MAURITIUS AND SEYCHELLES: SPECIAL SELF-HELP FUND

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000042 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: XA EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL MP SE SUBJECT: MAURITIUS AND SEYCHELLES: SPECIAL SELF-HELP FUND PROGRAMS PASS NEGROPONTE RISK ASSESSMENT REF: A. STATE 104670 (2009) ¶B. STATE 020628 (2008) ¶1. (SBU) For the FY 09 Ambassador's Special Self-Help Fund, Embassy Port Louis received USD45,000 for Mauritius and USD30,000 for Seychelles. The Special Self-Help Committee selected nine projects for Mauritius and seven for Seychelles to receive funding. In accordance with the Negroponte Risk Assessment requirements, all selected beneficiaries were researched against the Specially Designated (SDN) List, and none of the beneficiary members' names or organizations appeared or matched any of those on the checklist. Post also conducted site visits to each selected beneficiary organizations to assess their reliability and their ability to conduct and complete their projects. Post gathered information regarding members of the organizations, additional sources of funding, and affiliations to other organizations. All beneficiary organizations were deemed to be reliable organizations with no apparent affiliations to terrorist groups or terrorist financing. WALKLEY