S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION - ST. VINCENT AND THE

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 000170 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR - KAREN JO MCISAAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO AID CDC COM TRSY VC XL SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMISSION - ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 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 St. Vincent and the Grenadines. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organization: SVG Network of Non-governmental Organizations Project Management: Same headed by Ms. Jeanie Ollivierre, Chairperson Amount requested: $21,348.31 Objective: Utilizing the draft OECS "Domestic Violence Bill" as a model, the SVG Network seeks to draft similar legislation and have it passed by the SVG government. Additionally, the network will conduct an educational and training campaign targeting the legal fraternity, police forces, and social service providers to sensitize them to this issue and to render them better providers of services to victims of domestic violence and abuse. The proposal complements well the Mission's efforts to address human trafficking issues identified by the Secretary's initiative. To that end, G/TIP, through the International Organization for Migration (IOM),will soon be providing training to key Vincentian governmental and non-governmental entities on counter-TIP measures and awareness. HARDT