S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL: "VOCATIONAL,

UNCLAS SEOUL 000261 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/GWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM AID CDC COM TRSY KN KS SUBJECT: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSAL: "VOCATIONAL, ENTREPRENEURIAL, AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FEMALE NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES" REF: A. STATE 132094 ¶B. STATE 412006 Problem Statement -------------- ¶1. (U) Of the approximately 18,000 North Koreans who have risked their lives and made it to South Korea, 80 percent are women. The majority left the DPRK to escape famine and political repression; many experienced some form of sexual exploitation and/or economic exploitation en route to freedom in the South. As survivors of a highly repressive, authoritarian regime, most of these women arrive with virtually no practical education and a limited understanding of capitalism, much less private sector employment. As a result, they often suffer from social alienation and marginalization in South Korea's highly-competitive, education-obsessed society. Although the ROK government provides basic resettlement assistance to DPRK refugees, the government is limited in its capacity to provide the specialized assistance needed to successfully integrate and empower these women. ¶2. (U) High unemployment and low job retention rates are the norm for female North Korean refugees. A recent study published by a major university found that of the 500 female North Korean refugees surveyed, 42 percent reported having no monthly income. The study also found that the average monthly income of those who were employed was 75 percent less than the average South Korean's salary. With their meager earnings, many female refugees not only try to support themselves but also send money and medical supplies to family and friends they left behind. The ROK's Ministry of Unification reports that these small remittances have become an informal yet critical lifeline for North Korean communities, particularly in the impoverished border areas where the DPRK's public distribution system has collapsed. Summary of Proposed Program -------------- ¶3. (U) To help address this problem, Embassy Seoul would like to submit a proposal from the Coalition for North Korean Women's Rights (CNKWR) for a small grant from the Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues. The title of the proposed grant project is: "Vocational, Entrepreneurial, and Leadership Training for North Korean Female Refugees." This project addresses the S/GWI Small Grants Initiative goals of promoting women's political, economic, and social advancement by providing practical, sustainable training to promote the economic empowerment of North Korean female refugees, one of South Korea's most disadvantaged societal groups. The overall budget for this 12-month grant project has two parts: 1) The USG portion is 98,283 USD and 2) The NGOs will provide a total of 4,087 USD in cost-sharing. Project Description -------------- ¶4. (U) The project will provide employment opportunities, skill-based certifications, leadership, and entrepreneurial training to unemployed North Korean female refugees struggling to adjust to life in a democratic society. Specifically, the North Korean refugees will receive practical and marketable vocational training in the following industries: sewing and textile manufacturing, window blind installation, and spa/skin care. The training will use a "learn-by-doing" approach specifically geared towards North Korean refugees. Specific Activities -------------- ¶5. (U) The specific activities of the project will be divided into four stages: STAGE 1 (Recruitment and Preparatory Education): The CNKWR will recruit participants for this program through its existing membership base and publicity campaigns on popular North Korean Internet websites and in government-assisted housing areas for North Koreans. The CNKWR will select at least 90 women to participate. The first stage will consist of preparatory sessions at CNKWR's Gangseo-gu office. CNKWR will offer three classes over a 10-week period with approximately 30 women in each class. The curriculum will include introductory training sessions on the basics of market economics, entrepreneurship, small-business management basics, South Korean business etiquette and workplace behavior, effective communication skills, and leadership. Upon completion of this stage, participants will transition to the on-site training portion of the project held at participating factories and companies. STAGE 2 (On-Site Training): In cooperation with Merry Year Foundation partner companies, CNKWR trainers will offer on-site skills training in sewing/textile manufacturing, window blind installation, and spa/skin care. The sewing and textile manufacturing course will be held for three months at CNKWR's Bucheon city office. It will teach participants how to operate industrial sewing machines in preparation for work as machine operators. The window blind installment course will be held for one month at CNKWR offices in Paju city. This training session will teach the participants how to install blinds, including the measurement skills required for future employment as factory-direct sales specialists. The skin care course will be held for two months in Seoul at CNKWR offices. Participants in this course will learn how to give facials and be trained in the application of skin care products. STAGE 3 (Graduation and Employment): All of those who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion from the CNKWR and an offer of direct employment with one of the partner companies. CNKWR will provide references and interview consultation for those who prefer employment elsewhere. In addition, graduates who wish to establish their own companies will be eligible to apply for microcredit financing through the Merry Year Foundation. STAGE 4 (Post-Graduate Mentoring): CNKWR staff will monitor the status of newly-employed graduates to ensure that they have transitioned smoothly. In terms of sustainability, graduates will also enter a volunteer mentoring program with CNKWR after the completion of their program to pass their vocational/entrepreneurial skills to, and in some cases perhaps hire, other female North Korean refugees. Desired Outcome and Performance Measures -------------- ¶6. (U) Broadly speaking, the desired outcome of the vocational training program is that the number of trained, employed female future leaders/entrepreneurs in the North Korean refugee community will increase and that their ability to pass on valuable skills to other female refugees will be strengthened. ¶7. (U) To ensure that the desired outcome is achieved, the following performance measures will be used: -- Attendance at the training sessions will be a mandatory 100 percent, with exceptions only for family emergencies and illness (for example, a participant that contracts the H1N1 and needs to be quarantined at home); -- At least 80 percent of the participants will graduate; -- All graduates will transition into full-time employment with the companies associated with the project, other companies, or their own start-up business; -- At least 20 percent of the graduates will volunteer as mentors for other unemployed female North Korean refugees; and, -- The CNKWR project manager will, with guidance from the Asia Foundation during the project, meet western NGO standards of competence in program management and financial oversight. Detailed Budget: USG Portion -------------- ¶8. (U) The budget below is in USD (calculated with an exchange rate of 1 USD equals 1160 Won). ADMINISTRATIVE -------------- -- Asia Foundation Project Director 10,020 (835 USD x 12 months) -- CNKWR Project Manager 20,400 (1,700 USD x 12 months) -- Transportation to/from training 21,600 (6 USD x 120 days x 30 participants) -- Recruitment materials (web ads/posters) 431 TOTAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS: 52,451 USD STAGE ONE -------------- -- Lecturers' honoraria 1,557 (173 USD x 3 lecturers x 3 trainings) -- Lecture space rental and office supplies 86 TOTAL COST FOR STAGE ONE: 1,643 USD STAGE TWO -------------- -- Sewing Machines (used) (1,121 USD x 10 machines) 11,210 -- Window blind installation machine 1,121 -- Installment and maintenance 5,173 -- Electricity at textile factory 3,879 (431 USD x 3 months x 3 trainings) -- Sewing materials 4,653 (517 USD x 3 months x 3 trainings) -- Skincare products 4,653 (517 USD x 3 months x 3 trainings) -- Sewing instructor 6,750 (750 USD x 9 trainings) -- Skincare instructor 4,500 (750 USD x 6 trainings) -- Window blind installation instructor 2,250 (750 USD x 3 trainings) TOTAL COST FOR STAGE TWO: 44,189 USD TOTAL COST OF USG-FUNDED PORTION OF THE PROJECT: 98,285 USD Detailed Budget: NGO Cost Sharing -------------- ¶9. (U) The budget below is in USD (calculated with an exchange rate of 1 USD equals 1160 Won). It reflects the value of in-kind contributions that the NGOs will make to help share costs. Project director transportation costs (Asia Foundation) 466 Conference room use for meetings between Project director and project manager (Asia Foundation) 517 Conference rooms for trainings/briefings (CNKWR) 3,104 TOTAL NGO COST-SHARING (IN-KIND): 4,087 Recipient Organization and Partners -------------- ¶10. (U) While the CNKWR is a strong local NGO with dedicated staff and a solid track record of handling small grants, the organization does not have technical and management capacity to implement a grant of this size effectively. Therefore, CNKWR will be assisted in implementation by the Asia Foundation and the Merry Year Foundation (MYF),each of which has extensive grant experience. Specifically, an experienced Asia Foundation program officer will allocate a portion of his time/duties to serve as the project's director, periodically assisting the CNKWR's day-to-day project manager in preparing quarterly and final reports, making progress assessments, doing program monitoring, and preparing evaluations. The Asia Foundation officer will also provide financial oversight to ensure that the grant is being implemented by CNKWR according to the stipulations outlined in this proposal. MYF will assist the CNKWR with the practical aspects of providing vocational/entrepreneurial training to this relatively large group of participants. NGO Bios -------------- ¶11. (U) Here are short descriptions of each NGO that will be involved in this project: COALITION FOR NORTH KOREAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS (CNKWR): CNKWR was established by a group of North Korean female refugees in Seoul in August 2006. The group's mission is to assist in the resettlement process and protect the human rights of North Korean women refugees. The organization has more than 250 members. Despite being a relatively young organization, CNKWR has a strong reputation for running sound programs with measurable results. The group has significant ties to the local North Korean refugee community and past experience implementing small-scale vocational training programs financed primarily by the ROKG's Ministry of Unification. MERRY YEAR FOUNDATION: MYF is a non-profit, well-known micro-credit NGO founded in 2003 to provide work opportunities for underprivileged groups in Korea. MYF maintains vocational training partnerships with a diverse group of local companies and has worked with the CNKWR on projects in the past. MYF has agreed to help facilitate job placement opportunities for this project's participants through MYF's network of private sector partners. MYF will also provide micro-credit opportunities to project graduates. THE ASIA FOUNDATION: The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, program management NGO with more than 50 years of experience in the region. The foundation will provide program/budget oversight and evaluation of this project and will help significantly strengthen the grant management capacity of the CNKWR project manager. STEPHENS