VZCZCXRO6087
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0285/01 0431701
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121701Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2074
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 8728
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000285
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR G/TIP, AF/W, INR/AA
ENERGY FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF KWMN ELAB SMIG ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: G/TIP GRANT PROPOSALS
REF: STATE 161278
1. (U) Summary: Per reftel, post is submitting five grant
proposals for consideration for G/TIP managed FY 2008 ESF and
INCLE funds. Summaries of the proposals recommended by post
follow. End Summary.
TIP IN NIGERIA
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2. (U) Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country
for women and children trafficked for the purposes of forced
labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Although Nigeria
has made significant strides in combating the trafficking of
persons and is currently categorized as a Tier 2 country, it
still faces many obstacles in effectively mitigating the
problem. Traffickers, run out of the larger towns and cities,
have moved deeper into rural areas, targeting younger
victims. Nigeria does have an agency dedicated to
trafficking in persons, the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP); however they
face constant funding shortages and delays in budget
allotments and disbursement to its centers around the
country. The constant rotation of police, immigration, and
other officials involved in the fight against trafficking
ensures that training must be continuous in order to reach
the appropriate officials. Adding to the difficulty, gaps in
service provisions to victims and lengthy trial processes
that often rule in favor of the perpetrators rather than the
victims further complicate the situation. NAPTIP relies on
the efforts and assistance of NGOs to strengthen their
endeavors. It is imperative that the local organizations
aiding in the battle continue to receive support so Nigeria
can avoid slipping back on to the Tier 2 Watch List.
PROPOSAL 1
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3. (U) A. Name of applicant: American Bar Association
B. Requested funding amount: $500,000
C. Project title: Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI) - Training
D. Project duration: 12 months
E. Proposal abstract: ROLI-Training proposes to implement a
program that will carry out the following activities: 1)
provide TIP training for law enforcement officers at border
posts; 2) provide TIP training for prosecutors and judges;
and 3) provide support for the drafting of witness protection
legislation. The continuous training of border officials,
prosecutors, and judges is a significant need in the fight
against trafficking in persons. Not only does ABA have the
expertise and contacts necessary to conduct these training
programs, they as the initial trainers also have the contacts
and the trust of the included organizations. These efforts
are an extension of ROLI's current projects that are due to
end in November 2008. A grant would allow them to continue
their work in country and expanding current efforts is an
efficient use of funds, especially for an organization of
proven caliber.
PROPOSAL 2
----------
4. (U) A. Name of applicant: American Bar Association
B. Requested funding amount: $500,000
C. Project title: Rule of Law Initiative (ROLI) - Victim
Protection
D. Project duration: 12 months
E. Proposal abstract: ROLI-Protection would implement this
program to enhance the efforts of the GON to provide rescued
TIP victims the protections afforded them under the
international and domestic law, including providing food,
shelter, medical care, rehabilitation, and reintegration
assistance. This proposal has correctly identified gaps in
service provision and care of trafficking victims as a
significant challenge to NAPTIP. ROLI-Protection proposes to
conduct the following activities: 1) provide support at
selected border posts for emergency protection for rescued
TIP victims; 2) provide logistical support for NAPTIP's zonal
shelters for TIP victims; and 3) provide support for programs
to develop the economic capacity of TIP victims. The last
two are extensions of activities ROLI has carried out with
funding from USAID; however these programs are due to end in
November 2008. A grant would allow ABA to continue their
work in country and have a greater impact with expanded
assistance to victims. Expanding current efforts is an
ABUJA 00000285 002 OF 003
efficient use of funds, especially for an organization of
proven caliber.
PROPOSAL 3
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5. (U) A. Name of applicant: Society for the Empowerment of
Young Persons (SYEP)
B. Requested funding amount: $418,118
C. Project title: Business Mentoring and Micro-Finance for
TIP Victims and Persons Vulnerable to TIP
D. Project duration: 24 months
E. Proposal abstract: This project would provide the women
and youths of Edo State with opportunities for micro credit
financing and the management training necessary for
successful business ventures. This innovative proposal
addresses a need - viable alternatives to trafficking as a
source of income in a state with high unemployment - in an
empowering way. The program would carry out the following
activities: 1) provide business mentoring for TIP victims
that have previously completed vocational training in fashion
design and computers to prepare them to establish and operate
their own business enterprises; and 2) provide access to
capital to the participants of the program to ensure they
have adequate resources to establish their own enterprises.
Monitored microcredit projects that provide educational
opportunities along side small funding amounts and in a group
context have proven to be successful worldwide. The person
selected to implement this project is very dedicated and
energetic, and has the required expertise for overseeing such
a project.
PROPOSAL 4
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6. (U) A. Name of Applicant: Concern Universal Nigeria
B. Requested funding amount: $249,958
C. Project Title: Community Partnership Against Trafficking
in Persons (C-PATH)
D. Project Duration: 15 months
E. Proposal Abstract: C-PATH proposes a three-part project
that will include awareness raising, strengthening of local
and LGA level law enforcement, and further research. The
project will be carried out in 15 communities of 2 local
governments (Abi and Yakurr) in Central Cross River State.
By including awareness, sensitization, law enforcement
support, increased collaboration between CSOs and NGOs
present in Cross River State, and research into the
clandestine crime, this first-time applicant takes an
integrated approach to mitigating trafficking in the area.
Community legislation against trafficking is an additional
component to this project that has not been done before. The
NGO and its partners already work in the rural areas of Cross
River State, one of the top three trafficking sources and a
geographic area G/TIP has not previously funded.
PROPOSAL 5
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7. (U) A. Name of applicant: African Women Empowerment Guild
(AWEG) and Girls' Power Initiative (GPI)
B. Requested funding amount: $29,900
C. Project title: Peer Education Among Minors to Reduce
Incidence of Human Trafficking in Edo South Senatorial
District
D. Project duration: 12 months
E. Proposal abstract: This project aims to increase
awareness of rural in-school children on trafficking,
migration, and build their skills to say "No" to negative
pressure even when their parents are involved. It is a rural
replication of an earlier intervention by AWEG and GPI in
Benin City under the UNODC/UNICRI supported campaign of 2004.
The activities would comprise peer education training for
420 students from 70 junior secondary schools in 14 rural
towns. This proposal responds to the shift in trafficking of
traffickers moving more deeply into rural areas to lure their
victims and drawing victims parents into the trafficking
scheme. They build on work already done, ensuring continuity
of proven methods and maintaining expertise.
8. (U) Points of contact for additional information:
A. Abuja Political Officer: Nyree Tripptree,
TripptreeNA@state.gov
B. Lagos Political Officer: Diana Sitt, SittDM@state.gov
ABUJA 00000285 003 OF 003
9. (U) Full proposals including appendices will be sent via
email as per reftel instructions. Post appreciates
Department's consideration of the suggested proposals.
SANDERS