VZCZCXYZ0012
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUL #0261/01 0500649
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 190649Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7105
INFO RUCNKOR/KOREA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSFK SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

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