VZCZCXRO9131
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #0493/01 1541640
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021640Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9200
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC 0112
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAMAKO 000493
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID
DEPT FOR AF/W
DEPT FOR EB
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD AORC EAID ML
SUBJECT: U.S. PARTICIPATION IN MALI'S JUNE 12-13 DONOR
CONFERENCE
BAMAKO 00000493 001.2 OF 002
1.(U) Summary. Mali's June 12 - 13 Donor Conference will
provide an important opportunity for the USG to showcase our
existing $150 million annual assistance package to Mali and
to demonstrate support for greater donor coordination in the
sectors in which we are active. We are joined by our
European and Canadian colleagues in wanting to restrict the
conversation to existing development assistance as opposed to
making any new announcements of additional aid. See para 6
for the proposed US Delegation approach during Mali's Donor
Conference round table. Request any further guidance from
Washington. End Summary.
2.(U) The Malian government will host a round table for
development partners in Bamako on June 12-13. The round
table is intended to reinforce cooperation between Mali and
the international donor community via a two day discussion of
a variety of development issues, including Mali's ten-year
plan for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
and its Strategic Framework for Growth and Poverty Reduction
(CSCRP). The round table will also examine progress since
the last round table donor conference which was held in
Geneva in March 2004.
3.(SBU) The Malian government hopes the round table will
produce agreement on Mali's ten-year plan to meet the MDGs,
the CSCRP, and an accepted system for collecting development
statistics and indicators. Several senior Malian officials
are currently traveling abroad to encourage the attendance of
high-level invitees. International donors in Mali, however,
have recommended to capitals that delegations be led by local
Chiefs of Mission. We therefore recommend that the
Ambassador head our delegation, which will also include the
USAID Director and the MCC Director in Mali, as well as
members of their respective staffs.
4.(SBU) Although the upcoming round table was seemingly
intended to serve as a pledging mechanism for the donor
community, representatives of the international donor
community in Mali have made clear that there is little room
for additional pledges. The Malian government is realistic
in its expectations, and has therefore focused the agenda on
improved donor coordination, the implementation of the Paris
Declaration and discussion of appropriate monitoring
mechanisms.
5.(U) The agenda for the two days is as follows:
Wednesday, June 11
Official opening dinner
Thursday, June 12
Opening Ceremony
Session 1 : Progress made since the 2004 Round Table
Focus in Session 1 will be on the CSCRP, the Paris
Declarations, the Common Strategy of Country Assistance
(SCAP), and governance.
Session 2 : Accelerated growth and the achievement of the MDG
Focus in Session 2 will be on the Accelerated Growth
Strategy, Mali's 10-year plan to meet MDGs, and the extension
of the goals of this MDG plan to the 166 vulnerable communes
under the national food security program (PNSA), and the
economic and social development plan (PDES).
Friday, June 13
Continuation of Session 2
Session 3: Measuring Results
Focus will be on ways to measure CSCRP activity.
Session 4: Finance of CSCRP and MDG and role of Development
Partners
In addition to the presentation of the CSCRP/MDG 2008-2012
plan, this will be the occasion for the heads of delegations
to make a statement about each donor country's participation
in this process.
Session 5: Adoption of a Monitoring Mechanism
Session 6: Wrap-up and Closing
Closing Ceremony
BAMAKO 00000493 002.2 OF 002
6.(SBU) There will be several occasions for input from the US
Delegation. During Session 1, we intend to highlight the USG
position on the Paris Declaration, especially our support for
the implementation of a whole-of-government approach to
foreign assistance, the recognition of the importance of
individual country performance, the progressive untying of
aid, and building partnerships that leverage development
finance resources. We will also review commitment to
improving aid effectiveness through our active engagement in
the local donor coordination mechanism (known as the Common
Strategy on Country Assistance or SCAP) and the important
impact of good governance, transparency, and effective
decentralization on Mali's development. During Session 2, we
will review the approaches taken by USAID and MCC in
supporting accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction
in Mali. Session 4 will be an opportunity for the Ambassador
to provide a broader review of the current USD 150 million
annual assistance program and the linkages between these
projects and Mali's stated development goals. We will also
highlight our work with donor coordination, our preference
for project-based vice direct budgetary support, and our
close attention to interlinking and integrating our
development assistance, both within the USG and the broader
donor community. We will support this overview with more
detailed handouts on our actual assistance to Mali.
MCCULLEY