S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL - YEMEN

UNCLAS SANAA 000381 SIPDIS NEA/ARP FOR ANDREW MACDONALD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM AID CDC COM TRSY YM SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL - YEMEN REF: STATE 12531 ¶1. Embassy Sana'a submits two projects for the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues' Small Grants Initiative (S/GWI) to fund projects that promote women's political, economic, and social advancement. The proposals detailed below address the themes of education, specifically, health education, and economic opportunity. ¶2. A summary of each proposal is provided below, and additional, more detailed information is available upon request. Embassy Sana'a will be responsible for project and financial oversight and for project monitoring and evaluation through its small grants committee. Embassy Sana'a's point of contact is Colleen Traughber (TraughberCM@state.gov). Project 1: Early Breast Cancer Detection Awareness Program -------------- -------------- ¶3. Problem: Breast cancer is one of the most serious cancerous diseases affecting Yemeni women. According to a clinic in the Republican Hospital in Sana'a, the major cause of women reaching that stage is ignorance and lack of awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer. In an attempt to develop local government national strategy in spreading awareness and supporting specialized health centers, ATHAR Foundation (otherwise known as the Impact Institute for Development) proposes to conduct an awareness program for early detection of breast cancer. Proposed Program: This project intends to: 1) raise awareness about the risk factors that may increase the likelihood of the disease, its symptoms, and the benefits of screening for the early detection of breast cancer; 2) train targeted groups on how to do the periodic check; 3) develop protocols and guidelines dealing with all standard procedures for detecting and diagnosis; 4) train specialized staff to do outreach at the level of health centers in major cities; and 5) target actors in the governmental sector and civil society who are involved in breast cancer awareness. Project Description: The project will establish an intensive program for women and girls to provide them with basic health information on how to do periodic examinations. It will also raise awareness of the dangers of breast cancer and how to prevent it. Outcomes/Performance Measures: The project targets high school and university students from 15 years old and above as well as women's groups and housewives in Sana'a and Hodeidah. The duration of the project would be eight months from the beginning of the project. Budget: USD 89,320 Recipient Organization: Impact Institute for Development (also known as the Athar Foundation) is a local NGO that focuses on women's development. Impact has received limited support in the past from international donors, including USG funds through the Middle East Partnership Initiative Program (MEPI). Past experience has shown its ability to complete projects in a timely and transparent fashion. Post believes that the Impact Institute has the appropriate level of technical and management capacity. PROJECT 2: WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT -------------- ¶5. Problem: Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the Middle East and North Africa region with a predominantly rural population, facing enormous economic and social challenges. While there are opportunities for small business owners, the owners are typically male. Women make up only 3 percent of entrepreneurs. Women have less formal education than men, limited technical skills, less business exposure, and less access to information about financial and business services. Recognizing the needs and the opportunity to make a difference, Athar Foundation (otherwise known as the Impact Institute for Development) would like to continue its program for women's economic empowerment. Proposed Program: This project intends to: 1) provide a culturally acceptable business environment for women; 2) offer training in business management, accounting, and marketing classes; 3) provide women with the required skills to be competitive in the modern business environment, assisting them to start and retain their businesses; and 4) support the management performance of female-owned and managed small and medium enterprises. Project Description: The project will set up training for women in glass painting in Sana'a. Low income women and girls will be trained in how to make their own projects such as colored vases, painted pictures, and other traditional paintings. The project will also offer administrative, financial, and marketing training which will be conducted in order to help women entrepreneurs start their own businesses. After the completion of the training, Impact will hold an exhibition of the trainees' products. Outcomes/Performance Measures: The project will train 50 women in Sana'a who are interested in starting their own businesses. It will target women who are from a low-income background and who also have artistic skills. The duration of the project would be eight months from the beginning of the project. Budget: USD 43,549 Recipient Organization: Impact Institute for Development (Please see description above.) SECHE