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Ambassador Wanda L. Nesbitt with one of the recipients during the AgreementsSigning ceremony (Photo: Yacouba Soro/U.S. Embassy)

FY-2008 DHRF Project Press Release

On September 22, 2009, Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt signed five agreements worth a total of one hundred and twenty one thousand four hundred and seventy five U.S. dollars (USD 121,475) to support the work of democracy and human rights organizations in Cote d'Ivoire.  These funds will be used to:

Educate and sensitize youth on the principles of human rights, democracy, and citizenship during elections, and build the capacity of civil society NGO’s in Cote d’Ivoire. 

The Regroupement des Acteurs Ivoiriens des Droits Humains (RAIDH) will receive USD 32,702 to inform, educate, and raise awareness among young people (youth political parties, students, etc.) on human rights, citizenship, and civic education, particularly during elections, as well as strengthen the capacity of NGOs in three localities in Cote d’Ivoire - Bouake, San Pedro, and Man.  The project will:

- Identify four schools, 15 NGOs, ten youth wings of political parties, and ten civil society associations and youth groups in each locality;

- Reinforce capacity of ten RAIDH members on core competencies of NGOs;

- Raise awareness of the concepts of human rights, citizenship, and civic education during elections with at least ten youth groups of political parties in each locality;

- Raise awareness of the concepts of human rights, citizenship, and civic education during elections in four schools in each of the three chosen localities;

- Raise awareness of the concepts of human rights, citizenship, and civic education during an election with at least one thousand five hundred (1,500) young people at each of the three chosen localities;

- Train 45 NGOs  (15 per locality) in administrative and financial management, including accounting, project planning and development, and results-based management strategies (RBM);

- Host a radio show to educate the entire population on human rights and citizenship during an election period.

Provide legal and judicial assistance. 

Transparency Justice will receive USD 22,409 to sensitize the population on trial procedures, citizens’ rights and duties, and the role of the justice system in national reconstruction in a post-crisis environment in four municipalities in the district of Abidjan - Attécoubé, Yopougon, Kumasi, and Treichville.   The project will:

- Raise awareness among underserved, poor populations on the role of the Ivoirian justice system;

- Educate and inform people about their rights and how to access the justice system;

- Train people within the population capable of maintaining sensitization and being a liaison in the framework of present project;  

- Create an office for individuals to exchange and discuss justice-related matters through support, counseling, and legal assistance.

Sensitize youth and women about the electoral process

The Plate-forme de la Societé Civile pour la Paix et Démocratie en Cote d’Ivoire (PSDPD) will receive USD 21,172 to:

- Educate associations and organizations of women and youth in the Denguele region on the values of citizenship and civic education;

- Train 36 women and youth leaders to master the basic principles of the electoral process and participate in this process;

- Undertake outreach efforts to ensure youth and women from rural areas in the Denguele region participate in large numbers in the electoral process;

- Establish five  outreach committees.

Train civil society associations in peaceful conflict resolution techniques

The Centre International pour le Développement du Droit (CIDD) will receive USD 25,075 to train sector unions and several members of civil society youth associations in ten Abidjan districts on peaceful conflict resolution techniques to facilitate these groups’ effective participation in mediating conflicts in their various communities.  The project methodology will include lectures, interactive interventions, case studies, and role plays, all of which involve direct and active public participation under the modules:

Educate youth and women’s organizations on the culture of democracy

The Plate-forme de la Societé Civile pour la Paix et Démocratie en Cote d’Ivoire (PSDPD) will receive USD 20,110 to raise awareness of democracy and respect for human rights among women and youth, and to improve tolerance in five localities in the Bandama Valley, namely Bouaké, Katiola Dabakala, Beoumi, Brobo.  The project will:

- Educate women's organizations and youth groups on civic values and civic education;

- Train 40 women leaders and young people and build their capacity to disseminate knowledge acquired from PSDPD seminars and conferences to their members;

- Build capacity on the basic principles of democracy and the electoral process;

- Contribute, through education, to the emergence of a democratic culture among young people in Côte d'Ivoire to accompany the process of emerging from crisis and national reconciliation;

- Establish one sensitization committee in each targeted locality. 
 

The Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) is an important component of United States development assistance policy in Cote d’Ivoire and is funded through the United States Agency for International Development.  The fund promotes civil and political rights as defined by the United Nations’ International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The United States Government commends these four local organizations for taking the initiative and making a significant impact on the lives of people in their communities.  These five projects all demonstrate that focused, short-term, democracy-related activities can support an effective civil society, free and fair electoral processes at all levels, and the protection and advocacy of human rights.