TURKMENISTAN: REVISED GRANT PROPOSAL FOR PRM FY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000787 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN; PRM/ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: REVISED GRANT PROPOSAL FOR PRM FY 2009 JULIA TAFT REFUGEE FUND REF: (A) STATE 14280 (B) ASHGABAT 529 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The following is Embassy Ashgabat's revised recommendation for FY 2009 support via the Julia Taft Refugee Fund to finance a refugee assistance project. The proposed project would provide equipment and materials for the establishment of income generating workshops for metalwork, carpet-weaving, and sewing. The beneficiaries are refugees, and former refugees who have received Turkmen citizenship, in Gokhan settlement, Mary Province, Turkmenistan. The project aims to assist refugees/former refugees of both genders between the ages of 18-35 to develop income-generating skills. The proposed project is expected to be especially useful for refugee youth who do not have access to vocational education. END SUMMARY. THE PROJECT TITLE/ESTIMATED COST ¶3. (SBU) Project title: Establishment of income generating workshops for metalwork, carpet-weaving, and sewing for refugees and former refugees in Gokhan settlement of Mary Province, Turkmenistan. Estimated duration and cost: The project to be implemented by implementing partner NGO Keik Okara is envisaged for 12 months at a cost of $12,120. BACKGROUND ¶4. (SBU) Rural Turkmenistan is awash in economic and social problems that limit career opportunities for young people. These difficulties are particularly acute for resettled refugees living in rural areas, who lack language skills, resources and social support networks. Unemployment and lack of vocational training make it difficult for young people to earn a living in their area of residence. These conditions in turn trigger illegal labor migration from rural areas, generating a host of other social and health problems. ¶5. (SBU) The refugee and former refugee population of Gokhan consists of 121 Afghan prima facie refugees - 19 families, 166 Iranian prima facie refugees - 26 families, and 309 former Tajik refugees - 61 families. The former refugees from Tajikistan were granted Turkmen citizenship in 2005 when the government granted citizenship to approximately 10,000 refugees from Tajikistan, primarily ethnic Turkmen, who came to Turkmenistan during the Tajik civil war. Despite having citizenship, these former refugees continue to face challenges integrating into Turkmen society. ¶6. (SBU) Ashgabat-based Keik Okara NGO has worked as UNHCR's implementing partner in Turkmenistan since 1998. It conducts needs assessments among urban and rural refugees. In Gokhan, the area of the proposed refugee assistance project, Keik Okara conducted an assessment, revealing that among its refugee population, there are individuals with various trade skills who, for lack of material resources, are not able to earn a living. They are also unable to provide training and employment for the next generation who currently lack trade skills. Since 2006, Keik Okara has carried out training in rural areas of Mary Province and ASHGABAT 00000787 002 OF 004 established partner relations with representatives of village administrations, the Mary Provincial Governor's office, and the Mary Provincial World Turkmen Humanitarian Association, all of whom will consult and carry out monitoring in the course of implementation of this project activity. NEED FOR A METALWORK WORKSHOP ¶7. (SBU) In Gokhan, there are motorized vehicles and mechanized farm equipment. The proposed metalwork shop would provide repair and maintenance services for vehicles and agricultural machinery. The workshop also would make metal structural pieces for cattle shelters, fences for private land plots, and spare parts for agricultural machinery. NEED FOR A CARPET WORKSHOP ¶8. (SBU) The proposed carpet workshop would allow the weaving of better quality carpets and would diversify the assortment of goods, resulting in higher sales of their products. NEED FOR A SEWING WORKSHOP ¶9. (SBU) The proposed sewing workshop to be located in the general school in Gokhan settlement would include seven sewing machines and three hemming machines. This would allow young women who finished school to come to the sewing workshop and produce garments for their families as well as for mass production. Students of the school would be able to use the sewing workshop for vocational training. The workshop's working hours would allow young women to learn cutting and sewing skills before lunch, and to make the actual garments for sale after lunch. Seven sewing machines and three hemming machines would create 20 jobs for young women (working in two shifts). PROJECT BENEFITS ¶10. (SBU) The establishment of the proposed workshops in Gokhan would create jobs, develop vocational skills, provide better quality products and services, and create a basis for entrepreneurship. Young people would learn business skills, including organizing publicity and marketing events, business networking, and building constructive dialogue with representatives of state and business structures. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ¶11. (SBU) In order to fully implement the project, Keik Okara will organize the following tasks: -- Prepare a premises for the equipment; buy the equipment; install and adjust the equipment; to buy necessary materials for sewing workshop; -- Select experts who have knowledge and professional skills to train employees; form working brigades; appoint a responsible person for safety. -- Prepare a three-month program of training courses; inform the population about curricula; form training groups; conduct training courses among youth for development of professional skills. -- Sell finished products among the population; inform the population about services provided; deliver welding services on location or in the ASHGABAT 00000787 003 OF 004 workshop; provide metalwork services to local population; to sell finished sewing products; to maintain equipment in a working condition. ¶12. (SBU) Keik Okara NGO will provide a financial and descriptive evaluation report based on the beneficiary population's feedback. EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT ¶13. (SBU) As a result of the project, it is expected that 45 persons ages 18-35 will receive vocational training, and jobs and improved conditions for economic development will be created. Young people (boys) will develop professional skills on metalwork, turning and milling; (girls) will develop skills of carpet weaving and sewing. Overall, the project would establish a basis for entrepreneurship, provide jobs, enable participants to fulfill village customers paid orders, improve conditions for economic development and increase individuals'ability to compete in labor market. The trained youth would be able to share their knowledge and experience with others. The project would create an opportunity for partnerships with representatives of state and business structures. ¶14. (SBU) After completion of the project, it is planned that the workshops will be self-financed and/or will use donor contributions from international organizations. PROJECT BUDGET ¶15. (SBU) Budget Items Funding from Refugee Fund grant: -- Salary for project manager - USD 720 TOTAL SALARY EXPENSE - USD 720 -- Sewing equipment, including seven sewing machines, three hemming machines, spare parts, patterns, a table, and miscellaneous sewing supplies - USD 4,050 -- Carpet bench - USD 2,750 -- Metalwork equipment, including metalwork lathe, tool kit with hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, anvil - USD 3,600 TOTAL EQUIPMENT EXPENSE - USD 10,400 Shipment of equipment from Ashgabat - USD 500 Travel expenses for monitoring/ evaluation - USD 500 TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT - USD 12,120 Expenses covered by other sources: -- Services of the assistant manager will be provided by Keik Okara. -- Cost of obtaining and upgrading premises for the workshops will be paid by the local government authority. TEXT OF KEIK OKARA NGO'S CODE OF CONDUCT ¶16. (SBU) In accordance with the mission of the organization and principles of international law and codes of conduct, all Keik Okara NGO's staff, including core staff, interns, contractors, and volunteers (Keik Okara workers) are responsible for promoting respect for fundamental human rights, ASHGABAT 00000787 004 OF 004 social justice, human dignity, and respect for the equal rights of men, women, and children. While respecting the dignity and worth of every individual, the Keik Okara worker will treat all persons equally without distinction whatsoever of race, gender, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, language, marital status, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomics status, disability, political conviction, or any other distinguishing feature. Keik Okara NGO's workers recognize that certain international standards of behavior must be upheld and that they take precedence over local and national cultural practices. While respecting and adhering to these broader frameworks of behavior, Keik Okara specifically requires that Keik Okara workers adhere to the following Code of Conduct. Commitment to Keik Okara Code of Conduct - Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse constitute acts of serious misconduct and are therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including summary dismissals. - Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age of consent locally. Mistaken belief in the age of the child is not a defence. - Exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior is prohibited. This includes the exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries. - Keik Okara NGO does not allow sexual relationships between workers and beneficiaries since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics. Such relationships undermine the credibility and integrity of humanitarian aid work. - Where a staff or volunteer develop concerns of suspicions regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow staff or volunteer, s/he must report such concerns via the reporting mechanisms. - All staff members and volunteers are obliged to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of this code of conduct. The prohibitions set out above are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Other forms of sexually exploitative or sexually abusive behavior may be grounds for administrative action or disciplinary measures including summary dismissal. Volunteers in violation of the above will be dismissed and removed from the Keik Okara volunteer database. ¶17. (U) Post certifies that it has the authority at Post and the capacity to award a grant to the intended recipient agency prior to the end of the fiscal year. ¶18. (U) Embassy Ashgabat's points of contact for this project are Political Officer Peter Eckstrom and Political Assistant Gozel Pashikova. Post stands ready to provide any additional information that might assist PRM is reviewing this recommendation for support via the Julia Taft Refugee Fund. MILES