Presse release

October 31, 2011

Exchanging signed copies of a grant to assist a parents’ group build classrooms for a primary school in the village of Rahat-Salamat in the Batha region are Ambassador Boulware and Al Hadj Haroune Assileck, president of the association (US Embassy photo).

Following the Ambassador’s speech, Self-Help agreement documents were signed by Ambassador Boulware and grantee representatives (U.S. Embassy photos).

AMBASSADOR AWARDS $85,000 TO LOCAL GROUPS FOR SPECIALSELF-HELP PROJECTS

Text: Les McBride

Ambassador Boulware signed nine project agreements September 15 with local groups to encourage community development efforts which demonstrate a willingness on the part of the beneficiary to assume responsibility for the economic and social development of their regions.  The agreements provide funding that will complement local resources for activities which, for the current set of nine activities, will target poultry farms, reforestation efforts and the plantation of fruit orchards, food processing, vegetable gardening, classroom construction, well installation and sanitation.  Activities are selected each year by the Embassy’s project selection committee which includes the Front Office and section heads from Pol/Econ, PAS, and D&D.  For the FY 2010 cycle, it also included the FSN assistants from these sections as well as input from GSO and the MO.  Each year the Embassy receives 200-300 unsolicited requests for funding.  The best 30-40 requests are culled from these submissions and presented in a short-list to committee members who each have an opportunity to select the ones which seem deserving of Self-Help funding.  Activities receiving the greatest amount of member support are the ones which become the subject of grant agreements such as those awarded by the Ambassador at the September 15 signing ceremony.