Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02ROME5813
2002-12-03 10:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS -

Tags:  EAID AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005813 

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05813 01 OF 03 031159Z
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
NSC FOR JWDORKEN
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER
GAO FOR PTHOMAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS -
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES BY 2004

REF: (A) 01 ROME 5868, (B) 01 ROME 3755

-------
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 005813

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05813 01 OF 03 031159Z
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
NSC FOR JWDORKEN
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER
GAO FOR PTHOMAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS -
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES BY 2004

REF: (A) 01 ROME 5868, (B) 01 ROME 3755

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------

1. WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES MORRIS HAS REQUESTED UNITED
STATES PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ TO INVOLVE
1,000 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES BY 2004. WFP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING MORE
THAN ONE THIRD OF GLOBAL FOOD AID FLOWS. THE UNITED STATES
IS WFP'S LEADING DONOR, HAVING CONTRIBUTED USD 6.38 BILLION
IN SUPPORT TO WFP OVER THE DECADE 1992-2001. WFP BELIEVES
(AND THE USMISSION STRONGLY AGREES) THAT A STRENGTHENED
PARTNERSHIP WITH PEACE CORPS WILL INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS
AND EFFICIENCY OF FOOD AID WORLDWIDE AS WELL AS HELPING TO
ENSURE THAT LONG-RANGE WFP WORK FORCE PLANNING PROVIDES
EQUITABLE US REPRESENTATION. END SUMMARY.

--------------
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05813 01 OF 03 031159Z
BACKGROUND
--------------


2. USMISSION RECEIVED COPY OF A LETTER FROM WFP EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR JAMES MORRIS TO UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR
GADDI H. VASQUEZ DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2002, WHICH PROPOSES A

PARTNERSHIP TO INVOLVE 1,000 PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD
FOOD PROGRAM ACTIVITIES WORLDWIDE BY 2004. AS PER REF A, WFP
HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
AMERICANS WORKING IN THE UN-SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY WFP. IN
PART THIS EFFORT FLOWS FROM A SENATOR HELMS COMMISSIONED GAO
REPORT (JULY 2001) ENTITLED "UNITED NATIONS: TARGETED
STRATEGIES COULD HELP BOOST US REPRESENTATION." WFP BELIEVES
THAT A FORMAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE PEACE CORPS, IN ADDITION
TO STRENGTHENING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ITS
FIELD OPERATIONS, CAN ALSO ADDRESS AMERICAN UNDER-
REPRESENTATION BY OPENING AN ENTRY-LEVEL "WINDOW" FOR
RECRUITMENT OF U.S. CITIZENS.

-------------- --------------
TEXT OF LETTER FROM WFP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES T. MORRIS
TO UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H.VASQUEZ, DATED
NOVEMBER 15, 2002
-------------- --------------


3. "DEAR MR. VASQUEZ: THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) AND THE
UNITED STATES PEACE CORPS HAVE MUCH IN COMMON. THE STRENGTH
OF OUR COMMON INTERESTS LEADS ME TO PROPOSE THAT WE JOIN
TOGETHER IN A BOLD NEW PARTNERSHIP TO INVOLVE 1,000 PEACE
CORPS VOLUNTEERS IN WORLD FOOD PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BY 2004.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05813 01 OF 03 031159Z
BOTH OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS WORK TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THE
POOREST PEOPLE IN THE POOREST COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. WE
ARE BOTH COMMITTED TO EDUCATION, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH AND
NUTRITION, ARRESTING THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS, AND
HELPING THOSE SUFFERING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS.

THE PEACE CORPS AND WFP ARE WORKING IN ABOUT 40 OF THE SAME
COUNTRIES. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE ALREADY COLLABORATED
(ALBEIT ON A RELATIVELY SMALL SCALE),WITH VOLUNTEERS
WORKING IN WFP-ASSISTED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS NEGOTIATED
AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL, AND WITH CRISIS CORPS VOLUNTEERS
WORKING ALONGSIDE WFP IN SOME RECENT EMERGENCIES. WFP HAS
ALSO HIRED FORMER PEACE CORPS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND
EXCHANGED INFORMATION ON CROSS-CULTURAL AND SECURITY
TRAINING FOR OUR PERSONNEL.

THERE IS ONE AREA IN PARTICULAR WHERE I THINK WE COULD HAVE
A TREMENDOUS IMPACT BY WORKING MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER. TWO
YEARS AGO, WITH ALMOST 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND MUCH
SUCCESS IN THE FIELD, WFP UNDERTOOK A GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR
SCHOOL FEEDING.

THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPPORTED IN NO SMALL PART BY THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. FORMER U.S. SENATORS ROBERT DOLE
AND GEORGE MCGOVERN DESERVE MUCH OF THE CREDIT FOR WHAT IS

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0302

PAGE 01 ROME 05813 02 OF 03 031159Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 EVG-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
CTME-00 INL-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00
OIGO-00 E-00 UTED-00 FOE-00 VC-00 GAO-02 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 MMP-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PC-01 IRM-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 FMP-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00
/011W
-------------- 11F1B2 031357Z /38
P 031032Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7157
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2452
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USEU BRUSSELS 2983
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 005813

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05813 02 OF 03 031159Z
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
NSC FOR JWDORKEN
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER
GAO FOR PTHOMAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS -
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES BY 2004

NOW A SEVEN-YEAR CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION (IN THE NEW
"FARM BILL") FOR ASSISTANCE TO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FEEDING
AND MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION. OTHER DONOR COUNTRIES ARE
ALSO STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE. WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT
EXPANDING THIS EFFORT. IT CLEARLY REFLECTS PRESIDENT BUSH'S
COMMITMENT THAT NO CHILD SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND. OUR
COLLECTIVE FUTURE RESTS ON ENSURING SOUND NUTRITION AND
EDUCATION FOR ALL OF THE WORLD'S CHILDREN.

WFP WAS ABLE TO INCREASE OUR SCHOOL FEEDING PORTFOLIO FROM
THE 1999 LEVEL OF 11.9 MILLION SCHOOLCHILDREN BENEFITING IN
53 COUNTRIES, TO OVER 15 MILLION BENEFICIARY CHILDREN IN 57
COUNTRIES IN 2001. WE NOW HAVE SCHOOL FEEDING OPERATIONS IN
61 COUNTRIES.

WITH OUR STRONG EXPERIENCE IN THESE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE
LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERS--AT INTERNATIONAL,
NATIONAL AND AT THE LOCAL LEVELS. AMONG OUR BEST PARTNERS
HAVE BEEN USAID, USDA AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT -- THE US NOW
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 05813 02 OF 03 031159Z
CONTRIBUTES MORE THAN USD 1 BILLION ANNUALLY, 60 PERCENT OF
OUR FUNDING, AND WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH SENIOR
OFFICIALS IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IN AFGHANISTAN AND
OTHER TROUBLE SPOTS.

IN PROPOSING A MUCH-EXPANDED COLLABORATION WITH THE PEACE
CORPS, WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN YOUR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION EXPERTISE. VOLUNTEERS PLACED IN WFP-ASSISTED
SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WFP-ASSISTED MATERNAL/CHILD
HEALTH CLINICS, ETC., WOULD STRENGTHEN THE PROGRAM AND HELP
ENSURE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

WE HAVE FOLLOWED WITH GREAT INTEREST A NUMBER OF NEW
INITIATIVES INVOLVING THE PEACE CORPS:

-CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSIONS REGARDING INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF VOLUNTEERS WORLDWIDE AND THE PEACE CORPS CHARTER FOR THE
21ST CENTURY ACT;
-THE PEACE CORPS COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY ONE OF THE
VOLUNTEERS SERVING IN AFRICA ARE PREPARED TO WORK
KNOWLEDGEABLY TO PREVENT AIDS;
-THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CRISIS CORPS; AND
-THE PEACE CORPS' ATTEMPTS TO PROTECT VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF
WORKING IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

I AM CONFIDENT A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF COLLABORATION
WOULD BENEFIT BOTH OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BENEFICIARIES
WE SERVE. IF YOU AGREE, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER
WORKING TOWARD THE GOAL OF HAVING 1,000 PEACE CORPS
VOLUNTEERS AT WORK IN WFP-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES BY 2004. I
KNOW THAT SOUNDS AMBITIOUS, BUT FROM ALL WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 05813 02 OF 03 031159Z
YOUR LEADERSHIP, IT IS NOT BEYOND THE PEACE CORPS' REACH.
MIGHT I SUGGEST THAT WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT A STRATEGY OF
JOINTLY APPROACHING GOVERNMENTS IN MOST OR ALL OF THE 40
COUNTRIES WHERE WE BOTH CURRENTLY HAVE A PRESENCE.

I HOPE YOU WILL SHARE MY ENTHUSIASM FOR PUTTING TALENTED
YOUNG AMERICANS TO WORK ON FOOD AID INITIATIVES THAT WILL
HELP THE WORLD'S POOR. IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH
YOU IN PERSON OR OVER THE PHONE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE TO
DISCUSS THIS INITIATIVE. I WILL BE IN WASHINGTON ON
DECEMBER 3-5 AND I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE SOME TIME FOR US TO
TALK. FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR PROPOSAL, YOUR STAFF COULD
CONTACT JOE SCALISE AT OUR LIAISON OFFICE IN WASHINGTON (202-
653-2618) AND ARLENE MITCHELL (FORMER PEACE CORPS) ON SCHOOL
FEEDING (011-3906-6513-2534).

I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERING OUR PROPOSAL AND
VERY MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU. THERE IS VAST SCOPE
FOR OUR WORKING TOGETHER AS PARTNERS. SINCERELY, JAMES
MORRIS." END TEXT OF WFP LETTER.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. WFP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ0305

PAGE 01 ROME 05813 03 OF 03 031159Z
ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 EVG-00 CIAE-00 COME-00
CTME-00 INL-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00
OIGO-00 E-00 UTED-00 FOE-00 VC-00 GAO-02 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 MMP-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 PC-01 IRM-00 STR-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 FMP-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 SAS-00
/011W
-------------- 11F1BF 031358Z /38
P 031032Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7158
USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY 2453
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
USEU BRUSSELS 2984
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 005813

SIPDIS

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS DIRECTOR GADDI H. VASQUEZ
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES AND GSALVATIERA
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, DCHA/FFP
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND LREICH
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 05813 03 OF 03 031159Z
NSC FOR JWDORKEN
USUN NEW YORK FOR CSERWER
GAO FOR PTHOMAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR AORC PREF EAGR EU WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN EU EAID WFP UN
SUBJECT: WFP PROPOSES PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. PEACE CORPS -
REQUEST FOR 1,000 VOLUNTEERS TO SUPPORT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES BY 2004

GLOBAL FOOD AID FLOWS, MAINLY FOCUSSED ON HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS RESPONSE. THE UNITED STATES HAS LONG BEEN AND
CONTINUES TO BE WFP'S LEADING DONOR, HAVING CONTRIBUTED USD
6.38 BILLION IN SUPPORT TO WFP OVER THE DECADE 1992-2001.
WFP BELIEVES (AND THE USMISSION STRONGLY AGREES) THAT A
STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP WITH PEACE CORPS WILL INCREASE THE
EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF FOOD AID WORLDWIDE AS WELL
AS HELPING TO ENSURE THAT LONG-RANGE WFP WORK FORCE PLANNING
PROVIDES EQUITABLE US REPRESENTATION. HALL

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2002ROME05813 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED