Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09YEREVAN304
2009-05-11 04:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
EMBASSY YEREVAN PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT FUND FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO0730 RR RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHYE #0304/01 1310452 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 110452Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9011 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000304
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND PRM/ECA (MJOHNSON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PRFE IZ AM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY YEREVAN PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT FUND FOR
REFUGEES
REF: A) STATE 14280, B) 2008 Yerevan 000317
-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000304
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND PRM/ECA (MJOHNSON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PRFE IZ AM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY YEREVAN PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT FUND FOR
REFUGEES
REF: A) STATE 14280, B) 2008 Yerevan 000317
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. SUMMARY: Embassy Yerevan, Armenia, requests USD 20,000 in Taft
Refugee Funds for the one-time support of YMCA Shelter NGO to
provide ethnic Armenian refugees from Iraq with furniture in a newly
renovated state refugee shelter located in Darbnik village of Ararat
region. YMCA Shelter NGO is a longstanding implementing partner of
UNHCR-Armenia for ongoing support to refugees. The Taft fund grant
will complement furniture purchased by UNHCR for the Darbnik shelter
(adding to what UNHCR has already purchased),thus helping to secure
basic living conditions for 46 Iraqi families that will move into
the shelter shortly. END SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
2. As of February 2009 the State Migration Agency (SMA) in Armenia
has registered about 1,000 refugees from Iraq. The overwhelming
majority of these Iraqi refugees are of Armenian origin, and fled
the generalized violence in Iraq associated with ethnic and
religious persecution. According to UNHCR the flow of Iraqi
refugees, which started back in 2003, has now almost stopped.
However, these 1,000 refugees (about 150 families) have indicated
that they want to resettle permanently in Armenia. While both the
Armenian government and population are receptive towards Armenian
refugees in general and especially to Armenians from Iraq, the
refugees face integration challenges in Armenia.
3. In 2008 UNHCR and SMA conducted a profiling exercise with regard
to Iraqi refugees in Armenia to identify the most urgent
socio-economic needs of this group. According to the preliminary
results, the most critical issues are shelter and a lack of job
opportunities. Almost all Iraqi refugees are currently living in
rented apartments, paying substantial amounts from their already
scarce family resources, making it difficult for them to meet their
basic needs in food, health and education. The situation is further
aggravated by the ongoing financial crisis, which continues to
impact negatively the socio-economic situation of the country as a
whole. The impact of this crisis (which will likely get worse in
coming months) on vulnerable groups such as refugees is expected to
be devastating.
--------------
JUSTIFICATION
--------------
4. In March 2009 UNHCR, through the YMCA Shelter NGO, remodeled and
renovated the former Agricultural College building in Darbnik
village, creating 46 (new but empty) 1 - 3 bedroom apartments to be
provided to the most vulnerable Iraqi refugee families (ref B). The
funding requested herein will help to secure basic living conditions
for these families by furnishing the apartments with basic furniture
sets. These are expensive given the refugees' modest resources, and
beyond what the families can afford. Hence, the provision of
furniture in the apartments will serve as a durable solution for
vulnerable Iraqi refugees who did not bring furniture or belongings
with them, and were compelled to move from one place to another in
search of cheaper furnished apartments. The procured furniture will
remain the property of the "Dormitories" CJSC (Closed Joint-Stock
Company) of the Ministry of Territorial Administration (in charge of
maintenance and management of this shelter),and will continue to
serve new refugee families that will move into the building once the
status of the initially settled families improves and they relocate.
--------------
DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
--------------
5. YMCA Shelter NGO, which is a trusted and reliable implementing
partner of UNHCR, will organize the procurement. With the requested
funding, the NGO will procure basic furniture sets (beds, kitchen
cupboards and chairs) for 31 apartments in the Darbnik shelter, with
UNHCR having already procured furniture for the remaining 15
apartments. The requested USD 20,000 will fully cover the basic
furniture needs for the shelter. Funds will be transferred to the
bank account of YMCA Shelter, which will conduct all preparatory
work and implement the procurement in line with UNHCR procurement
guidelines. The NGO will disburse funds to the identified vendor
based on separate procurement contracts. The transportation and
assembly of the furniture is included in the quotation below. A
guarantee period will be defined to ensure proper quality of the
furniture. UNHCR will provide full guidance and support to YMCA
YEREVAN 00000304 002 OF 002
Shelter for the organization of the procurement.
--------------
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
--------------
ITEM QUANTITY TOTAL COST UNIT COST
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Kitchen
Cupboard 46 USD 6,900 USD 150
Bed 66 USD 9,900 USD 150
Chair 80 USD 3,200 USD 40
GRAND TOTAL USD 20,000
-------------- --------------
--------------
IDENTIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
--------------
7. YMCA Shelter NGO was established in 1994, and has become UNHCR's
main implementing partner for the construction of shelters for
refugee families. Since 1994 YMCA Shelter, through UNHCR funding
and other co-funding donors, has provided more than 4,500 refugee
families with permanent and social housing. The NGO has gained
considerable knowledge and experience in managing shelter projects
funded by both local and international donor organizations, and
foreign governments.
8. Conoff, in his capacity as Grants Officer Representative (GOR)
for the FY08 Taft Refugee Fund grant, and POL/ECON Assistant visited
the shelter in Darbnik village on April 16, 2009 along with UNHCR
and representatives of the NGO YMCA Shelter. The shelter is
scheduled to open in mid-May. Conoff verified the need for this
additional furniture, reviewed the quotes with NGO YMCA Shelter, and
confirmed that the furniture is available for immediate purchase and
delivery. We are sending photos of the Darbnik village shelter
separately to PRM/ECA (M. Johnson) by e-mail.
--------------
POST CERTIFICATION
--------------
9. Post has reviewed the code of conduct signed by the Executive
Director of YMCA Shelter NGO, Gagik Muradyan, as the implementing
partner of UNHCR. Mr. Muradyan will be the point of contact for
this grant. Post certifies that it has the authority and capacity
at post to award a grant to YMCA Shelter NGO prior to the end of the
fiscal year. Our Public Affairs and Grant Officer, Thomas
Mittnacht, will sign the grant.
YOVANOVITCH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC AND PRM/ECA (MJOHNSON)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PRFE IZ AM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY YEREVAN PROPOSAL FOR FY 2009 JULIA TAFT FUND FOR
REFUGEES
REF: A) STATE 14280, B) 2008 Yerevan 000317
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. SUMMARY: Embassy Yerevan, Armenia, requests USD 20,000 in Taft
Refugee Funds for the one-time support of YMCA Shelter NGO to
provide ethnic Armenian refugees from Iraq with furniture in a newly
renovated state refugee shelter located in Darbnik village of Ararat
region. YMCA Shelter NGO is a longstanding implementing partner of
UNHCR-Armenia for ongoing support to refugees. The Taft fund grant
will complement furniture purchased by UNHCR for the Darbnik shelter
(adding to what UNHCR has already purchased),thus helping to secure
basic living conditions for 46 Iraqi families that will move into
the shelter shortly. END SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------
2. As of February 2009 the State Migration Agency (SMA) in Armenia
has registered about 1,000 refugees from Iraq. The overwhelming
majority of these Iraqi refugees are of Armenian origin, and fled
the generalized violence in Iraq associated with ethnic and
religious persecution. According to UNHCR the flow of Iraqi
refugees, which started back in 2003, has now almost stopped.
However, these 1,000 refugees (about 150 families) have indicated
that they want to resettle permanently in Armenia. While both the
Armenian government and population are receptive towards Armenian
refugees in general and especially to Armenians from Iraq, the
refugees face integration challenges in Armenia.
3. In 2008 UNHCR and SMA conducted a profiling exercise with regard
to Iraqi refugees in Armenia to identify the most urgent
socio-economic needs of this group. According to the preliminary
results, the most critical issues are shelter and a lack of job
opportunities. Almost all Iraqi refugees are currently living in
rented apartments, paying substantial amounts from their already
scarce family resources, making it difficult for them to meet their
basic needs in food, health and education. The situation is further
aggravated by the ongoing financial crisis, which continues to
impact negatively the socio-economic situation of the country as a
whole. The impact of this crisis (which will likely get worse in
coming months) on vulnerable groups such as refugees is expected to
be devastating.
--------------
JUSTIFICATION
--------------
4. In March 2009 UNHCR, through the YMCA Shelter NGO, remodeled and
renovated the former Agricultural College building in Darbnik
village, creating 46 (new but empty) 1 - 3 bedroom apartments to be
provided to the most vulnerable Iraqi refugee families (ref B). The
funding requested herein will help to secure basic living conditions
for these families by furnishing the apartments with basic furniture
sets. These are expensive given the refugees' modest resources, and
beyond what the families can afford. Hence, the provision of
furniture in the apartments will serve as a durable solution for
vulnerable Iraqi refugees who did not bring furniture or belongings
with them, and were compelled to move from one place to another in
search of cheaper furnished apartments. The procured furniture will
remain the property of the "Dormitories" CJSC (Closed Joint-Stock
Company) of the Ministry of Territorial Administration (in charge of
maintenance and management of this shelter),and will continue to
serve new refugee families that will move into the building once the
status of the initially settled families improves and they relocate.
--------------
DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
--------------
5. YMCA Shelter NGO, which is a trusted and reliable implementing
partner of UNHCR, will organize the procurement. With the requested
funding, the NGO will procure basic furniture sets (beds, kitchen
cupboards and chairs) for 31 apartments in the Darbnik shelter, with
UNHCR having already procured furniture for the remaining 15
apartments. The requested USD 20,000 will fully cover the basic
furniture needs for the shelter. Funds will be transferred to the
bank account of YMCA Shelter, which will conduct all preparatory
work and implement the procurement in line with UNHCR procurement
guidelines. The NGO will disburse funds to the identified vendor
based on separate procurement contracts. The transportation and
assembly of the furniture is included in the quotation below. A
guarantee period will be defined to ensure proper quality of the
furniture. UNHCR will provide full guidance and support to YMCA
YEREVAN 00000304 002 OF 002
Shelter for the organization of the procurement.
--------------
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
--------------
ITEM QUANTITY TOTAL COST UNIT COST
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Kitchen
Cupboard 46 USD 6,900 USD 150
Bed 66 USD 9,900 USD 150
Chair 80 USD 3,200 USD 40
GRAND TOTAL USD 20,000
-------------- --------------
--------------
IDENTIFICATION OF IMPLEMENTING AGENCY
--------------
7. YMCA Shelter NGO was established in 1994, and has become UNHCR's
main implementing partner for the construction of shelters for
refugee families. Since 1994 YMCA Shelter, through UNHCR funding
and other co-funding donors, has provided more than 4,500 refugee
families with permanent and social housing. The NGO has gained
considerable knowledge and experience in managing shelter projects
funded by both local and international donor organizations, and
foreign governments.
8. Conoff, in his capacity as Grants Officer Representative (GOR)
for the FY08 Taft Refugee Fund grant, and POL/ECON Assistant visited
the shelter in Darbnik village on April 16, 2009 along with UNHCR
and representatives of the NGO YMCA Shelter. The shelter is
scheduled to open in mid-May. Conoff verified the need for this
additional furniture, reviewed the quotes with NGO YMCA Shelter, and
confirmed that the furniture is available for immediate purchase and
delivery. We are sending photos of the Darbnik village shelter
separately to PRM/ECA (M. Johnson) by e-mail.
--------------
POST CERTIFICATION
--------------
9. Post has reviewed the code of conduct signed by the Executive
Director of YMCA Shelter NGO, Gagik Muradyan, as the implementing
partner of UNHCR. Mr. Muradyan will be the point of contact for
this grant. Post certifies that it has the authority and capacity
at post to award a grant to YMCA Shelter NGO prior to the end of the
fiscal year. Our Public Affairs and Grant Officer, Thomas
Mittnacht, will sign the grant.
YOVANOVITCH