Eight million of
that would come from the Government of Iraq's
contribution to UNHCR's Iraqi appeal. In order to
monitor the use of the funds, UNHCR asked both ministries
to document how Iraqi refugees have impacted GOJ
expenditures in 2008, but neither ministry responded with
precise figures.


3. (SBU) The Ministry of health provided what Jamal
called a shopping list of material needs, without
connecting those needs to services provided to Iraqi
refugees. The Ministry of Education submitted a school
construction plan to meet the general needs of the
education systems, to include refugees. Meanwhile the
GOJ resisted drawing linkages between programming and
Iraqi refugees.

Cash instead of Food for Urban Refugees
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4. (SBU) According to Jamal, in FY2009 UNHCR plans to
introduce a cash distribution scheme in Jordan, to
replace the food distribution system. UNHCR would use an
ATM card/cash system to allow vulnerable, registered
refugees to withdraw a fixed amount of cash on a monthly
basis. The program, coordinated with the GOJ, would
provide the same benefits as a similar GOJ program for
vulnerable Jordanians.


5. (SBU) Jamal was confident that the criteria used for
selecting vulnerable refugees are precise enough to
ensure the cash disbursements went to the truly needy.
UNHCR planned to assist 3050 registered families with the
new program. In late 2008, UNHCR planned to sign the
final agreement with their banking partner, the Amman
Cairo Bank, which would administer the program. The
formula for monthly cash distributions would be as
follows: Men would receive JD 50; women would be entitled
to JD 60; and each dependent would be entitled to JD 10.

Uncovering the Facts on Iraqi Refugees
--------------


6. (SBU) Jamal said that uncertainty about numbers and
demographics is a barrier to efficient assistance to the
Iraqi population. To address this, UNHCR contracted the
University of JordanQs Center for Strategic Studies
(JCSS) to compile and analyze all available data on
refugee demographics and to produce reports that partners
might use in program planning. The JCSS research should
be available in November 2008.


7. (SBU) UNHCR also plans to increase its outreach
programs, within the limits set by the GOJ, which has not
permitted UNHCR to use mass media to disseminate
information to refugees. Instead, the refugee
organization has distributed printed material from 16
UNHCR-supported community centers around the Kingdom.
Registered refugees with cell phone service also receive
UNHCR digital text messages with updates and urgent
protection information.


8. (SBU) Jamal said that local press had recently
interviewed UNHCR-Jordan Country Representative Imran
Riza. Jamal said that press interviews served as an
opportunity to disseminate information about UNHCR
programs and to dispel security concerns and
misconceptions about UNHCR activities among the local
2009

population.

Comment: Cash Distribution is a good Alternative to Food


9. (SBU) Although the UNHCR cash distribution approach
is unconventional, it has two advantages over previous
methods: 1) As registration is a prerequisite for
participation, it may encourage unregistered refugees to
come forward; 2) Distribution sites would be located
throughout the region, allowing wide access. UNHCR
partners would not have to go out looking for
beneficiaries. After the program has been in effect for
one quarter, UNHCR and its donors will look at results.
At that time, UNHCR would reassess the program.

BEECROFT