ContentNPI has planned a major relief operation for
Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Iraq. The concept of operation
is
useful for all types of refugee relief activities in hazardous
areas. Most
of the names of participants, in the proposed effort, have been
deleted
for security reasons.
Needful Provision, Inc. (NPI) Iraq Project Tel. 1-918-868-5710
26 October 2004 Email: npiinc2000@aol.com
Memo To: USAID/ DCHA/ OFDA
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; Washington, DC 20523
Subject : FY-2005 Humanitarian Assistance to Iraq – Grant
Application by NPI
(due 28 Oct 2004)
Title of Proposal: “Iraq Radio-Schools for Relief &
Community Development”
Budget : US $15.1 Million for 24-months
I. Executive Summary. Needful Provision, Inc. (NPI), a U.S. based charity (NGO), has a staff with extensive experience in planning, implementing, and managing, refugee relief and recovery operations, as well as community development, in Third World Nations having significant conflict. NPI’s current projects, to include overseas homeland security efforts, may be seen its website (www.needfulprovision.org). The goal(s) of this proposed NPI project, for Iraq, is to provide safety, security, relief, and self-help recovery information (in local languages) for the thousands of impoverished refugees (IDPs) throughout Iraq. Examples of subjects taught, by the Radio-Schools, include health, water, food/ nutrition, agriculture, microenterprise & job creation, shelter construction, self-help relief techniques, gender equality, and means of self-defense. Simple, inexpensive crystal radios (radios that only receive the Radio-Schools station) will be distributed in refugee camps, and villages in critical need of recovery information. In each refugee camp and village, a number of local or area residents will be recruited and trained (in secure areas) to help organize the Radio-Schools for which they will be responsible. The Radio-Schools organization and learning technique will be the focus of instruction, along with demonstration of basic tools and techniques needed to achieve the above stated goals.
II. Program Rationale. Given the high levels of conflict, and the number horrific disasters, in Iraq, there are thousands of refugees (IDPs) who cannot be easily assisted due to lack of security, adverse climatic conditions, and the requirement to operate in vast, remote areas with an array of adverse conditions. American volunteers, and other volunteers, cannot be long effective under the above types of conditions ---and without a sustained recovery effort, most relief efforts will be wasted. Radio-Schools will guide and assist local recruits to undertake a sustained, organized relief and community re-development effort. The proposed Radio-Schools are the only truly effective means to overcome the above stated “barriers” to essential relief and re-development.
A. Background: USAID/ OFDA is generally aware of the conflict
and disaster situation (in Iraq) as well as the magnitude, duration,
and location of various types of risks ---risks to the many
vulnerable populations exposed to these hazards. Whereas the
Radio-Schools may respond to any conflict or disaster situation,
in any area for any length of time, the history, location, duration
of conflict, and other facts do not significantly alter the
planning of Radio-Schools. The only “key” factor
is the languages Radio-Schools must use (for broadcasts) to
be effective in any given area.
page – 2 NPI to USAID/ OFDA
B. Needs Assessment: Again, USAID/ OFDA is aware of the situation
in Iraq. If the U.S. Government (USG) did not believe that a
significant need existed, then the subject program would not
have been created. All evidence suggests that the scope of conflict
(in Iraq) is increasing, and the numbers of associated disasters
as well as natural disasters are increasing. For all of these
reasons, the subject effort is national in scope to reach all
refugees, and persons, in need, throughout Iraq. Our only question
is how many radios will be eventually needed to reach all the
people who need the information to be provided by the Radio-Schools.
For the first 24-months of effort, subject project will distribute
5,000 radios in the refugee camps and crisis-stricken villages/
areas for all of northern Iraq. (There will be only one radio
station needed to operate the Radio-Schools.)
C. Coordination: The Radio-Schools program will stand-alone. However, NPI will fully coordinate its efforts with other NGOs, local, regional, national, and/or international entities --- to obtain their various suggestions on programming needs, and specific locations where radio programming should be directed. In addition, NPI will share information with all appropriate Humanitarian Information Centers.
D. Developmental Relief: All of the appropriate USAID/ OFDA principles of developmental relief have been, or will be, incorporated into the subject program. Radio-Schools are very flexible in their programming, and any additional developmental relief needs may be addressed as they are identified.
E. Security: The Radio-Schools station will be located in a very secure area, and will have an array of security features to protect facilities and station staff. Local village recruits, trained to organize Radio-Schools classes (in refugee camps and villages) will have a high level of survivability given their direct support from fellow villagers whom they seek to assist. Moreover, they are not easily identified assuming they keep their radios well hidden when not in use. Passive defense instruction will be part of Radio-Schools programming, and villagers will be advised (by radio) of the current location and tactics of hostile forces. Since the villagers being attacked are already targets, the fact that they are receiving defense instructions does not make them more of a target. We must assume that hostile forces will somehow obtain our radios so they can hear various alerts and defensive information given to villagers. (As necessary, and if approved, NPI can develop a “word-code” whereby villagers may be warned without hostile forces knowing exactly what is being said even if they obtain one of our radios.)
III. Proposal Framework. See below.
A. Program Goal: To meet the critical needs of targeted, vulnerable
populations using best practices and techniques in a timely
and effective manner ---and the thereby have the subject Radio-Schools
program fully operational within 24-months. Fully operational
means having 5,000 radios in the hands of 5,000 trained, local
organizers of Radio-Schools classrooms in refugee camps and
crisis-stricken villages/ areas in northern Iraq.
page 3 – NPI to USAID/ OFDA
B. Critical Assumptions: The Government of Iraq (GOI) will license and fully authorize the operation of subject Radio-Schools ---and reasonably well-educated local translators will be available to broadcast in all of the languages needed. Given possible languages needed, subject radio station must be authorized (licensed) to operate with 3 to 5 channels (w/ crystal radios for each channel). We must also assume secure access to the refugee camps, and crisis-stricken villages/ areas where local recruits will be obtained for training (at secure areas) in the operation of Radio-Schools classrooms, where needed.
C. Objectives & Expected Results: Each objective is listed
below with expected
results for each on.
1) Health/ Nutrition --- to teach and demonstrate methods of
producing
organic food supplements high in anthocyanin and polyphenolics
now documented to greatly increase immune response and dramatically
lower diseases.
2) Water & Sanitation --- to teach and demonstrate the means
of simple
solar water distillation (for potable water), along with techniques
for rainwater harvesting and storage. In the area of sanitation,
a simple composting toilet will be demonstrated while teaching
basic needs for sanitation.
3) Food Security --- to teach and demonstrate techniques for
solar powered
refrigeration, and solar powered cooking of foods. Proper methods
for storing and concealing food supplies will also be part of
the instruction.
4) Agriculture --- to teach and demonstrate sustainable, organic
production
methods (for crops and livestock) as appropriate for local conditions
and communities.
5) Microenterprise --- to teach and demonstrate microenterprise
development
to meet local needs and provide income.
6) Shelter --- to teach and demonstrate techniques for construction
of safe
temporary shelter, as well as teaching earth-block, anti-seismic
construction methods to help meet long-term housing needs.
7) Alternative Energy --- to teach and demonstrate affordable
methods of
alternative energy appropriate for Iraq.
8) Protection --- to teach and demonstrate the means of passive
self-defense
as most appropriate for villagers in Iraq.
9) Logistics --- to teach and demonstrate use of alternative
transportation
systems to move large quantities of cargo in areas lacking adequate,
and secure roads or other types of viable transportation means.
10) Capacity Building --- to teach and demonstrate the value
of all the above
as a cost effective, rapid means to improve re-development capacity
at the village level.
11) Information Management --- to plan and program the desired
“flow” of
vital re-development/ development information for refugees and
crisis-stricken villagers.
12) Coordination --- to work with stakeholders, and all interested
parties, to
help assure program goals are accomplished for the benefit of
stakeholders.
13) Relief Commodities --- to survey refugee needs on a regular
basis, and to
make public the commodities needed by these refugees, while
helping to find and deliver the various commodities critical
for survival.
page 4 – NPI to USAID/ OFDA
D. Indicators and Performance Baseline Data: If the subject Radio-Schools effort is licensed and operational (in Iraq), as planned, that is the first indicator of success. When local Radio-Schools coordinators are recruited, trained, and acting to help their fellow villagers use Radio-Schools programming to meet critical needs, a second indicator of success will have been realized. The actual performance baseline is the observed and documented level of improvement, at the village level, for all 13 of the objectives areas listed above. Whenever possible, representatives of other NGOs (operating in Iraq) will be asked to observe for and document improvements being attributed (by users) to the Radio-Schools.
IV. Program Description. See below.
A. Implementation Plan: The first step will be to obtain official
approval for
the construction and operation of a radio station, in Iraq,
to broadcast in multiple languages throughout Iraq. Then, the
second step is to construct the radio station in a centralized,
secure location, in northern Iraq, agreed upon by all parties.
As said construction proceeds, all organizations engaged in
relief and/or re-construction (in Iraq) will be asked to list
each of the refugee camps, villages, and areas where Radio-Schools
programming should be directed ---and in what languages. Once
locations are identified, a recruiting and training effort will
be started to prepare the 5,000 Radio-Schools class organizers
for targeted areas and populations. Each organizer will be provided
with a crystal radio that will only receive broadcasts from
the Radio-Schools station. Assuming broadcasts will be in three
languages, there will be three different radio designs with
each having the crystal for selected programming in the desired
language.
Goods and services to be provided, to refugees and villagers,
includes the
radios and demonstration kits for use in teaching self-help
techniques for topics listed in III C above. The Radio-Schools
class organizers will be trained in groups at secure forward
facilities selected and operated with the cooperation from other
organizations engaged in relief and re-development efforts (in
Iraq). Insofar as possible, any existing available transport
will be used to move radios and demonstration kits to forward
areas. NPI will also develop its own transport system (for Iraq)
with trucks and alternative transport by such means as a “spin-stabilized”
cargo-balloon for transport in very remote areas --areas without
roads, or where roads are insecure or otherwise hazardous. (The
cargo-balloon provides the lift to carry the load, and a towline
allows the load to be pulled by a team of horses ---given acceptable
wind conditions.)
A high level of sustained security is required for subject radio station. Secure forward areas will be needed on a temporary basis for the training of Radio-Schools class organizers. Since the forward facilities are temporary, short-term, and mobile, classes will be held when and where security allows, until all target areas have a trained class organizer. In addition, we would expect to enlist the support of local security forces to provide protection when training is taking place.
page 5 – NPI to USAID/ OFDA
B. Monitoring & Evaluation: Each organization working with refugees and villagers (in Iraq), will be frequently asked to observe and report their observations on progress or benefits that may be attributed to the Radio-Schools. At the same time, they will be asked for suggestions on how radio programming should be improved. The local Radio-Schools class organizers will also hold meetings with local stakeholders (the radio listeners) to obtain their suggestions on how programming may be improved. Each of the class organizers will have NPI’s satellite, battery-powered text-messaging pager so they can send, and receive, text messages to, and from, the Radio-Schools Broadcast Center. (Batteries are recharged using a small photovoltaic panel.) Thus, the entire Radio-Schools effort is monitored and evaluated on a daily basis. With this type of local reporting, NPI’s staff will immediately be aware of urgent local needs as well as local security problems.
C. Transition or Exit Strategy: From the very first day, NPI’s staff will be working to recruit, train, and perfect local personnel to take over the entire Radio-Schools effort. Our objective is to have no American or other foreign personnel involved in this program by the end of the third-year.
D. Restricted Goods: Insofar as we are aware, NPI will not require the use of and goods on the restricted list other than trucks for cargo transport. If trucks are actually considered as restricted goods, a waiver will be required to purchase the trucks needed to provide project support (transport of cargo).
E. Budget & Budget Narrative for US $15.1 million: Please see the attachments.
F. Administrative Documentation: Also attached. NPI’s 501(c)(3) status, and financials may also be confirmed on GuideStar’s website: www.guidestar.org.
G. Accountability: NPI has a written management plan requiring
that its staff
members adhere to international humanitarian laws, codes of
ethics, and minimum standards of practice. Moreover, NPI is
in compliance with USAID policies and indirect cost rates.
H. Cost Sharing/ In-Kind Contributions: NPI has already expended $1.7 million for the research and development of the self-help technologies and products to be used in support of the above described Radio-Schools program.
H. Sub-Awards Arrangements: NPI expects to make six sub-awards
for: 1) A
radio broadcast center; 2) A total of 5,000 crystal radios;
3) Manufacture of self-help items (such as solar stills, refrigerators,
ovens, earth-block machines, etc.); 4) A total of 5,000 satellite-type
text-messaging pagers; 5) Relief flight cargo missions and two
spin-stabilized cargo balloons; and 6) Emergency water, food,
medical supplies & 72-hour kits. Relevant contracts are
being negotiated with U.S. contractors. (For typical radio station
costs see website www.ntia.doc.gov/ptfp/application/equipcost_Radio.html.)
page 6 – NPI to USAID/ OFDA
I. Sub-Awards Continued: Two Jordanian companies, Xx-Xxxx &
Xxxx Xxxxx,
will construct, equip, start, and help to operate subject Radio-Schools
in northern Iraq. These companies are directed by Fayez Xx-Xxxx
and Mazin Xx-Xxxxx, both well experienced in an array of construction
projects throughout the Middle East. (Telephone
Fayez Xx-Xxxxx, in Amman, at 011-xxx-x-xxx-xxxx or 011-xxx-x-xxx-xxxx.)
One more sub-awards will be made with an Iraqi firm, Xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, for implementation support in Iraq. This Iraqi firm will
also assist with self-help projects listed in paragraph III
C above. Grundig will provide radios, and Iridium will provide
pagers. Disaster Necessities, Inc. will provide emergency relief
items, with the solar water stills being provided by Solar Solutions,
Inc. Farnair Europe will provide relief flight cargo missions,
to remote areas, using STOL aircraft. (Sub-Award contracts available
on request.)
V. Other Considerations. See below.
A. Signed Certifications & Representations: Attached.
B. Cost Extension Proposals: None.
C. Past Performance: NPI, a charity founded on 12 June 1995,
has a staff with
extensive experience in the research, development, demonstration,
and training of poor peoples in self-help, self-sufficiency
technologies such as those described in III C above. Primary
training centers (for NPI) have been in the U.S. and Mexico.
NPI’s staff is very familiar with Radio-Schools used to
assist impoverished refugees and villagers in Third World nations.
As an example, staff members worked with Radio Puno, in Peru,
used very effectively to resolve refugee and re-development
problems with the Quechua Indians, of Peru. NPI’s President,
David A. Nuttle, has over four decades of experience in helping
refugees and villagers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the
Middle East. In addition, Nuttle has helped to plan and implement
homeland security projects for Third World villagers.
Nuttle’s first homeland security project was the Civilian
Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) effort in S. Viet-Nam ---a project
that successfully protected refugees and over 60 villages from
Viet-Cong (communist) attack. Charles A. Xxxx, Ph.D., COO for
NPI, has worked with the United Nations on programs to help
resolve the problems of impoverished indigenous peoples, worldwide.
Dr. Xxxx has continued this work with NPI. The NPI staff is
skilled in the development and implementation of training programs
to teach the poor in innovative ways to help themselves. Wendee
Xxxx and Marie Xxxx, who direct NPI’s training center,
in Mexico, are very skilled in this art. Karen M. Xxxx, NPI’s
Director of Training, has over 25-years of experience in planning,
preparing, and presenting an array of instructional materials
for poor and special needs populations.
D. Program Income: NPI will use the Radio-Schools to facilitate
and increase barter trade among program participants. This barter
trade may be used to help local villagers acquire self-help
items such as a solar refrigerator or oven. However, no income
to the Radio-Schools program is anticipated during the startup
period. At some
future date, advertising income --and fees for arranged barter
trades-- may provide some program income.
page 7 – NPI to USAID/ OFDA
E. Alternative Contract: NPI has not previously contracted with USAID, and USAID is generally inclined to award contracts to NGOs with a history of prior USAID contracts. Thus, NPI may not receive funding for the proposed Radio-Schools project even if NPI can best meet the needs of refugees and villagers in Iraq. In some cases, the U.S. Government (USG) awards contracts for political reasons even if proposals do not actually meet the essential needs identified. Given the above circumstances, NPI will be available to subcontract to perform the essential project work if the Radio-Schools effort is awarded to an established USAID contractor, or otherwise awarded to others.
F. Geographic Focus: Priority will be given to areas in the
northern governorates of
Iraq with high numbers of new caseload IDPs as well as areas
of non-contentious IDP returns.
G. Coordination w/ Local Authorities/ Organizations: This coordination
will be
accomplished upon NPI’s notification of subject award
to NPI. At the same time, efforts will be made to assure there
is no duplication of effort(s) as herein described.
H. Sequence of Events: A detailed timetable is presented with
NPI’s budget for the
subject project.
I. Estimated Cost Per Beneficiary: NPI estimates not less than
300,000 total Iraqi
beneficiaries, from subject efforts, at a per beneficiary cost
of U.S. $50 each.
J. Anti-Seismic Design Details for Homes: Foundations will
be constructed in two
layers with a special lubricant between, and hard-rubber rods
used to fix top foundations to the lower foundations. Walls
will be formed of dry-stacked generally round, pressed earth
block. These block will be 2 ft. in length, and 6 inches in
diameter, with no mortar between. Blocks are held in place by
gravity only so they are free to move without damaging the structural
strength of walls. All corners, and the roof, have highly flexible
attachment/ reinforcement. Air movement, though areas between
blocks, is prevented using a thick layer of stucco on outer
surfaces of walls, and a layer of plaster on inner surfaces
of walls.
L. Fertilizers & Pesticides: Organic fertilizers will be produced locally, and only natural pest control methods will be used. Thus, there are no import considerations for these two items.
M. Pharmaceutical Products: As previously indicated herein,
NPI will teach local populations the techniques for producing
natural products, such as polyphenolics, known to help prevent
diseases as well as promoting healing from many diseases. (The
many health benefits of polyphenolics have been well documented
via research by Oregon State University, and the University
of California, Davis.) For this one reason, NPI will import
pharmaceuticals only for emergency relief operations. Pharmaceuticals
used will be the lowest cost generic drugs available as detailed
in NPI’s budget.
page 8 – NPI to USAID/ OFDA
VI. Internal Displaced Person (IDP) and Relief Operations.
See below
A. New IDPs: In most cases, the new IDPs are created as a result
of natural disasters or conflict forcing villagers to flee for
their safety. In these situations the basic and immediate actions
required are: 1) Rescue; 2) First aid and medical aid; 3) Water;
4) Food; 5) Survival clothing & temporary shelter; 6) Sanitation;
and 7) Security. NPI will work with Iraqi forces, as appropriate
to assist with rescue and security operations. Using STOL cargo
aircraft and/or cargo balloons, NPI will deliver water, food,
survival clothing, temporary shelters, 72-hour kits, medical
supplies, and sanitation means.
From past experience, we know that help for new IDPs needs to
be immediate. For this reason, emergency supplies will be pre-positioned
at a forward, secure location. In addition, several relief,
medical, and security teams shall be prepared and positioned
for emergency deployment. A safe area program will be developed
so IDPs may be directed away from dangers to nearby areas having
an established level of required security --and these areas
must also be free of property disputes.
B. Existing IDPs: The first priority, for existing IDPs is
to provide any of the above relief support lacking. After this
is accomplished the following 11 actions have an equal second
priority: 1) Health, sanitation, and disease control services
are expanded; 2) Several alternative energy systems will be
developed to provide electricity; 3) Local water resources are
improved, and solar water stills will be used to provide potable
water; 4) Levels of emergency food aid are rapidly increased;
5) A shelter improvement program will be undertaken; 6) Schools
are started for children; 7) Cottage industries will be developed
to provide some basic needs; 8) A few “key” microenterprises
are started to provide employment and income; 8) Under the direction/
support of government authority, IDPs will be trained and armed
to improve security; 9) Rule of law shall be restored; 10) Communications
services will be established; and 11) A resettlement plan will
be developed and implemented on land free of property disputes
and known hazards (such as mines or weapons contamination.)
NPI will seek to accomplish all of the above in a safe, efficient,
economical, and highly sustainable manner. From past experience,
NPI’s staff knows that none of these actions will succeed
without effective local support and implementation. For this
reason, NPI’s Iraqi partner, the Xx Xxxx Xxxxx, will assume
primary responsibility for local implementation under the pre-approval
of appropriate Iraqi government officials. In an ideal world,
NPI would already have such approval. However, time limitations
and the rapidly changing security environment have precluded
any advance approval.
C. Similar NPI Experience: As noted above, NPI’s founder
& President, David A. Nuttle, first conducted all of the
above IDP operations in South Viet-Nam (during 1959-62) during
relief, resettlement, and security operations for over 300,000
Vietnamese refugees, and over 60 Montagnard (tribal) villages,
then all under attack by Viet-Cong (communist) terrorists. Over
the years, Nuttle added to this experience and has directed
NPI’s staff members in the planning/ conduct of similar
operations, worldwide.
Submitted by: David A. Nuttle, President Date: 26 October 2004