VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBUL #1313/01 1521021
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311021Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4147
UNCLAS KABUL 001313
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, PRM
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: Proposal for 2008 Julia Taft (Ambassador's) Fund
1. (SBU) This is a proposal for value-added production training
from Zardozi, an Afghan non-profit organization. The project would
train 20-30 women in eastern Afghanistan in value-added textile
production for international and domestic markets. This project
will bring the current value-added jobs in Pakistan back to
Afghanistan and provide important livelihood opportunities for
women. The project is small enough to be funded by the 2008 Julia
Taft Fund.
Project Description
-------------------
2. (U) Zardozi is one of the only NGOs in Afghanistan that produces
high-quality embroidered items for the international market. They
also focus on richly embroidered wedding apparel that is essential
in Afghan weddings in Afghanistan and among the Afghan diaspora.
The project would train 6-8 women in transforming the individual
embroidered pieces (made by 1,000 Zardozi-supported home producers)
into finished products, e.g., turning a $1 embroidered square into
an $8 garment. The project would also train 6-12 women in silk
weaving and another 6-8 women in high-end silk product
manufacturing. The project director will also confer with artisanal
producers in Cambodia who rebuilt their family incomes after their
civil war by turning individual handicraft items into high-value
finished products. Although the Cambodian producers were originally
intended to come to Afghanistan, due to security concerns, the
project director will go to Cambodia and bring back their
suggestions and designs. The project will also employ 2-3 office
staffers to handle the project's administrative and logistical
issues.
Justification
-------------
3. (SBU) Many women in eastern Afghanistan are returned refugees
who are marginalized in Afghanistan's conservative culture and have
no means to contribute to the family income. Embroidery is part of
Afghan culture and generally a specialist female skill. Zardozi
already has 1,000 home embroiderers but their output is taken to
Pakistan for manufacturing into a finished product. This project
would train women in Afghanistan to do that value-added tailoring
work. The silk production project will also be the first time women
have been trained in Afghanistan on silk production weaving looms,
traditionally reserved for men. While many NGOs train women in
tailoring and embroidery with no specific market access or quality
target in mind, Zardozi's bottomline-based approach stresses high
quality and direct market linkages. Zardozi, more than almost any
other NGO, has the highest likelihood of increasing women's incomes
in a very real sense. The beneficiaries will be drawn from the
eastern provinces of Afghanistan, which have the highest refugee
return rate in the country. As of this year, 74,000 of the year's
111,000 returns are in the east. Zardozi will ensure that at least
50% of the beneficiaries are returnees.
Budget
------
4. (U) Zardozi requests USD $19,980 to be spent as follows:
Tailors' Training = 2-3 months
Senior Tailor to Peshawar 300
Trainer x 3 months 600
2-3 months, trainee allowance (x6) 2700
Machines x8 (incl. overlocker) 2000
Small equipment 400
Production facilities 160
Practice materials x6 600
Silk Manufacturing Training = 2 months
Travel to Cambodia for training 4000
Samples, product development 500
Herat supply line sourcing 1000
Practice Materials 1500
Trainee allowance (x5) 1000
Small equipment (x5) 400
Production facilities 100
International Trainer 1000
Zardozi, travel and supervision 1000
Management and Integration
1 Production manager 400
Zardozi Program Mgr (x30%) 1500
1 Administrator 450
1 computer and connectivity 2400
Prod. Mgr & Admin to Peshawar 600
Peshawar Senior Tailor (x25%) 120
Peshawar Production mgr (x25%) 150
Peshawar accounts (x25%) 200
Rent room, three months 300
Generator 1000
Zardozi will also contribute $9580 toward the project.
Implementing Organization
------------------------
5. (U) Zardozi has 25 years of experience in economic outreach for
women home producers and decentralized production. Formerly
supported with Danish and European funding, Zardozi is largely
self-sufficient.
Certification
-------------
6. (U) If PRM approves this proposal and provides post with an
allotment notice advising funds are available for obligation, post
certifies that it has the authority and capacity to award the grant
to the intended recipient to the end of the current fiscal year.
WOOD