This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS  KINSHASA 000144 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/EPS/USAID, AF/C AMB-DESIGNATE WEISBERG 
AFR/DP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM EAID AMGT CF CG ECON XA AID
SUBJECT: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE: FY-2006 CALL FOR AMBASSADOR'S 
         SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM FUNDING 
 
REF: KINSHASA 01255 
 
¶1.  Embassy Brazzaville's selection committee has identified 
six, well-developed programs for funding by the Ambassador's 
Special Self-Help Program in FY-06.  The reputation and 
familiarity of this initiative have increased significantly 
in recent years as post endeavors to re-establish a full time 
presence in the Republic of Congo following ordered 
evacuation during the disruptive civil war period, 1997-2001. 
Of the nearly 100 proposals received, the selection committee 
felt that the six projects outlined below, totalling USD 
$194,585, reached across a vast spectrum of Congolese 
society, interest groups and technical disciplines.  Your 
consideration to fully fund these initiatives at a crucial 
period of host-country economic and commercial development 
would be deeply appreciated. 
 
¶2.  If further project details or clarification are required, 
please contact Self-Help Coordinator, Mrs. Margo Mulumba, at 
e-mail: margommulu@yahoo.com, tel: (243)(99)800-1047; or, 
Charge d'affaires Mark J. Biedlingmaier, 
carpaemarkum@hotmail.com.  Please be advised that the Embassy 
Brazzaville Office currently has no access to IVG, OpenNet or 
the Department's Global Address List (GAL). 
 
¶3.  SSH FUNDING REQUESTS: 
 
(A) Association Nationale de l'Energie Solaire (ANES) 
    Request:  USD $60,585 
    Location: Congo-Brazzaville 
 
Description:  The Association Nationale de l'Energie Solaiare 
(ANES) project seeks to promote and develop solar energy 
technology in order to advance agro-pastoral production and 
livestock breeding in the peripheral zones of Brazzaville. 
ANES also intends to implement a youth training program in 
the solar technology trade as part of its economic 
development initiative.  This project will encompass three 
sites: (a) local foundry; (b) agro-pastoral farm; and, (c) 
fruit juice cooperative. 
 
     Beneficiaries: people who live in Congo-Brazzaville area 
     Local Contribution: time, labor and expertise 
 
(B) Cooprative d'Elveurs de Btail et des Produits Agricole 
    (COEBPA) 
    Request: USD $25,000 
    Location: Congo-Brazzaville 
 
Description:  The project's aim is to construct an enclosure 
to contain and secure COEBPA's cattle holdings within its 
premises,  and to purchase hand farm tools, veterinary 
products and animal feed.  As a result, residents in the 
Brazzaville and Pointe Noire districts will be supplied with 
nutritious locally-raised protein products on a consistent 
basis.  In addition, COEBPA hopes to revive livestock 
ck 
breeding as a viable occupation in the post-conflict Congo 
environment.  Funding this initiative would have the 
potential to increase urban employment and develop small- 
scale farm skills, generate more income for a distressed 
sector of the economy, contribute to commercial and food 
security opportunities and help improve the quality of life 
for Congolese citizens. 
 
    Beneficiaries: Brazzaville and Pointe Noire residents 
    Local Contribution: land, time, labor and expertise 
 
(C) Cercle d'Initiative Pour La Promotion de la Personne 
    Handicape (CIPHACO) 
    Request: USD $7,000 
    Location: Congo-Brazzaville 
 
Description:  This sustainable poultry farm project is 
designed to introduce affordable, high-quality, locally- 
produced eggs to the Congolese market.  Its activities will 
consist of the construction of a livestock building; purchase 
of chicks, animal feed, veterinary products and disinfectants 
to ensure proper sanitary and health standards.  Funding this 
initiative has the potential to increase urban employment and 
develop small-scale farm skills, generate more community 
income, contribute to commercial and food security 
opportunities and help to improve the quality of life for 
Congolese citizens. 
 
    Beneficiaries: Congo-Brazzaville area residents 
    Local Contribution: land, time, labor and expertise 
 
(D) Mdicines d'Afrique 
 
 
    Request:  USD $50,000 
    Location: Congo-Brazzaville 
 
Description:  The purpose of this community empowerment 
project is to promote malaria-prevention methods in the Congo 
at the family and community level.  The multi-step approach 
consists of: (1) malaria education and prevention 
methodology; (2) prevention education to highlight discussion 
of: (a) risk awareness, (b) use of mosquito-bite avoidance 
measures (e.g., impregnated mosquito nets), (c) appropriate 
use of malaria medications, (d) prompt diagnosis and malaria- 
symptom recognition, (e) dangers of improper hygiene and its 
association with malarial diseases; and, (3) self-assessment 
and evaluation exercises to monitor focus group levels of 
comprehension and compliance; (4) environmental evaluation to 
ensure that participants would consider the applicability of 
certain programs to specific families/community groups.  In 
addition, Mdicines d'Afrique intends to print an "ABC Guide 
to Malaria Prevention."  The expected results of this project 
would be to encourage better nutritional habits, malaria- 
disease awareness (symptoms and treatment), and lifestyle 
changes to minimize exposure.  The long-term goals would be 
reduce infection rates and to seek total eradication of the 
disease in the Congo. 
 
    Beneficiaries: 5000 people in the Congo-Brazzaville area 
    Local Contribution: time, labor and expertise 
 
(E) La Conadho 
    Request: USD $25,000 
    Location: Congo-Brazzaville 
 
Description:  The purpose of this project would be to install 
internet access to Conadho's community resource center.  Open- 
use internet stations would provide students and other users 
with access to research materials, long-distance learning 
opportunities, current news reporting and online 
publications.  This resource is vital for Congolese citizens 
who demand greater access to humanitarian, human rights and 
economic development information.  At present, there are only 
two internet/cyber cafes available in the city of 
Brazzaville, with a population in excess of 500,000. 
Secondary schools and universities currently have limited 
funding and technical infrastructure to support on-line and 
internet activities. 
 
    Beneficiaries: 5,000 people in Congo-Brazzaville area 
    Local Contribution: office building, $5000 toward 
    Renovation and installation costs, time, labor and 
    expertise 
 
(F) Fdration Enfants et Femmes du Congo (FEFCO) 
    Request: USD $27,000 
    Location: Congo-Brazzaville 
 
Description:  The purpose of this project would be to train 
young, unskilled women basic income-producing skills and 
d 
micro-business management techniques.  Program participants 
could enroll in one of four training programs: (1) pastry 
making; (2) tie-dye, sewing, Senegalese-style embroidery 
production; (3) soap making; or, (4) fish smokehouse/curing. 
Upon completion of the program, the women would be expected 
to be self-sufficient wage earners who contribute to poverty 
reduction and an improved quality of life for their families 
and community. 
 
    Beneficiaries: 300-350 young women in Brazzaville area 
    Local contribution: building, $5000 toward renovation 
    costs, time, labor and expertise. 
 
¶4. Criteria observed for SSH project selection include: 
 
- Post has taken into consideration the number of people 
these projects would benefit, the social as well as economic 
circumstances of those individuals making the requests, and 
their potential to complete and maintain the projects.  The 
proposals selected aim to improve the socio-economic 
conditions of the communities at the grassroots level. 
Priority was given to projects which emphasized a significant 
contribution from the community. 
 
- Republic of Congo's population is estimated at 3 million 
inhabitants.  Until recently, civil war had restricted travel 
to some parts of the country, however, as security and 
stability return to the region, post's SSH projects will 
branch out from the current focus points in the Brazzaville 
and Pointe Noire districts. 
 
 
- Post's Mission Program Plan highlights the strong U.S. 
national interest to pursue humanitarian goals in the 
Republic of Congo. These Special Self-Help projects aid in 
promoting that interest, and they remain a primary showcase 
of America's goodwill towards the people of the Congo.  Peace 
Corps has not returned to ROC since cessation of hostilities. 
Embassy Brazzaville receives limited USAID support from its 
regional center in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), 
therefore, SSH programs comprise a significant share of non- 
NGO assistance and aid offered to the host country. 
 
¶5.  Previous post administration performance: 
 
- FY05: All six projects funded are underway.  Installment 
  advances are anticipated for three projects. 
 
- FY04: All projects have been closed out 
 
- FY03: All projects have been closed out 
 
- FY02: All projects have been closed out 
 
- FY01: All projects have been closed out 
 
- Post's FY05 Annual Year-End Report contained in reftel. 
 
¶6.  Embassy Office Brazzaville - Biedlingmaier 
 
MEECE 
 
 
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