MONITORING REPORT ON GCN G/TIP GRANT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000261 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AF/S FOR BWALCH DRL FOR NWILETT G/TIP FOR JLARSEN, RYOUSEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV KTIP ZI SUBJECT: MONITORING REPORT ON GCN G/TIP GRANT Ref: 08 STATE 104501 ¶1. (U) On March 24, 2009, poloff visited the local non-governmental organization Girl Child Network (GCN) to evaluate progress on a US$152,000 grant that was awarded by G/TIP on September 22, 2009. ¶2. The answers below are keyed in response to questions posed in reftel. ¶A. Political officer met with the following persons at the GCN office in Chitungwiza: Alexia Manyangadze, Director of Internal Audit, Finance, and Administration; Godfree K. Muduve, Accounting Executive; Roselina Muzerengi, Director of Programs; and Douglas Gasva, Education and Development Coordinator. ¶B. This project aims to improve understanding and awareness of trafficking in persons (TIP) as a problem in Zimbabwe as well as provide assistance to TIP victims. Specifically, the project's goals are to: (1) improve the capacity of GCN's girls clubs' 500 coordinators and 500 presidents, (2) train 50 members of the media on sensitive reporting of trafficking issues, (3) increase awareness of trafficking by training 300 traditional leaders, (4) rescue and rehabilitate 100 girls who are victims of TIP, and (5) produce and distribute material on human trafficking. Towards these ends, GCN has made some progress. To date, it has provided training to 37 club coordinators in Harare and the surrounding area through one workshop in Chitungwiza. A second workshop to train approximately 50 coordinators in Mashonaland East is planned for April. 14 club presidents will receive anti-TIP training on March 28. GCN has not yet provided any training to members of the media or traditional leaders. GCN has provided a total of 10 trafficking victims with financial assistance to pay for school fees and uniforms. Five of these victims are at Sunside mission boarding school in Rusape and are unable to return home to their families. These five girls were trafficked to ZANU-PF bases where they were repeatedly raped. Given the brutal nature of their experiences, GCN has arranged for their education at this school to put them in a safe environment. The cost of the school, however, is substantial, around US$900 per year. Two other girls who were raped at ZANU-PF bases are in schools in Mutare. An additional three girls are pursuing their advanced-level high school education in Harare. GCN has identified an additional 21 girls between the ages of 11 and 16 and is seeking schools to accept them. Since GCN's budget was prepared, costs have risen dramatically. The average annual cost for a high school in a public high density area of Harare (the least expnsive option) is US$240 (well above their budget of US$100),plus additional costs for the uniform and other "fees." The current uniform budget of US$70 is also inadequate and allows only for a blouse and skirt, leaving nothing for shoes or a book bag. Consequently, it is unlikely GCN will be able to meet its target of helping 100 girls. GCN is in the process of purchasing air time on Zimbabwe television and radio to run anti-TIP announcements. We put GCN in touch with the Embassy's Public Affairs Section to seek assistance negotiating a lower price for the air time. GCN has ordered rulers with anti-TIP messages that should be ready for distribution in coming weeks. We also discussed contacting the local Voice of America program, Studio 7, to get a story about GCN's activities on the widely-heard radio program. ¶C. There are a number of special issues that have frustrated GCN's ability to make progress. Because of a problem with the PIN number Qability to make progress. Because of a problem with the PIN number and communication difficulties, it did not access funds until December 21, effectively putting GCN three months behind. They may not be able to complete all activities by September 2009. In addition, the current budget does not contain specific provisions to fund media and traditional leaders training programs. We discussed modifying the budget and training programs to combine training for club coordinators and traditional leaders. Most club coordinators are teachers; by combining training for them with traditional leaders, GCN may be able to facilitate improved communication and buy-in to anti-TIP efforts at the community level. We also suggested GCN contact local journalist groups to investigate the possibility of adding anti-trafficking training to a previously-scheduled workshop or training program. Continued disruptions and instability within schools also complicate efforts of the girls clubs and the reliability of the girls club coordinators. Low wages and harassment of teachers in rural areas have created significant interruptions in schools, leading to high absentee rates among both teachers and students. With teachers threatening to go on strike in May, the girls clubs and coordinators HARARE 00000261 002 OF 002 will not have schools available as a place to meet and organize activities and meetings. Significantly increased school fees will also prevent them from reaching their target audience of 100 girls. ¶D. The operational environment for NGOs in Zimbabwe has significantly improved over the last year. Nonetheless, GCN has consciously decided to not label one of its vehicles with the GCN logo, to reduce the chance of possible harassment. GCN's headquarters has not had municipal electricity in over a year, forcing the office to rely on a generator. Most significantly, however, uncontrollable changes in schools, including strikes and high fees will limit GCN's effectiveness in reaching school-age populations through girls clubs. High fees will further prevent GCNQ from assisting 100 victims as anticipated. Although GCN is paying girls' school fees for this school year, they do not have a plan for next year's fees. We discussed the need to immediately begin a search for additional funding to continue to assist these TIP victims. This aspect of the project, in particular, may be unsustainable if GCN is unable to identify additional funds. ¶E. Staffing appears to be adequate both in terms of technical knowledge and management to carry out the project. GCN is based in Zimbabwe and does not have external headquarters. ¶F. G/TIP may consider helping GCN revise its budget and objectives to reflect the comparatively high cost of school fees and to provide resources to complete the objectives of training media and traditional leaders. ¶G. This project advances current deficiencies in awareness of TIP and assistance for victims. As the project ramps up, it is likely GCN will identify more victims than it can assist. Without the availability of rehabilitation and school fees, some victims may be unlikely to come forward. ¶H. Overall, GCN is making progress towards implementing this project. Unfortunately, numerous uncontrollable challenges make it unlikely GCN will be able to meet its objectives by the project's proposed end date of September 2009. GCN is a viable candidate for continued funding, although it may benefit from further assistance developing work plans and budgets that allow flexibility in Zimbabwe's continued uncertain political and economic environment. DHANANI