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

SSH Program Press Release

U.S. to help villages across Cote d'Ivoire

On April 8, 2008 U.S. Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Wanda L. Nesbitt signed agreements with nine Ivorian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to finance projects that will contribute to the development of villages throughout the country. The agreements signed total seventy thousand U.S. dollars ($70,000); the funds are awarded under the terms of the Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund. 

Through the Ambassador’s Self Help Fund, the U.S. government is able to finance to small community projects, often in rural areas, that are likely to have an immediate impact.  The Special Self Help Fund places special emphasis on projects that have community ownership, that include a local contribution, that improve basic economic or social conditions, that have an impact on a larger population, and that are geographically diverse. 

The following projects will be financed with Self Help Funding:

1. NGO “Wopinin Woyiri” will carry out a project in TEGUERE village to purchase a production unit, comprising one steam cooker, 10 manual decorticators, one cabinet dryer, and one thermo package sealer, to improve the production capacity of quality cashew nuts.  The project will generate funds to be used to address villagers’ basic social needs and proceeds will be reinvested in activities to create further employment in the area for youth.   U.S. Government contribution: $6,459.

2. Mutual Development Association will carry out a project in GBON village to purchase a production unit, comprising one steam cooker, 10 manual decorticators, one cabinet dryer, and one thermo package sealer, to improve the production capacity of quality cashew nuts.  The project will generate funds to be used to address villagers’ basic social needs and proceeds will be reinvested in activities to create further employment in the area for youth.  U.S. Government contribution: $6,459.

3. NGO AGIR-Cote d’Ivoire will carry out a project for the WOMINGNON cooperative in Ferkessedougou to purchase a shea butter transformation unit comprising one oil extractor and one sedimentation tank to improve the level and efficiency of transformation of shea nuts to generate funds for basic social needs of the villagers.  Proceeds will be reinvested in activities to create further employment in the area for youth.   U.S. Government contribution: $11,364.

4. NGO Vision Sante will carry out a project in Bouna to build 150 school tables/chairs for two primary schools to improve the learning environment and promote education for children.  U.S. Government contribution: $4,875.

5. The General Council of Lakota will carry out a project in DAHIRI village for the construction /drilling of a well, equipped with a submerged pump to ensure the constant availability of potable water all year round to improve the productivity of a healthy population.  U.S. Government contribution: $14,808.

6. The AMIGO Foundation will carry out a project at its Youth Reintegration Center in Lokoa-Niangon Sud for the construction /drilling of a well to ensure the constant supply of water for the agro-pastoral training activities of the center.  U.S. Government contribution: $14,808.

7. The Organization of the Handicapped of TOULEPLU will carry out a project to purchase a multipurpose grinding mill to generate revenue to improve the living conditions of its members. U.S. Government contribution: $3,363.

8. ZAGOU village, with the support of the General Council of Man, will carry out a project to purchase a multipurpose grinding mill to transform cassava into the staple foods, attieke and placali, that can be sold in the area.  Proceeds will be used to initiate other development activities to assist female heads of families.  U.S. Government contribution: $3,363.

9. The women of Kpesso-Borododalla village, with the support of the General Council of Mankono, will carry out a project to assist a women’s cooperative to purchase a multipurpose grinding mill to transform local products into the staple foods, attieke and placali, in order to improve their living conditions.  U.S. Government contribution: $3,363.

The United States Government commends these organizations for demonstrating initiative and taking actions that will reap benefits for all members of their communities.