US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5642

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005642 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PRM/ANE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, EAID, KPAL, JO 
SUBJECT: PRM AMBASSADORS' FUND FOR REFUGEES:  FUNDING 
REQUEST FOR JORDAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 4483 
 
     B. WARD/POLASCHIK E-MAIL OF 6/28/04 
 
1.  Ambassador requests $40,000 from the PRM Ambassadors' 
Fund for Refugees to support two projects:  a women-only 
internet cafe at the Women's Program Center in Baqa'a refugee 
camp ($20,000) and expansion of the legal aid office and 
women's rights awareness program at the Women's Program 
Center in Wihdat refugee camp ($20,000).  Both projects would 
fill critical gaps in refugee assistance, providing 
much-needed financial support to refugee community-based 
organizations and promoting PRM cross-cutting goals of gender 
equality and protection.  Per ref b, we understand that we 
can submit two proposals this year, to take advantage of the 
funds Embassy Tel Aviv is unable to use in Gaza.  We also 
understand that the deadline for submitting proposals has 
been extended to July 8.  Descriptions of the projects follow. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
WOMEN-ONLY INTERNET CAFE IN BAQA'A CAMP 
--------------------------------------- 
 
2.  The Women's Program Center (WPC) at Baqa'a camp seeks 
$20,000 in funding to build a women-only internet cafe on the 
top floor of its center and equip the cafe with ten 
computers, a printer and a server.  The WPC Executive 
Committee reports that women and girls in Baqa'a camp do not 
take advantage of the camp's existing four internet cafes due 
to cultural prohibitions against mingling with men in public 
spaces.  Based on preliminary surveys of interest, the WPC 
believes that 400 women and girls would use the cafe each 
month.  The cafe would be open from 10 am until 6 pm (longer 
in the summer) and would charge 350 fils (roughly 50 cents) 
per hour of internet usage.  The cafe would also sell drinks 
and small snacks to the internet users.  The WPC will use 
$5,050 of its own funds to purchase five computers, ten 
computer tables and the initial ASDL subscription.  The U.S. 
contribution would pay for construction costs, purchase of 
another five computers, a server, a printer and chairs.  WPC 
leaders believe the internet cafe would not only be 
self-sustaining but would also generate income for the 
center's other programs, netting an estimated 900 JD (USD 
1,260) per year in income for the center.  The project would 
fill a critical gap in IT programs in Palestinian refugee 
communities and also further U.S. goals of promoting gender 
equality and greater access to information technology. 
 
3.  Established in 1987, the Baqa'a WPC is an independent, 
community-based organization with quasi-NGO status.  It is 
governed by an eight-person board and has appropriate 
financial and management controls in place.  It receives 
technical assistance, including in financial and management 
oversight, from UNRWA.  The Baqa'a WPC currently offers 
training in basic computer literacy to 13 women per month in 
a small, outdated computer lab.  It also offers separate 
classes in hairdressing, sewing and fitness, as well as 
daycare, legal aid  and group lending programs.  The center 
recently began a job-networking club for women in the camp. 
The center serves 1,200 women per month and supports its 
programming through rental income from two commercial spaces 
in the camp. 
 
4.  Estimated Budget (in USD) 
 
Embassy Contribution: 
 
Project Plan Design                   650 
Engineer                             1400 
External Construction          5700 
Internal Construction                5700 
One Printer                     400 
Network Server                       1000 
Five Computers                       3500 
10 Chairs                             300 
Contingencies (6.75 percent)   1350 
TOTAL:                                    20000 
 
Baqa'a WPC Contribution: 
 
Internet Subscription                 850 
Five Computers                       3500 
10 Computer Desks         700 
 
Total Cost of Project:              25050 
 
5.  Baqa'a WPC would implement the project, including 
contracting and supervision of all construction services. 
Refcoord would monitor the project.  Post has the authority 
and procedures in place to transfer funds to the intended 
recipient agency. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
LEGAL AID OFFICE FOR WOMEN'S PROGRAM CENTER AT WIHDAT REFUGEE 
CAMP 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
6.  One of the most active and self-sufficient 
community-based refugee organizations in Jordan, the Wihdat 
Camp Women's Program Center (WPC) seeks $20,000 to expand its 
legal aid services and women's rights program. The WPC would 
use U.S. funding to equip its new legal aid office and 
conduct 20 women's rights awareness programs in Jordan's ten 
refugee camps.  With its own funds, the WPC would hire two 
additional attorneys (bringing total on-staff to four) who 
would conduct the women's rights awareness programs and offer 
legal advice to the seven camps that currently do not have 
legal aid offices.  The WPC has nearly completed the physical 
expansion of its legal aid office, using $11,200 of its own 
funds to build new office space. 
 
7.  Separately, the WPC will use funds from four new income 
generation projects (commercial spaces in the heart of 
Wihdat's bustling commercial center) to establish a "Trust 
Fund" for community-based organizations that serve refugees 
in Jordan's nine other camps.  Administered jointly by UNRWA 
and representatives from the ten camps, the Trust Fund will 
invest still more seed money into new commercial space in 
Wihdat camp; rental income from these spaces will then be 
distributed among the other refugee camps to help their 
community-based organizations become financially independent 
and increase their capacity. 
 
8.  The expanded legal aid program is therefore just one 
element of Wihdat WPC's outreach and capacity-building 
program for other community-based organizations throughout 
Jordan.  The project would be sustained in following years 
with revenue from the WPC's existing income generation 
projects.  The project would fill a critical gap in funding 
for community-based women's rights programs and would also 
work toward strengthening and building the capacity of other 
refugee community-based organizations, a key recommendation 
from UNRWA's Geneva Conference.  The project would also 
further PRM cross-cutting goals of refugee protection 
(through promoting awareness of women's rights and expanding 
access to legal advice) and gender equality. 
 
9.  Established in 1987, the Wihdat WPC is an independent, 
community-based organization with quasi-NGO status.  It is 
governed by an eight-person board and has appropriate 
financial and management controls in place, including 
technical assistance from UNRWA.  In addition to the legal 
aid program, the center offers courses in hairdressing, 
sewing and computer literacy, as well as a daycare program 
and income generation projects.  It serves 2,000 women in the 
eastern and southern parts of Amman. 
 
10. Estimated budget (in USD) 
 
Embassy Contribution: 
 
Women's Rights Programs       14000 
Secretary                            2000 
 
SIPDIS 
Office Furniture                     1800 
Cleaning Staff                       1640 
One Computer                          560 
TOTAL:                                    20000 
 
Wihdat WPC Contribution (in USD) 
 
Two New Attorneys             11256 
 
Total Cost of Project:        31256 
 
11.  Wihdat WPC would implement the project, including the 
contracting of new staff for the legal aid office.  Refcoord 
would monitor the project.  Post has the authority and 
procedures in place to transfer funds to the intended 
recipient agency. 
GNEHM