US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA1922

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 001922 
 
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  (CORRECTED TEXT) 
 
 
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-04-679-01 
Project Name  :  Sport Actions 
Dollar 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, 2004 
Local Input   :  Land, time, labor, expertise 
Beneficiaries :  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