US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA11

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000011 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V/M - ISABELLE ZSOLDOS AND DEBORAH 
THOMPSON, AND AF/PDPA - DANIEL WHITMAN 
 
PARIS FOR ARS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, AMGT, CF 
SUBJECT: CONGO/B:  REPORT OF FY05 INTERNATIONAL VISITOR 
PROGRAM PARTICIPANT - NGO MANAGEMENT I (LEMBE MOUANDZA, 
PATRICIA) 
 
REF A: 04 STATE 099987 
REF B: 04 STATE 140953 
REF C: 04 STATE 182787 
REF D: 04 STATE 265125 
 
1. Program Title: NGO Management I 
Program Type: Multi-Regional Project 
Project Number: E/VM-2005-0002 
Participant: Lembe Mouandza, Patricia 
Profession: Lawyer 
Title: Legal Advisor 
Employer: Thomas Sankara Pan-African Association 
Note: Ms. Lembe spoke with DCM on November 12 and 
presented a 6-page written report. 
 
2. Participant's Assessment: Patricia Lembe said that 
she was particularly impressed by the variety of U.S. 
NGOs and the variety of relationships they have with 
funding sources, both public and private.  She also 
noted the strong historic assurance of tax exemption 
for non-profit organizations and the indirect support 
provided for charitable activity by the possibility for 
individual U.S. taxpayers to deduct charitable 
contributions from taxed income. 
 
3. Ms. Lembe particularly liked the ideas for fund- 
raising and the program focus on leadership as a 
"process of influencing the thinking behaviors and 
actions of others toward a shared purpose."  She also 
was impressed by the level of volunteerism in the U.S. 
and found it useful to work with volunteers for three 
hours at the San Diego Food Bank. 
 
4. Program structure:  Ms. Lembe said that, besides the 
professional part of the program, she enjoyed the 
historic and cultural excursions.  She cited the visit 
to the Amish community in Ohio, "which largely relies 
on its own members to solve local concerns without 
government intervention." 
 
5. Goals and Impact: Ms. Lembe said that she planned to 
apply some of the fund-raising techniques that she 
learned during the program and to try to recruit more 
volunteers for her organization.  On December 17, she 
hosted a round-table discussion, with lunch provided by 
the Embassy, on NGO management.  There were 15 
participants attended from Brazzaville-based NGOs.  Ms. 
Lembe shared her experiences in the IVLP program and 
led a discussion on NGO fund-raising, leadership, and 
administration.  Ms. Lembe noted the importance of 
attracting a variety of funding sources, as well as 
providing appropriate financial and program reports. 
She and the other participants reviewed methods for 
obtaining Congolese government funding, as well as the 
challenges they faced in recruiting volunteers.  DCM 
discussed the purposes and requirements of USG-funded 
programs, such as Ambassador's Special Self-Help, 
Democracy and Human Rights Fund, and Ambassador's Fund 
for Cultural Preservation, as well as the elements of a 
good application for such funding.  The program was 
received very favorably by the participants. 
 
6. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders. 
MEECE