Mission Mutual Understanding Goal

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000100 SIPDIS AID/W FOR SCAA/FLYNN FULLER ALMATY FOR USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KDEM KHIV SOCI ELAB SCUL TI SUBJECT: Mission Mutual Understanding Goal ¶1. Introduction and Summary: A recent review of the Mission Strategic Plan provided a snapshot of what we achieved in the last year and our top priorities looking ahead. This is the fourth cable to provide a goal-by-goal look of what Embassy Dushanbe is doing. In our mutual understanding goal all elements of the Mission work to create greater public understanding of U.S. values and foreign policy objectives; to increase Tajik exposure to American society and values; and to create English speakers ready for the challenges of regional and global integration. In 2008 we increased the number of students studying in the United States, and increased press coverage of U.S. activities and positions in the press, and expanded our outreach to a number of audiences. We started a very successful summer camp program. In 2009 we will open two American corners, launch a new website design, and with added staff expand education and outreach programs. End introduction and summary. Accomplishments ¶2. We saw a significant increase in applicants for UGRAD, Muskie and FLEX exchange programs, up by more than 5%, and in visitors to our information resource center, which were up from 1840 to 2400. Visits to our website were up 32% and we averaged 6.72 reports about Mission activity or placements of state Department articles per week in Tajik media. Inviting journalists to join the Ambassador and DCM during trips to Tajikistan's regions and issuing press releases about our activities ensured media attention and public awareness of our assistance. (Local press reported that the United States contributed the most assistance to Tajikistan, 33.2% of the total.) With an additional American officer we were able to coordinate regular outreach out by all mission personnel to meet more people in diverse venues on a variety of subjects including large university audiences. We launched our English Teaching Mentor program to provide yearlong, and much needed pedagogical instruction to 20 motivated teacher-trainers. We started Youth Enrichment Program camps for 140 young Tajiks in rural, conservative regions and shared with them positive messages about America. We created a listserv to enable anyone to get program announcements automatically, rather than relying on Embassy staff to send them. We increased public and press outreach for consular and visa issues. Selected 2009 Goals ¶3. In 2009 we plan to open two new American Corners to serve as resource centers in Khorog in the remote, mountainous Gorno Badakshan Autonomus area and in the southern regional center of Qurghon-Teppa. To meet the demand of the youthful clientele, our Corners will begin to offer basic educational advising to give more Tajik youth the chance to qualify for scholarships at U.S. institutions. We received funding to add three FSN positions, which will allow us to focus more resources on press, English language programs and our website. We will launch a redesigned Website and upgrade and maintain it to provide timely, authoritative information about U.S. policies. We will offer 20 more Tajik English teachers intensive, yearlong mentoring and repeat the successful summer camps for Tajik youth. Post will advocate for the establishment of Peace Corps in Tajikistan to demonstrate democratic values of self-sufficiency and community service and expand English language instruction into rural areas. Major Challenges and Opportunities ¶4. Limited infrastructure is a serious problem! Lack of internet Q4. Limited infrastructure is a serious problem! Lack of internet access, power shortages, and bad roads mean that simply connecting with Tajik citizens either electronically or physically is a challenge. Likewise independent media, represented mostly by weekly newspapers with circulations of 5,000, have a limited reach, while television and radio licenses are firmly controlled by the government for official media. Most Tajiks get their news and information from Russian satellite channels; without access to a similar network, countering Russian "black propaganda" is not possible. A struggling economy increases the number while reducing the quality of visa applicants, raising our refusal rate. We had to hire and assume direct supervision of American Corner coordinators after corrupt officials tried to skim off funds from the modest operating budgets. Security services have begun to target Fulbright students and American language students. On the positive side, last year, for the first time, the Tajik Government permitted us to speak about American life and values in any university. We added a second English Language Fellow position in Khujand, which is increasing our ability to provide support to programs in the north including invigorating the American Corner. JACOBSON