Relief and redevelopment

The project will include (1) relief and redevelopment grants to U.S. PVOs and (2) small grants to Lebanese NGOs. A third component, to strengthen the Government of Lebanon"s (GOL"s) capacity to manage redevelopment programs, will be added by amendment later in FY93. Because of Lebanon"s increasing political stability, PVO relief activities begun under 2680342 will be broadened to include redevelopment, especially efforts to resettle displaced persons by helping to rebuild villages and communities. PVO grants will range from $500,000 to $2 million. About 20% of FY93 funds will go for relief, 80% for redevelopment. Food aid will continue to be provided through FY93, but on a more limited basis and to a more targeted group (poor and destitute families, and individuals cared for by social welfare institutions). Redevelopment assistance will give priority to assisting the estimated one-third of the population who must rebuild homes and reestablish productive activities. The assistance may include both short-term, safety-net assistance and longer-term activities, such as shelter rehabilitation and repair. Ideally, activities will be community-based and focus on areas where significant displacement has occurred, with priority on agriculturally productive areas. Only communities including more than one ethnic or sectarian group may participate, and communities must contribute in kind, cash, or labor. Productive activities, which will be assisted on a loan or fee basis only, must be kept relatively simple and may include: rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure; provision of agricultural inputs; training; or revolving loan funds for small-scale enterprises. Eight PVOs have been invited to submit proposals for FY93 grants: the American Red Cross (medical care); the American University of Beirut (to provide hospital equipment for care of indigent patients); Beirut University College (scholarships for poor students); Catholic Near East Welfare Association (resettlement and community infrastructure); Mercy Corps International (housing reconstruction and repair); World Rehabilitation Fund (rehabilitative services); World Vision Relief and Development (resettlement); and YMCA (emergency relief, and community rehabilitation and resettlement). The second component will provide small grants of up to $25,000 to NGOs for relief and redevelopment activities. This component will also fund support activities such as training, evaluations, conferences, and the design of future activities. Amendment of 4/11/93 authorizes third and final component, aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Lebanese Parliament and the control agencies in the GOL"s executive branch (the Civil Service Board, the Central Inspection Council, the Disciplinary Council, the Directorate for Research and Guidance, and the Bureau of Accounts). The component, to be implemented by the Center for Legislative Development of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, will conduct needs assessments of these entities and provide training, TA, and equipment. Training will include short-term technical and administrative training, participation in international conferences, in-country workshops to foster information exchanges and institutional networking, and participation in courses and programs developed by local institutions. TA will cover financial and personnel management, management and information systems, and other areas identified by the assessments; wherever possible TA will be provided by local professionals. Computer equipment will also be procured. (PD-ABN-061)