VZCZCXYZ0011
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLG #0949/01 3541448
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 201448Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4914

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000949 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/EPS - TAWANNA DAVIDSON 
DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR AF/S - KAMUNA MATHUR 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON AFIN
SUBJECT: SELF-HELP INTERIM OBLIGATION REPORT - MALAWI 
 
 
¶1.  Post submits the following summary of cumulative Self-Help 
interim obligation report.  All activities prior to FY06 have been 
completed and closed out. 
 
---------------- 
FY 2007 Projects 
---------------- 
 
¶2.  Project Name:  Kalwe Gravity-fed Water Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00001-00 
 
Location:  Nkhata Bay District, Northern Region 
 
Project description:  To construct a complete gravity-fed pipe borne 
water system including sedimentation tank and reservoir, and install 
public stand taps. 
 
Beneficiaries:  25,000 people in Nkhata Bay District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $12,500 
 
Project Status:  $-0- expended as of December, 2007.  A topographic 
survey has been completed.  The community has gathered sand, stones 
and timber.  The Self-Help Office has requested the Nkhata Bay 
District Assembly to send their technicians to construct the weir 
and sedimentation tank.  The Assembly has heeded the request, which 
will be part of government contribution to the project. 
 
¶3. Project Name:  Fulirwa CDSS Library Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00002-00 
 
Location:  Karonga District, Northern Region 
 
Project description:  To construct a library block on the grounds of 
Fulirwa Community Day Secondary School, build shelves in the library 
and furnish the library with tables and chairs. 
 
Beneficiaries:  200 people in Karonga District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $6,100 
 
Project Status:  $3,033 expended as of December, 2007.  The project 
started late due to problems with pre-financing purchases.  However, 
that was sorted out and the project is underway.  About half of the 
required building materials have been delivered to the building 
site.  The foundation of the library building has been completed. 
 
¶4. Project Name:  Kavinzde Primary Library Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00003-00 
 
Location:  Kasungu District, Central Region 
 
Project description:  To construct a library block and furnish the 
library with books. 
 
Beneficiaries:  17,000 people in Kasungu District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $1,700 
 
Project Status:  $70 expended as of December, 2007.  This project is 
making good progress.  The project manager plans to complete the 
library building and make tables and chairs before buying and 
stocking library books. 
 
¶5. Project Name:  Madulira Footbridge Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00004-00 
 
Location:  Blantyre District, Southern Region 
 
Project description:  To construct a footbridge over Lunzu River 
that will link Makhetha village with the Kachere Area. 
 
Beneficiaries:  30,000 people in Blantyre District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $4,400 
 
Project Status:  $4,400 expended as of December, 2007.  This 
footbridge project has been completed. 
 
¶6. Project Name:  Namila Irrigation and Sanitation Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00005-00 
 
Location:  Chikwawa District, Southern Region 
 
Project description:  To build one reservoir near the Lykhubula 
River in Namila Village and install a windmill and a water pump. 
 
Beneficiaries:  446 households in Chikwawa District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $8,000 
 
Project Status:  $-0- expended as of December, 2007.  Regrettably, 
this project has stalled.  Prior to submitting the proposal, the 
community had not conducted a feasibility study.  Recently the 
project manager realized that wind speed was not sufficient to turn 
the wind turbines.  For this reason, the Embassy has suspended the 
entire project pending a reevaluation. 
 
¶7. Project Name:  Kabwanda Under-Five Clinic Shelter Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00006-00 
 
Location:  Mzimba District, Northern Region 
 
Project description:  To construct one (1) under-five antenatal 
clinic shelter in Kabwanda village and furnish the shelter with ten 
(10) benches, eight (8) chairs and four (4) tables. 
 
Beneficiaries:  A community of 1,400 women and children in nine (9) 
villages in Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $3,000 
 
Project Status:  $2,366 expended as of December, 2007.  All walls of 
the under-five clinic shelter have been erected.  Roofing is 
underway at this reporting time.  The project is due for completion 
in January 2008. 
 
¶8. Project Name:  Nalunga CDSS Classrooms Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00007-00 
 
Location:  Dowa District, Central Region 
 
Project description:  To construct one classroom block at Nalunga 
Community Day Secondary School and furnish the two classrooms with 
desks and chairs. 
 
Beneficiaries:  100 students in Dowa District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $8,200 
 
Project Status:  $8,101 expended as of December, 2007.  The 
Classroom block has been roofed.  Plastering is in progress. 
Flooring and painting will be completed by the end of December. 
Unprecedented price increases on building materials have left the 
project with over $3,000 shortfall for buying furniture. 
 
¶9. Project Name:  Kaseye Gravity Piped Water Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00008-00 
 
Location:  Chitipa District, Central Region 
 
Project description:  To construct a complete gravity fed pipe borne 
water system including one sedimentation tank and one reservoir and 
install public stand taps. 
 
Beneficiaries:  2,000 people in Chitipa District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $19,000 
 
Project Status:  $17,808 expended as of December, 2007.  Almost all 
the plumbing and building materials for this water project have been 
bought.  These materials include PVC pipes, galvanized pipes, 
cement, and plumbing accessories.  The weir (intake dam) and 
screening tank have been constructed.  Digging of trenches is in 
progress.  Gathering of sand, stones and cheeping of stones has been 
a continuous process.  Community participation on this project has 
been exemplary. 
 
¶10. Project Name:  Nthalire CDSS Beds and Mattresses Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00009-00 
 
Location:  Chitipa District, Northern Region 
 
Project description:  To purchase 160 two-inch foam mattresses and 
construct eighty (80) double-deck beds made from hardwood, for girls 
hostels at the Nthalire Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). 
 
Beneficiaries:  160 female students at Nthalire CDSS in Chitipa 
District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $6,000 
 
Project Status:  $5,530 expended as of December, 2007.  Mattresses 
have been supplied as per specifications.  Timber and wood 
accessories for making beds have been bought and bed construction is 
progressing normally. 
 
¶11. Project Name:  Tiza Primary School Classrooms Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00010-00 
 
Location:  Nsanje District, Southern Region 
 
Project description:  To construct one two-classroom block at Tiza 
Primary School. 
 
Beneficiaries:  263 pupils in Nsanje District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $6,000 
 
Project Status:  $4,971 expended as of December, 2007.  The building 
is at roofing level.  Plastering and flooring are progressing 
normally.  Painting will be done in January 2008.  This project will 
be completed in January. 
 
¶12. Project Name:  Malembo Resource Center Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00011-00 
 
Location:  Mangochi District, Southern Region 
 
Project description:  To construct one youth resource center 
building and a pit latrine in Chilimba Village. 
 
Beneficiaries:  20,000 people in Mangochi District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $6,500 
 
Project Status:  $-0- expended as of December, 2007.  The project 
started off very slowly because the community changed the 
construction site in favor of a better-drained site.  Stones and 
sand have been heaped at the building site.  Digging of the 
foundation is in progress. 
 
¶13. Project Name:  Mpala Primary School Borehole Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00012-00 
 
Location:  Dowa District, Central Region 
 
Project description:  To drill one (1) borehole at Mpala Primary 
School and install an Afridev hand pump at the borehole site. 
 
Beneficiaries:  450 schoolchildren and 50 households in Dowa 
District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $5,100 
 
Project Status:  $-0- expended as of December, 2007.  The community 
has not identified a drilling company to undertake the project. 
With the rising water table following the onset of rains, this 
project will most likely be delayed until June 2008 when rains 
cease. 
 
¶14. Project Name:  Ndaula Cooperative Building Project 
 
UODN No.:  612-SH-00-07-00013-00 
 
Location:  Lilongwe District, Central Region 
 
Project description:  To construct a farmers warehouse in Mseche 
Village in Traditional Authority Chimutu.  The warehouse shall be 
used for storage of members' farm produce. 
 
Beneficiaries:  850 shareholders of a farmers cooperative society in 
Lilongwe District. 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $3,500 
 
Project Status:  $1,000 expended as of December, 2007.  Some 
building materials have been bought.  The foundation is near 
completion.  The project is progressing normally. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
FY 2007 Ongoing Activities for FY06 Funded Projects 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶15.  Project Name:  Nathenje Chitsime Irrigation Project 
 
IAA No.:  612-SH-00-06-00005-00 
 
Location:  Lilongwe District, Central Region 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $2,750 
 
Project Status:  $2,725 expended as of September 2007.  Due to 
treadle pump price hikes, only 19 of 23 treadle pumps were bought. 
A local Parliamentarian did not honor his promise to contribute 22 
treadle pumps as per terms of agreement.  $2,850 supplemental funds 
will therefore be re-obligated to enable completion of the project. 
 
¶16. Project Name:  Nathenje Mpenu Irrigation Project 
 
IAA No.:  612-SH-00-06-00006-00 
 
Location:  Lilongwe District, Central Region 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $2,750 
 
Project Status:  $2,725 expended as of September 2007.  Due to 
treadle pump price hikes, only 19 of 23 treadle pumps were bought. 
A local Parliamentarian did not honor his promise to contribute 22 
treadle pumps as per terms of agreement.  $2,850 supplemental funds 
will therefore be re-obligated to enable completion of the project. 
 
¶17.  Project Name:  Chimundi Water and Sanitation Project 
 
IAA No.:  612-SH-00-06-00019-00 
 
Location:  Dowa District, Central Region 
 
¶U. S. Contribution:  $6,600 
 
Project Status:  $6,600 expended as of September 2007.  Although 
this shallow wells project was reportedly completed, the walls of 
two of the six shallow wells were not properly lined up with bricks 
and bonded with cement mortar as specified in the agreement.  These 
repairs are expected to be completed before handover can take 
place. 
 
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OBSERVATION 
----------- 
 
All FY 2007 Self-Help projects are experiencing financial shortfalls 
due to an unprecedented increase in prices of building materials 
across Malawi.  For this reason, Self-Help projects might suffer 
major setbacks, unless respective communities are willing to 
contribute money to make up for the shortfalls.  It is not clear 
where money will be found to make up for the deficits. 
 
EASTHAM