MOZAMBIQUE'S PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000615 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE'S PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT REFUGEE FUND REF: 08 STATE 014280 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In response to reftel 08 State 014280, U.S. Embassy- Maputo submits the following proposal for consideration under the FY 2009 Julia Taft Refugee Fund. The Zimbabwe-Mozambique Solidarity Alliance (ZIMOSA),working in partnership with the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM) proposes to undertake a comprehensive survey of displaced, undocumented Zimbabwean's found within the borders of Mozambique in order to identify and assist this vulnerable population. ZIMOSA/CCM also proposes to conduct fundraising, income generating activities, cultural events and counseling for refugees. Their proposed budget request totals $20,000. END SUMMARY. -------------- DISPLACED ZIMBABWEANS IN MOZAMBIQUE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Due to political reasons, Mozambique has not officially recognized displaced Zimbabweans as refugees. As such, the Government of Mozambique (GRM) has not undertaken any studies or surveys to determine the number and/or conditions of Zimbabweans currently in country. According to ZIMOSA/CCM, however, thousands of Zimbabweans have fled the political and economic instability in their home country and are now living, undocumented, in various provinces in Mozambique. This is the population that ZIMOSA/CCM intends to help. -------------- ZIMOSA -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Zimbabwe-Mozambique Solidarity Alliance ZIMOSA) is a membership-driven, civil society organization formed in June 2008 to help mitigate the suffering of Zimbabwean migrants whose flow into Mozambique drastically increased after the March 29 National Elections. Zimosa consists of 220 members, many of whom are torture victims and political escapees, now living in 5 different provinces of Mozambique. They work under the umbrella of the Christian Council of Mozambique, a well-established, government registered NGO in Mozambique. ZIMOSA has already worked on setting up provincial structures in Maputo, Gaza, Sofala, Manica and Tete in order to identify and register personal profiles of the migrants. Moreover, they have conducted a limited field assessment to ascertain the problems and needs faced by the displaced Zimbabweans. The results of this study showed that Zimbabweans in Mozambique need assistance in shelter, health, water, sanitation, food, employment and legal protection. -------------- THEIR PROPOSAL -------------- ¶4. (SBU) ZIMOSA/CCM proposes to conduct a national survey to determine the number of Zimbabwean refugees currently in Mozambique and to identify both the problems that they face and the assistance that they need. They further propose to distribute food and supplies to vulnerable Zimbabweans in country and to engage in fundraising activities in order to fund counseling/mental health workshops for the displaced migrants. Lastly, they propose to engage in advocacy with the GRM for Zimbabwean refugees in Mozambique. In the budget submitted with their proposal, ZIMOSA/CCM requested $20,000. -------------- AUTHORITY AND REQUIRED CHECKS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Post certifies that it has the authority and the capacity to award a grant to the intended recipient agency prior to the end of the fiscal year. As requested, Post has consulted appropriate Terrorist Watch Lists/websites and reviewed PRM's NGO guidelines as posted on the PRM website. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Due to the GRM's failure to recognize the displaced Zimbabweans in Mozambique as refugees, there is little information available about exactly how many Zimbabweans are currently living in Mozambique and the conditions under which they are living. ZIMOSA/CCM's proposal to conduct a nationwide survey of displaced Zimbabweans will provide this necessary information making it easier to determine the extent of the problems faced by this vulnerable group. MAPUTO 00000615 002 OF 002 Although their proposal is not as sophisticated as those submitted by more well-established NGOs, they appear to have both the staff and the motivation to successfully complete the project. Post therefore requests that PRM award a $20,000 FY 2009 Julia Taft Refugee Fund grant to Zimosa/CCM. Chapman