Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund
For more than twenty-five years, the U.S. Agency for International Development's Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund has worked within war-affected developing countries to provide a dedicated source of financial and technical assistance for civilian victims of war. I had an uncle who was involved with the fund. After he left Washington DC and returned to Vermont he started a software development firm which is where I work as part of a team who determines if a client needs custom software applications. Most companies who need custom software have higher-than-usual security and privacy concerns are in finance, real estate, healthcare, education, e-commerce, and retail. Since many of the the security breaches that occur are the result of hackers taking advantage of known weaknesses in off-the-shelf software which many companies have bought,security concerns can be addressed with customized software development. When I told my uncle that I had bought leahywarvictimsfund.org's domain and what I planned to do with it, he was pleased.
The fund has a worthy mission by assisting people who suffer from mobility-related injuries, including those with land-mine injuries, as well as those who suffer from polio as a result of interrupted immunization services. The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund aims to help improve physical disabled civilians' health and socioeconomic integration.
This site, leahywarvictimsfund.org, provided valuable information. At some point after 2001, the site started to forward visitors to the United States Agency for International Development at: www.usaid.gov/pop_health/dcofwvf/, which as of now is no longer a functioning website. Eventually leahywarvictimsfund.org's domain expired and it disappeared from the web.
Recently I discovered that the leahywarvictimsfund.org's domain had once again available, so I bought it with the goal of recreating some of its original content from its archived pages. I did not want someone else to purchase the domain and re-purpose the site for something that had nothing in common with the original U.S. Agency for International Development's Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund website.
For the most up-to-date information about the Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund and USAID visit: www.usaid.gov/ or www.usaid.gov/documents/1866/programs-vulnerable-populations-leahy-war-victims-fund.
If you happen to find this website hopefully you will learn more about the Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund. It was originally established as an earmark to Congressional legislation in 1989 by Vermont Senator Patrick J. Leahy. Senator Leahy, the Fund’s namesake, was a pioneer in the field of land mine regulation. He sponsored an amendment which turned out to be the first such law anywhere in the world, to stop the U.S. exportation of anti-personnel land mines. The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund was instituted as a supportive measure to assist victims with war related injuries, especially those associated with civilian casualties of anti-personnel land mines who lost limbs, among other injuries.
Today, the Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund, managed by USAID, serves as the primary source of U.S. assistance to civilian victims of conflict in war-affected developing countries. Established in 1989, the Leahy War Victims Fund maintains a dedicated source of financial and technical support for people with disabilities, particularly those who sustain mobility-related injuries from anti-personnel land mines, UXO, and other injuries resulting from armed conflict and civil disorder. To date, the Leahy War Victims Fund has provided nearly $225 million in assistance to more than 50 countries.
Originally tasked with delivering immediate care, the Leahy War Victims Fund widened its scope of activities to include development programs that accommodate the changing needs of the populations they serve, and established the framework for sustainable services in developing countries. For example:individuals with spinal cord injury, children born with club foot, individuals with cerebral palsy, and a wide range of other conditions that affect mobility or physical function are now part of their mandate. The fund also contributes to the enactment and enforcement of international standards to ensure that practitioners who provide care to survivors are qualified and experienced. In addition, the Leahy War Victims Fund ensures that treatment and equipment are used appropriately and effectively to increase the mobility of war-affected, disabled people.
As of 2002, the Leahy War Victims Fund has now provided over $60 million in more than 16 countries.
In FY2014, the Leahy War Victims Fund introduced new programs in Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Laos, and continued support for programs in Burma, Cambodia, Colombia, DRC, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Vietnam, as well as numerous regional and international initiatives spanning multiple countries.
As of 2001
Point of Contact:
Robert Horvath
Interim United States Government Special Adviser for Children in Adversity
Division Chief, Empowerment and Inclusion
Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG)
U.S. Agency for International Development
USAID/DCHA/DRG
Washington, D.C. 20523
Telephone: +1 202 712 5239
Funding Guidelines
The following information is provided for those interested in applying for funding from the Leahy War Victims Fund or the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund. It is intended to provide general guidance, not definitive criteria. For more information, please contact the USAID mission in the appropriate country or the DCOF/LWVF manager, Mr. Lloyd Feinberg, at the address noted on the first page of the DCOF/LWVF website.
Grantees. Country-based projects are, for the most part, implemented through grants and cooperative agreements to domestic, foreign, and international nongovernmental organizations that are registered with USAID's Office of Private and Voluntary Cooperation, Bureau for Humanitarian Response. Grantee organizations work in partnership with host governments (usually the ministries responsible for health and social welfare), local NGOs capable of participating in the implementation of the project, and other international agencies working with war victims and people living with disabilities.
Funding. Funds from DCOF/LWVF are usually transferred to USAID's overseas missions where grants and cooperative agreements are negotiated and managed. When circumstances preclude this type of arrangement (e.g., in countries with no USAID mission, with multiple country projects, etc.) programs are managed directly from USAID/Washington.
Proposals. Proposals for programs can be solicited or unsolicited. Solicited tenders include both Requests for Applications (RFA) and Requests for Proposals (RFP). Information on in-country solicitations can be obtained through the local USAID mission. Worldwide procurement announcements, solicitations, and resources can be obtained at http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement. Unsolicited concept papers can be submitted to USAID missions or to the DCOF/LWVF manager. Concept papers should be approximately five pages.
Fund Management
The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund is not a USAID project, but rather is part of the funds that are reserved each year by Congress as additive funding to USAID mission and regional bureaus' budgets. The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund is coordinated and supported by the Office of Health and Nutrition, Bureau for Global Programs, Field Support and Research, by means of a fund manager and a technical support contract.
The technical support contract, which maintains a roster of highly qualified technical experts, provides technical assistance and leadership to missions and regional bureaus through assessments, program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Each year, via the efforts of its collaborating partners and the dedicated and professional commitment of their local and international staff, the Leahy War Victims Fund is providing assistance to thousands of war victims, their families, and other people living with disabilities
Leahy War Victims Fund Implementing Partners
The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund works through nongovermental organizations in developing countries.
Disability Action Council (DAC)
Cambodian School for Prosthetics and Orthotics (CSPO)
The Consortium
Friend-in-Need Society
Handicap International
Health Volunteers Overseas
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics
Pan American Health Organization
POWER
Prosthetics Outreach Foundation
The Tanzanian Training Center for Orthopedic Technologists
UCC Development Foundation
UNICEF
Viet-Nam Assistance for the Handicapped
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
World Health Organization
World Rehabilitation Fund
World Vision
More Background on LeahyWarVictimsFund.org
The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF), established in 1989 by Senator Patrick J. Leahy, is a humanitarian initiative aimed at aiding civilian victims of war, particularly those with mobility-related injuries caused by anti-personnel landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other conflict-related injuries. Managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), this fund has provided assistance to over 250,000 people across 50 countries, offering prosthetic devices, rehabilitation services, and financial support to help improve the quality of life for war-affected individuals.
Historical Overview
The fund’s inception can be traced back to a visit Leahy made to the Honduras-Nicaragua border during the Contra War, where he encountered a young boy who had lost a limb due to a landmine. This profound experience inspired Leahy to advocate for the creation of a program dedicated to helping victims of landmines and civil strife. Initially, the LWVF focused primarily on landmine victims, but its scope has since expanded to support individuals with various mobility-related conditions, such as spinal cord injuries and children born with congenital disabilities like clubfoot or cerebral palsy.
Mission and Operations
The LWVF aims to restore dignity and independence to individuals affected by conflict. It provides prosthetics, physical rehabilitation, and vocational training, fostering socioeconomic integration for survivors. By ensuring the proper use of assistive devices and rehabilitation services, the fund enables victims to regain mobility and engage more fully in society. The fund is instrumental in delivering sustainable services through partnerships with local governments, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and regional entities.
Programs supported by the LWVF adhere to international standards to ensure the quality of care and expertise in rehabilitation. The fund plays a crucial role in enhancing the skills of rehabilitation workers in affected countries by sponsoring training programs and providing economic empowerment opportunities for survivors.
Key Projects and Global Impact
Over the years, the LWVF has implemented several impactful projects across different regions. For example, in Laos, the fund supported the Training for Economic Empowerment and Assistive Technology project (TEAM), which focused on medical rehabilitation and vocational training for UXO survivors. This three-year initiative provided over $5 million to local organizations and helped empower those affected by conflict-related injuries.
The fund’s geographical reach is vast, with active programs in countries like Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Colombia, and Vietnam. In these countries, the LWVF collaborates with local organizations to expand rehabilitation services, train healthcare professionals, and integrate victims of conflict into the workforce. For instance, in Sri Lanka, the fund introduced new prosthetic technology and supported vocational training programs for landmine survivors.
Press Coverage and Reviews
The Leahy War Victims Fund has been widely recognized for its humanitarian contributions. Media coverage often highlights its role in fostering diplomatic relations, particularly between the U.S. and Vietnam, where the fund has been pivotal in addressing the long-term consequences of landmines left from the Vietnam War. In his role as a senator, Leahy consistently advocated for the rights of war victims, earning him praise both domestically and internationally.
In FY2015, the fund expanded its reach to include Ukraine, reflecting its evolving response to global conflicts. The continuous introduction of new programs in war-affected regions showcases the fund’s adaptability and long-term commitment to humanitarian aid.
Cultural and Social Significance
Beyond its immediate humanitarian impact, the LWVF has broader cultural and social significance. It stands as a symbol of the U.S.'s commitment to mitigating the long-lasting consequences of war. The fund's operations, particularly in countries still grappling with the remnants of conflict, such as unexploded ordnance and landmines, have helped build international goodwill. The LWVF has contributed significantly to the global movement against landmines, aligning with efforts like the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.
Moreover, the fund’s emphasis on training and education ensures that its efforts leave a lasting impact. By building local capacity in rehabilitation services, the LWVF promotes long-term sustainability in countries affected by conflict, ensuring that the benefits of its work extend far beyond the initial aid provided.
Audience and Known For
The LWVF’s target audience includes war victims in developing countries, particularly those with disabilities. Its programs focus on vulnerable populations, offering them not just immediate medical assistance but also long-term support through rehabilitation, economic empowerment, and advocacy.
Known for its contributions to global humanitarian aid, the fund has become synonymous with the U.S.'s efforts to address the physical and social consequences of war. It is recognized for its focus on landmine victims and its evolving scope to include a wider range of disabilities and injuries.
The Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund remains a vital component of U.S. humanitarian aid, helping thousands of individuals regain their mobility and reintegrate into society. Its broad reach, long-term sustainability focus, and commitment to improving the lives of war-affected populations have earned it global recognition. Through partnerships, training, and advocacy, the LWVF continues to pave the way for improved care and quality of life for survivors of conflict-related injuries.