VZCZCXRO8388
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0529/01 1141328
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241328Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2720
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5131
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2879
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2744
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3375
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0976
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3501
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000529 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN; PRM/ECA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREF TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN: GRANT PROPOSAL FOR PRM FY 2009 JULIA TAFT 
 
REFUGEE FUND 
 
REF: STATE 14280 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified.  Not for Internet distribution 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The following is Embassy Ashgabat's 
recommendation for FY 2009 support via the Julia Taft Refugee Fund 
to finance a refugee assistance project.  The proposed project would 
provide equipment and materials for the establishment of income 
generating workshops for metalwork, carpet-weaving, and small-scale 
dairy production.  The beneficiaries are refugees, and former 
refugees who have received Turkmen citizenship, in Gokhan 
settlement, Mary Province, Turkmenistan.  The project aims to assist 
refugees/former refugees of both genders between the ages of 18-35 
to develop income-generating skills.  The proposed project is 
expected to be especially useful for refugee youth who do not have 
access to vocational education.  END SUMMARY. 
 
THE PROJECT TITLE/ESTIMATED COST 
 
¶3. (SBU) Project title: Establishment of income generating workshops 
for metalwork, carpet-weaving, and small-scale dairy production for 
refugees and former refugees in Gokhan settlement of Mary Province, 
Turkmenistan.  Estimated duration and cost:  The project to be 
implemented by implementing partner NGO Keik Okara is envisaged for 
12 months at a cost of $19,870. 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
¶4. (SBU) Rural Turkmenistan is awash in economic and social problems 
that limit career opportunities for young people.  These 
difficulties are particularly acute for resettled refugees living in 
rural areas, who lack language skills, resources and social support 
networks.  Unemployment and lack of vocational training make it 
difficult for young people to earn a living in their area of 
residence.  These conditions in turn trigger illegal labor migration 
from rural areas, generating a host of other social and health 
problems. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The refugee and former refugee population of Gokhan 
consists of 121 Afghan prima facie refugees - 19 families, 166 
Iranian prima facie refugees - 26 families, and 309 former Tajik 
refugees - 61 families.  The former refugees from Tajikistan were 
granted Turkmen citizenship in 2005 when the government granted 
citizenship to approximately 10,000 refugees from Tajikistan, 
primarily ethnic Turkmen, who came to Turkmenistan during Tajik 
civil war.  Despite having citizenship, these former refugees 
continue to face challenges integrating into Turkmen society. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ashgabat-based Keik Okara NGO has worked as UNHCR's 
implementing partner in Turkmenistan since 1998.  It conducts needs 
assessments among urban and rural refugees.  In Gokhan, the area of 
the proposed refugee assistance project, Keik Okara conducted an 
assessment, revealing that among its refugee population, there are 
individuals with various trade skills who, for lack of material 
resources, are not able to earn a living.  They are also unable to 
provide training and employment for the next generation who 
currently lack trade skills.  Since 2006, Keik Okara has carried out 
training in rural areas of Mary Province and established partner 
relations with representatives of village administrations, the Mary 
Provincial Governor's office, and the Mary Provincial World Turkmen 
Humanitarian Association, all of whom will consult and carry out 
monitoring in the course of implementation of this project 
activity. 
 
NEED FOR A METALWORK WORKSHOP 
 
¶7. (SBU) In Gokhan, there are motorized vehicles and mechanized farm 
equipment.  The proposed metalwork shop would provide repair and 
maintenance services for vehicles and agricultural machinery.  The 
workshop also would make metal structural pieces for cattle 
shelters, fences for private land plots, and spare parts for 
agricultural machinery. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000529  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
NEED FOR A CARPET WORKSHOP 
 
¶8. (SBU) The proposed carpet workshop would allow the weaving of 
better quality carpets and would diversify the assortment of goods, 
resulting in higher sales of their products. 
 
NEED FOR A MILK PROCESSING WORKSHOP 
 
¶9. (SBU) In Gokhan some families have dairy cows that produce up to 
15 liters of milk per household.  The proposed small-scale dairy 
workshop will allow the processing of dairy products for sale to the 
local population.  For installation and adjustment of milk 
processing equipment and further consultation on use and service of 
the equipment, a specialist from a dairy plant will be involved. 
 
PROJECT BENEFITS 
 
¶10. (SBU) The establishment of the proposed workshops in Gokhan 
would create jobs, develop vocational skills, provide better quality 
products and services, and create a basis for entrepreneurship. 
Young people would learn business skills, including organizing 
publicity and marketing events, business networking, and building 
constructive dialogue with representatives of state and business 
structures. 
 
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 
 
¶11. (SBU) In order to fully implement the project, Keik Okara will 
organize the following tasks: 
 
-- Prepare a premises for the equipment; buy the equipment; install 
and adjust the equipment. 
-- Select experts who have knowledge and professional skills to 
train employees; form working brigades; appoint a responsible person 
for safety. 
-- Prepare a three-month program of training courses; inform the 
population about curriculums; form training groups; conduct training 
courses among youth for development of professional skills. 
-- Sell finished products among the population; inform the 
population about services provided; deliver welding services on 
location or in the workshop; provide metalwork services to local 
population; keep records on results of dairy processing. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Keik Okara NGO will provide a financial and descriptive 
evaluation report based on the beneficiary population's feedback. 
 
EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT 
 
¶13. (SBU) As a result of the project, it is expected that 45 
persons, aged 18-35, will receive vocational training, and jobs and 
conditions for economic development will be created.  Young people 
(boys) will develop professional skills on metalwork, turning and 
milling; (girls) will develop skills of carpet weaving.  The dairy 
workshop will provide nearby settlements with good-quality dairy 
products.  Overall, the project would establish a basis for 
entrepreneurship, provide jobs, improve conditions for economic 
development and increase individuals' ability to compete in labor 
market.  The trained youth would be able to share their knowledge 
and experience with others.  The project would create an opportunity 
for partnerships with representatives of state and business 
structures. 
 
¶14. (SBU) After completion of the project, it is planned that the 
workshops will be self-financed and/or will use donor contributions 
from international organizations. 
 
PROJECT BUDGET 
 
¶15. (SBU) Budget Items 
 
Funding from Refugee Fund grant: 
 
ASHGABAT 00000529  003 OF 004 
 
 
 
-- Salary for dairy equipment expert - USD 120 
     TOTAL SALARY EXPENSE - USD 120 
 
-- Dairy Equipment, including milk skimming centrifuge, centrifuge 
milk pump, freezing chamber, milk electrical bath, milk bath - USD 
11,800 
-- Carpet bench -USD 2,750 
-- Metalwork equipment, including metalwork lathe, tool kit with 
hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, anvil - USD 3,600 
     TOTAL EQUIPMENT EXPENSE - USD 18,150 
 
Shipment of equipment from Ashgabat - USD 500 
Travel expenses for monitoring/ evaluation - USD 500 
 
     TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT - USD 19,870 
 
Expenses covered by other sources: 
 
-- Services of the project manager and assistant manager will be 
provided by Keik Okara. 
 
-- Cost of obtaining and upgrading premises for the workshops will 
be paid by the local government authority. 
 
TEXT OF KEIK OKARA NGO'S CODE OF CONDUCT 
 
¶16. (SBU) In accordance with the mission of organization and 
principles of international law and codes of conduct, all of Keik 
Okara NGO's staff, including core staff, interns, contractors, and 
volunteers (Keik Okara workers) are responsible for promoting 
respect for fundamental human rights, social justice, human dignity, 
and respect for the equal rights of men, women, and children.  While 
respecting the dignity and worth of every individual, the Keik Okara 
worker will treat all persons equally without distinction whatsoever 
of race, gender, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, 
language, marital status, sexual orientation, age, socio-economics 
status, disability, political conviction, or any other 
distinguishing feature.  Keik Okara NGO's workers recognize that 
certain international standards of behavior must be upheld and that 
they take precedence over local and national cultural practices. 
While respecting and adhering to these broader frameworks of 
behavior, Keik Okara specifically requires that Keik Okara workers 
adhere to the following Code of Conduct. 
 
Commitment to Keik Okara Code of Conduct 
 
- Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse constitute acts of serious 
misconduct and are therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, 
including summary dismissals. 
- Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is 
prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age of consent 
locally.  Mistaken belief in the age of the child is not a defense. 
- Exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, 
including sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or 
exploitative behavior is prohibited. This includes the exchange of 
assistance that is due to beneficiaries. 
- Keik Okara NGO does not allow sexual relationships between workers 
and beneficiaries since they are based on inherently unequal power 
dynamics. Such relationships undermine the credibility and integrity 
of humanitarian aid work. 
- Where a staff or volunteer develop concerns of suspicions 
regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow staff or 
volunteer, s/he must report such concerns via the reporting 
mechanisms. 
- All staff members and volunteers are obliged to create and 
maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse 
and promotes the implementation of this code of conduct. 
 
The prohibitions set out above are not intended to be an exhaustive 
list.  Other forms of sexually exploitative or sexually abusive 
behavior may be grounds for administrative action or disciplinary 
 
ASHGABAT 00000529  004 OF 004 
 
 
measures including summary dismissal.  Volunteers in violation of 
the above will be dismissed and removed from the Keik Okara 
volunteer database. 
 
¶17. (U) Post certifies that it has the authority at post and the 
capacity to award a grant to the intended recipient agency prior to 
the end of the fiscal year. 
 
¶18. (U) Embassy Ashgabat's points of contact for this project are 
Political Officer Peter Eckstrom and Political Assistant Gozel 
Pashikova.  Post stands ready to provide any additional information 
that might assist PRM is reviewing this recommendation for support 
via the Julia Taft Refugee Fund. 
 
MILES