S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION - ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000168 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR - KAREN JO MCISAAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO AID CDC COM TRSY AC XL SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION - ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA REF: 10 STATE 12531 ¶1. U.S. Embassy Bridgetown received a vigorous response to the U.S. Secretary of State's request for proposals under the "Women's Global Issues" small grants initiative. A total of 65 proposals were received by the early deadlines established by Embassies Bridgetown and Grenada, with at least an additional 30 turned away in order to allow for internal review and evaluation of those received by said deadlines. ¶2. Embassy Bridgetown is unique in that it is responsible for diplomatic activities in seven separate island nations: Antigua-Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada (which has a single American officer Embassy),St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hence, seven (7) individual project proposals are being submitted separately under the auspices of the aforementioned grant program, which represent the best submitted from each nation with respect to the program's criteria as well as the Mission's Strategic Plan (MSP) objectives. In order to address the widest range of issues that complement program criteria and the MSP, the seven proposals can be grouped into the following categories: food security and economic opportunity (St. Kitts-Nevis and Dominica),democracy and political empowerment (St. Lucia),and gender-based violence (Antigua-Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines). In compliance with reftel instructions, which indicate a limitation of one submission per country, Embassy Bridgetown submits the following for Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua-Barbuda Organization: Women Against Rape Project Management: Alexandrina Wong Amount requested: $99,200.87 Objective: To combat high incidence of sexual violence/rape through a multi-pronged program involving: (1) education and public awareness campaign, (2) providing support services (health care, counseling, etc.) for victims, (3) networking with NGOs and other appropriate organizations with a focus on preventing or responding to HIV/AIDS infection due to sexual victimization. HARDT