US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1917

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001917 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/EPS JEFFRY BURNAM, THOMAS HASTINGS 
AF/C MAHEEDA ASHRAF 
AF/RSA SSH COORDINATOR - MARGARET DECQUIR 
EB/IFD/OMA AUDU BESMER 
USAID/AFR/SD SARAH MOTEN, AFR/EA OLU COLE; DCHA/FFP/EP TIM MCRAE 
NAIROBI FOR RUSS SCHIEBEL; 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, EAGR, ECON, PREL, SENV, AMGT, CF, TO 
SUBJECT: CONGO/BRAZZAVILLE: SPECIAL SELF-HELP FUND, 
         ANNUAL REPORT FOR FY 2005 
 
 
1.  Annual Status Report for FY 2005 as of November 9, 2005: 
 
(Note:  Newly-arrived Charge d'affaires had the opportunity 
to visit several of these SSH projects November 17-18 with 
post's Aid Project Coordinator, Margo Mulumba, and 
Econ/Consular Officer Chelsea Bakken.  Additional commentary 
and requests for assistance will be provided septel to 
ensure the viability of these efforts and future projects 
undertaken by Brazzaville's current staff, limited to an 
officer corps of three American direct-hire officers.) 
 
(A) Status of SSH FY 2003 
 
   All projects in FY 2003 and prior fiscal years have now 
been closed. 
 
(B) Status of SSH FY 2003 
 
   There are no outstanding balances. All projects prior to 
   FY 2004 have been closed. 
 
(C) Status of SSH FY 2004 
    (Note: Four projects were funded for FY 2004) Project 
Number:  SSH-04-679-01Project Name  :  Sport ActionsDollar 
Amount :  $14,300; Unliquidated balance: $3,187.12 
Location      :  Congo-Brazzaville 
Description   :  Grant used to construct basketball courts 
and to purchase sports equipment to 
                 encourage healthy past time activities for 
                 disadvantaged youth. 
Date Obligated:  September 11, 2004Local Input   :  Land, 
time, labor, expertiseBeneficiaries :  300 youth 
Status        :  Final liquidation receipts sent to Nairobi 
                 on September 29, 2005.  Awaiting 
                 confirmation of account closure.     2. 
Status of SSH FY 2005 
    (Note: Five projects were funded for FY 2005) 
 
(A) Project Number:  SSH-05-679-01 
    Project Name  :  Aide  l'Enfance 
    Dollar Amount :  $10,000 
    Location      :  Congo-Brazzaville 
    Description   :  Purpose of project is to modernize and 
                     mechanize a local foundry in order to 
manufacture farm and food-industry equipment that is 
essential to improve food production in the Congo and make 
it more affordable to low-income Congolese citizens. 
 
Date Obligated:  August 11, 2005 
Beneficiaries :  Congo-Brazzaville area residents 
Local Input   :  money, time, labor and expertise 
Status        :  Grantee has applied for an initial advance 
                 Of $6,675.00 
-------------- 
(B) Project Number:  SSH-05-679-02    Project Name  : 
Grouping `les Fourmis' - Brazzaville     Dollar Amount : 
$15,000    Location      :  Congo-Brazzaville 
    Description   :  Project to mechanize a cooperative farm 
                     and to build greenhouses.  The donation 
of funds will be used to reduce labor-intensive methods of 
farming and to introduce new equipment which will improve 
farm production yields. 
 
Date Obligated:  August 11, 2005 
Beneficiaries :  Brazzaville rural and urban areas 
Local Input   :  land, time, labor and expertise 
Status        :  Grantee has applied for an initial advance 
                 of $9,911.00 
 
--------------- 
(C)  Project Number:  SSH-05-679-03     Project Name  : 
Dlices Cooperative Traiteur      Dollar Amount :  $10,000 
     Location      :  Congo-Brazzaville      Date Obligated: 
August 11, 2005     Local Input   :  time, labor and 
expertise      Beneficiaries :  Congo-Brazzaville area 
residents      Description   :  Purchase of agricultural 
equipment: 
                      Agro-drier machine, commercial-size 
colander and generator used to produce high-quality tropical 
fruit juices.  The objective is to produce a product-line of 
seasonal fruits and vegetables year-round and to increase 
fruit juice production.  The goal is to introduce new 
product lines and to market these products (herbal spices, 
fruit preserves and canned vegetables) successfully. 
Funding has the potential to increase urban employment, 
generate more rural income, provide nutritional foods year- 
round and contribute to commercial and food security 
opportunities for Congolese citizens. 
 
Status: Grantee has applied for an initial advance of 
        $7,761.05 
 
-------------- 
(D) Project Number:  SSH-05-679-04    Project Name  : 
Mdicines d'Afrique     Dollar Amount :  $7,000 
    Location      :  Congo-Brazzaville     Date Obligated: 
August 11, 2005    Local Input   :  time, labor and 
expertise     Beneficiaries :  1000 people in Congo- 
Brazzaville area     Description   :  The purpose of this 
community 
                     empowerment project is to promote 
better eating habits for Congolese families and communities 
participating in this project.  The process will consist of: 
(a) nutrition education - women will to taught how to 
prepare nutritious, balanced meals;  (b) thematic 
presentations and discussions on the dangers of improper 
nutritional habits;  (c) self-evaluation and assessment of 
adapting to a balanced diet; and, (d) environmental 
evaluation - participants will consider how proper eating 
will effect people in their families/community. 
 
In addition, Mdicines d'Afrique will print an "ABC Guide to 
Eating Better."  The anticipated results of this project 
include: (a) eating behavior changes, (b) cognitive changes, 
and, (c) behavioral changes which result in long-term 
healthier diets for the Congolese citizens. 
 
Status: Grantee will receive an initial advance of $4,244. 
 
-------------- 
 
(E) Project Number:  SSH-05-679-05    Project Name  :  La 
Conadho     Dollar Amount :  $10,000 
    Location      :  Congo-Brazzaville     Date Obligated: 
August 11, 2005    Local Input   :  building, time, labor 
and expertise and 
                     part of the renovation costs 
Beneficiaries :  5000 people in Congo-Brazzaville area 
Description   :  La Conadho is a well-known community 
                     leader in the area of democracy and 
human rights in the Republic of Congo. The project is to 
renovate a 400 square meter building purchased as a 
community resource center.  The building consists of a 
conference room that seats 200 people, 2 large offices, 1 
small office and restroom areas.  The building contains an 
annex that will serve as a library.  La Conadho requests 
funds to assist with a complete renovation of the community 
center's roof, ceiling, tiling/masonary and electrical 
system. 
 
Status:  Grantee has received an initial advance of $7,405. 
 
3.  If addition information is required, please contact 
Special Self-Help and Democracy/Human Rights Project 
Coordinator, Margo Mulumba, at margommulu@yahoo.com. 
 
4.  BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE - BIEDLINGMAIER 
 
DOUGHERTY