Embassy Newscentre

Ambassador Nesbitt and one of the beneficiaries signing the agreement Photo/George Gadegbeku

US Embassy Supports  Small Community Projects in Côte d’Ivoire

On December 05, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt signed twelve individual activity agreements worth a total of seventy thousand U.S. dollars ($70,000) to support community development activities throughout Cote d’Ivoire.  The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Program, funded through USAID, permits U.S. ambassadors to respond to requests for assistance to small community projects that promise to have an immediate impact. The communities receiving this assistance must also contribute to the project by providing such things as labor or material.  Since 1982, the U.S. Embassy has provided $2,489,808 through the Special Self-help Program to assist rural communities in Cote d’Ivoire.

Ambassador Nesbitt signed agreements with the following:

The agricultural cooperative Tioholo of DIKODOUGOU village in the Savanes region, represented by its president, Mme. Soro Foundjegue, to purchase a shea butter transformation unit to improve the level and efficiency of transforming shea nuts, which will generate funds for other basic social needs of the villagers.  Proceeds will be reinvested in activities to create youth employment in the area.  
U.S. Government contribution: $10,400.

The cashew producers’ association of TALAHINI village in the Zanzan region, represented by Mr. Koffi Koffi Kra, for the construction of a 200 m2 concrete drying slab for the village, which will permit the villagers to dry their produce in conformity with acceptable international standards to improve the quality of nuts they produce.
U.S. Government contribution: $1,600.

The cashew producers’ cooperative of YAKASSE BINI village in the Zanzan region, represented by the cooperative’s manager, Mr. Kobenan Kouakou, for the construction of a 200 m2 concrete drying slab for the village, which will permit the villagers to dry their produce in conformity with acceptable international standards to improve the quality of nuts they produce.
U.S. Government contribution: $1,600.

The cashew producers’ cooperative of KOBOKO village in the Zanzan region, represented by Mr. Kouassi Kossonou, for the construction of a 200 m2 concrete drying slab for the village, which will permit the villagers to dry their produce in conformity with acceptable international standards to improve the quality of nuts they produce.
U.S. Government contribution: $1,600.

The cashew producers’ cooperative of GBANHUI village in the  Zanzan region, represented by Mme. Anzimi Epse Timite Diabagate, for the construction of a 200 m2 concrete drying slab for the village, which will permit the villagers to dry their produce in conformity with acceptable international standards to improve the quality of nuts they produce.
U.S. Government contribution: $1,600.

The Sous-Comité Villageois of the “Systeme de Suivi du Travail des Enfants dans la cacaoculture (SSTE)” of PETIT YAMOUSSOUKRO village in the Fromager region, represented by Mr. Koffi Kouassi, for the purchase of educational materials and equipment for a community trade school.  The equipment includes 104 desks, 5 blackboards, 5 teachers’ desks and chairs, and 240 sets of school kits to educate “child workers” drawn from the cocoa farms.
U.S. Government contribution: $12,150

The Mutuelle de Développement of FAGNAMPLEU village in the 18 Montagnes region, represented by its president, Mr. Guela Jean Bayard, for the purchase of material for the rehabilitation of three village hydraulic water pumps to ensure the constant supply of potable water for the improved health of the population. 
U.S. Government contribution: $11,993

The NGO Action pour la Paix Sociale (APS) of HABITAT NIMBO of Bouake  in the Vallee du Bandama region, represented by its president, Mme. Barry Saran, to purchase sewing machines, accessories, and literacy kits for the education and training of 133 young women to facilitate their social and economic integration.  This activity will help reduce the rate of poverty and illiteracy. 
U.S. Government contribution: $8,666

The Centre d’Action Communautaire pour l’Enfance of ORBAFF village in the Lagunes region, represented by the chief of Orbaff village, Mr. Djedje Sak’m Emmanuel, for the purchase of furniture, cupboards, canteen equipment, and learning kits to provide pre-school education with a focus on improved meals and better hygiene for the children.
U.S. Government contribution: $2,759

The traditional chieftain of EMINKOA JACQUEVILLE village in the Lagunes region, represented by Mr. Mambo M’Boua Benoit, to purchase a multipurpose grinding mill for the village association of women, who walk long distances to grind cassava they produce.  The mill will help the women generate revenue to improve their living conditions. 
U.S. Government contribution: $2,790.

The “Union pour le Développement”  (JUDGT) of GUINGLO TAHOUAKE village in the Bafing region, represented by the JUDGT president, Mr. Gnahe Ipodoue Roland, for the purchase of a multipurpose husking mill for the village to improve the level and efficiency of the transformation of paddy rice, an income-generating activity. 
U.S. Government contribution: $2,790.

The traditional chieftain of LAOUDI-BA village in the Zanzan region, represented by the chief of Laoudi-ba village, Mr. Paul Kouame Kossonou, to construct a school cafeteria for the benefit of 450 school children in the village, who currently use a structure which is in complete disrepair and too small to accommodate the number of pupils who attend the school. 
U.S. Government contribution: $12,052.

The United States Government commends these organizations for taking the initiative to improve the lives of people in their communities and for demonstrating with concrete actions their commitment to improve the economic and social independence of their people.