HELMS-BIDEN: PROGRAM EVALUATION AND SUNSETTING

UNCLAS ROME 003317

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IO/EDA AND IO/S LYNETTE PODOLSKY

FROM FODAG

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ABUD FAO
SUBJECT: HELMS-BIDEN: PROGRAM EVALUATION AND SUNSETTING

REF: (A) 01 SECSTATE 178759; (B) ROME 468; (C) ROME1513


1. FODAG HAS RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF PROPOSING A
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BOTH REQUIRE EACH FAO PROGRAM TO BE
EVALUATED AND EACH PROGRAM TO HAVE A SUNSET DATE (I.E. SO
THAT THE PROGRAM WILL NOT BE RENEWED UNLESS THE EVALUATION
SHOWS THE CONTINUING RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
PROGRAM) TO A NUMBER OF FAO INTERLOCUTORS ON A NUMBER OF
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 03317 080701Z
OCCASIONS.


2. ACTING PERM REP RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIFIC
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BOTH REQUIRE EACH PROGRAM TO BE
EVALUATED AND EACH PROGRAM TO HAVE A SUNSET DATE OM MARCH
2002 WITH THE FAO DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM, BUDGET AND
EVALUATION, TONY WADE. MR. WADE RESPONDED ON MARCH 18 THAT
THE FAO GOVERNING BODIES HAVE "MADE SPECIFIC DECISIONS AS
REGARDS THE INTRODUCTION OF RESULTS BASED BUDGETING AND THE
FACT THAT EVALUATION WILL BE APPLIED TO IT SO AS TO ENSURE
CONSCIOUS DECISION MAKING ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OR
TERMINATION OF PROGRAMS" AND OFFERED THE SUGGESTION THAT THE
HELMS-BIDEN LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS WERE "SUBSTANTIALLY
SATISFIED BY THE ACTIONS ALREADY TAKEN BY FAO'S GOVERNING
BODIES." (REFTEL C)


3. ACTING PERM REP RAISED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIFIC
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BOTH REQUIRE EACH PROGRAM TO BE
EVALUATED AND EACH PROGRAM TO HAVE A SUNSET DATE WITH THE
U.K. AMBASSADOR TO THE FAO, ANTHONY BEATTIE ON MARCH 16. AS
REPORTED IN REFTEL C, MR. BEATTIE'S REACTION WAS THAT A
RESOLUTION WAS UNNECESSARY AND ONLY INCREASED THE RISK THAT
SOME MEMBERS WOULD BECOME SUSPICIOUS AND IMPOSE BLOCK ON ANY
FURTHER PROGRESS.


4. ACTING PERM REP DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPECIFIC
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BOTH REQUIRE EACH PROGRAM TO BE
EVALUATED AND EACH PROGRAM TO HAVE A SUNSET DATE WITH THE
DUTCH AMBASSADOR TO THE FAO, JAN BERTELING (AMBASSADOR
BERTELING IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE FAO PROGRAM COMMITTEE),
AT A LUNCH ON APRIL 4, 2002. CANADIAN REP BLAIR HANKEY AND
UNCLASSIFIED

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AUSTRALIAN REP BRETT HUGHES ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE LUNCH.
AMBASSADOR BERTELING STATED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH
OPPOSITION FOR SUCH A RESOLUTION TO GO FORWARD IN THE FAO
GOVERNING BODIES. HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT IMPROVEMENTS HAD
BEEN MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF EVALUATION, WITH TIME-LIMITED
ACTIVITIES AND ADDED THAT THIS PROCESS COULD AND SHOULD BE
IMPROVED. AMBASSADOR BERTELING ALSO EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT
THE APPROPRIATE VENUE FOR THIS DISCUSSION WAS THE FAO
PROGRAM COMMITTEE.
HEILEMAN

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002ROME03317 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED