US embassy cable - 04KINSHASA1591

UNCLAS KINSHASA 001591 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR OPIC - CONAL DUFFY AND JIM WILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, EINV, CG, OPIC 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY COMMENTS ON IRC OPIC APPLICATION 
 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified, Privileged Business 
Information. Not for Internet distribution. 
 
2. (SBU) Embassy Kinshasa has reviewed the application for 
political risk insurance that International Rescue Committee 
(IRC) has submitted to OPIC. IRC has operated in the DRC for 
almost the entire duration of the civil war and continues to 
operate during the reconstruction period. Overall, IRC 
provides a beneficial humanitarian assistance program and 
does have some activities, which, on a micro-level, promote 
private ownership (Habitat for Humanity), environmental 
protection (safe water well construction) and physical 
infrastructure (some road and levee projects). However, 
answers to number 33(c/d) are exaggerated. IRC programs are 
not being implemented in the context of a government 
regulatory, judicial or other institutional reform program 
and neither will they result in GDRC implementation of 
institutional reforms. Otherwise, Embassy Kinshasa views the 
IRC application favorably and has no objections to granting 
of insurance. 
 
3. (SBU) The following responds to the specific questions 
listed in the OPIC request for Embassy comments: 
 
a. As IRC's primary operations are of humanitarian relief, 
there are no potential negative public or host government 
sentiment toward the project. 
 
b. Post does not foresee possible negative impacts on U.S. 
policy and interests in the DRC resulting from this project. 
 
c. IRC is a well established NGO in the field of humanitarian 
assistance. Post does not view its integrity as questionable. 
 
d. Post does not foresee any serious adverse environmental 
effects associated with the project. 
 
e. IRC's operations do not conflict with the DRC's economic 
objectives or welfare. 
 
f. Post has no indications of uneconomic use of raw materials 
or labor. 
 
g. Subject project is of humanitarian assistance, funded by 
bilateral and multilateral donors. It will not have any 
affect on the DRC's balance of payments. 
 
4. (U) Please direct questions regarding OPIC applications 
that need Embassy Kinshasa assistance to Peter Newman. IVG: 
934-2234, Cell: (243) 81-700-4428, Email: NewmanPD@state.gov. 
MEECE