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ACEP ASSOCIAÇÃO PARA A COOPERAÇÃO ENTRE OS POVOS Notícias From: "Wendy Cue" wendy@sol.gtelecom.gw OCHA - Bissau UN-NGO mtg 12 Nov 99 - MINUTES - UN - NGO Coordination meeting Fernando Larrauri, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, OCHA OCHA provided information on the following: The Ministry of Internal Administration has launched a public information campaign to encourage people to voluntarily turn in their weapons during the electoral period. The weapons, if the owners have proper documentation, would be returned following the installation of the newly-elected government. The government is also conducting house searches to collect weapons. Political debates on the National Radio (Radio Difusão Nacional, frequency 91.5FM) will be held every day. At 11:00, listeners can call in with questions to presidential candidates, at 13:30 and 20:30, radio interviews will be conducted, and during the last week of the campaign, debates between party representatives (in groups of four) will be held to discuss party platforms. On 25 November, UNOGBIS will organize a round-table with all 12 presidential candidates. There have been reports that border crossings may be closed during the election period. A UN Inter-Agency mission (WFP, FAO, OCHA) traveled to the northern regions on 5 to 7 November to assess security and project activity. A lack of medicines in health centers and a lack of professors for the schools was noted. However, the primary school in the region began classes on schedule in the first week of October. The mission noted a reduced military presence in the zone of Varela. FAO reported rice harvests in the north looked good –it is possible that the harvest will be twice the previous year. However, in the south and east flooding has been reported. Security On 4 November, a youth grabbed the bag of an MSF international staff while he was seated at a local bar. The bag contained his passport and other valuables. The incident was reported to the police, the passport was recuperated the following day. On 7 November, two IRC staff members, both women, were assaulted by two youths as they were walking near Sta. Luzia. The youth took a waist bag and ran off. Following a security incident, there is a UN Security Incident Form which should be filled out, and the matter should be reported directly to the police. IMF Presentation: The International Monetary Fund disbursed US $3 million in September 1999 as a post-conflict package, in December, an additional US $2 million was given. IMF is supporting the World Bank in collecting revenues, and will help the country with debt reduction next year. The IMF is looking to assist the GoGB in a comprehensive program of poverty-reduction and assistance to vulnerable groups. An initial step would be to conduct household-level surveys. IMF will also support the WB demobilization program, which has already begun with a census. Weapons collection will also be conducted in the framework of the demobilization program. The WB is planning a Round-Table for Development, seeking US $15 million. The IMF is particularly concerned that donors involved in the health and education sectors are planning to withdraw, or to reduce project support. This includes Sweden and the Netherlands, new donors are sought. A project to reform public service, eliminating ghost workers and reducing pension benefits has been initiated before the conflict. The govt will likely increase salaries by 20% to begin right after the elections. The proposal had been to multiply salaries by three, however, the govt does not have the financial means to do so. IMF noted that if the salaries are multiplied by three, it would be over 50% of the total state budget. Military spending represents over one-third of the budget, which is quite high for a small country. Prior to the conflict, there were 2,500 active military, it is estimated that there are 11,000 currently. A soldier earns on average 12,000 francs CFA per month. There has been proposals to increase salaries in particular for health and education workers, but if salaries are not raised proportionately across all sectors, this may cause problems. The new GoGB will work with the civil society in better defining responses to health and education problems, activities would include focusing on women's associations, cooperatives, decentralization, improving access, especially to the southern region and the islands. The GoGB should compile a Strategy Document for Poverty Reduction, followed by an action plan. One of the most difficult aspect in creating the Strategy Document is a lack of information. Much information was lost due to the conflict. For example, database information, in particular on the health and education sectors. The strategy would be to define priorities, determine indicators which would help observe progress, and to measure impact. For example, one measure of improvement would be the percentage of school-age children attending school. Another indicator may be the number of students that are forced to repeat a year, indicating educational quality. In health, out of the 116 health centers country-wide, how many are operational, what is the frequency of utilization by the population. An IMF team will be present in country next year. The IMF considers NGOs as partners, doing complementary work in helping to assess the condition in country. The IMF representatives requested meeting participants to send any relevant information by e-mail. The IMF is seeking information on vulnerable groups, planned activities as well as projects already in progress to help with a global overview of the situation. They are particularly interested in information on the health and education sectors, if possible, by region. Send information to: Wendy Cue 
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