U.S. DOLLAR 480,000 PROPOSAL FOR LINKING FAO/WFP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001984

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01984 01 OF 03 081328Z
FOR CPENCE
SECSTATE PASS TO SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AA/EGAT
ESIMMONS, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND
WWHELEN
USUN FOR MLUTZ
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES
GENEVA FOR RMA
BRUSSELS FOR USEU
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP
SUBJECT: U.S. DOLLAR 480,000 PROPOSAL FOR LINKING FAO/WFP
JOINT CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENTS WITH THE SUB-SAHARAN
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CILSS AND SADC - REQUEST FOR USAID
FUNDING

REF: (A) ROME 1511

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


1. U.S. MISSION RECEIVED AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL VALUED AT
U.S. DOLLAR 480,000 AIMED AT MORE TIGHTLY LINKING FAO/WFP
JOINT CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENTS WITH THE SUB-SAHARAN
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CILSS AND SADC. US MISSION STRONGLY
ENDORSES THIS OUTREACH BY FAO AND WFP TO STRENGTHEN UN
LINKAGES WITH TWO IMPORTANT SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN REGIONAL
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01984 01 OF 03 081328Z
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE U.S. THROUGH USAID HAS LONG
SUPPORTED. WE BELIEVE THAT A RELATIVELY MODEST USAID
INVESTMENT WOULD PUSH UN EMERGENCY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS IN THE
DIRECTION OF TRULY BECOMING CONSENSUS
BUILDING PROCESSES, AND BETTER ENSURING THAT ASSESSMENT
RESULTS ARE FULLY CREDIBLE AND ACTIONABLE.

-------------- --------------
TEXT OF PROPOSAL LETTER RECEIVED FROM FAO-WFP RELATED TO
ENHANCED UN LINKAGES TO SUB-SAHARAN REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
FOR CONDUCTING CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENTS
-------------- --------------


2. BEGIN TEXT OF FAO-WFP LETTER TO US MISSION. "DEAR MR.
LAVELLE:

AS YOU KNOW, THE FAO AND WFP FREQUENTLY ORGANIZE JOINT CFSA
(CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT) MISSIONS TO CARRY OUT
RAPID OVERALL ASSESSMENTS OF THE FOOD SUPPLY AND DEMAND
SITUATION IN COUNTRIES IN A STATE OF CRISIS. THESE MISSIONS
RELY TO A GREAT EXTENT UPON SECONDARY DATA AND LOCAL
EXPERTISE; REPRESENTATIVES FROM NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR
DONOR AGENCIES ARE ALSO INVOLVED, ALTHOUGH THE ULTIMATE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ASSESSMENT RESTS WITH THE UNITED
NATIONS. WE EXPECT TO DO SIX SUCH MISSIONS IN SOUTHERN
AFRICA IN APRIL/MAY OF THIS YEAR, AND WILL DO OVER TWENTY IN
THE COURSE OF 2003, INCLUDING SOME TO SUDAN, ETHIOPIA, THE
KOREA DPR AND AFGHANISTAN.

DONOR AGENCIES RELY ON VARIOUS INFORMATION SOURCES TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON FOOD AID AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIVITIES, BUT
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01984 01 OF 03 081328Z
THE FAO/WFP ASSESSMENTS USUALLY FIGURE PROMINENTLY,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENCE AND
UNBIASED JUDGMENT. NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS A CLEAR SENSE
AMONG ALL PARTIES, INCLUDING WITHIN FAO AND WFP, THAT THE
CFSAS MUST BECOME MORE PRECISE AND RELIABLE. THIS IS DUE
PARTLY TO THE INCREASINGLY COMPLEX NATURE OF MANY
EMERGENCIES, AND TO THE RECOGNITION THAT THESE ASSESSMENTS
OUGHT TO BE MORE COMPREHENSIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, BY USING MORE
SYSTEMATICALLY NATIONAL FOOD BALANCE RATHER THAN CEREAL
BALANCE SHEETS.

THE RELEVANT SERVICES AT FAO AND WFP HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A
NUMBER OF STEPS TO IMPROVE THEIR RESPECTIVE CFSA
METHODOLOGIES AND THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THEY UNDERTAKE
THESE JOINT MISSIONS. FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE:

- DEFINED THE COMMON PURPOSE OF CFSAS AND THE SPECIFIC
OBJECTIVES OF BOTH PARTIES;
- IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES TO BE REFINED,
BOTH ON THE FAO AND WFP SIDES (E.G. ESTIMATES OF COMMERCIAL
IMPORTS TO FILL A DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY GAP, MORE
COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL FOOD BALANCE ANALYSES,
DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN CHRONIC AND TRANSITORY FOOD

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8763

PAGE 01 ROME 01984 02 OF 03 081328Z
ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00
USNW-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00
EUR-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 PER-00
IRM-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 ECA-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00
SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 61DDC0 081329Z /38
P 081328Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9748
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
USEU BRUSSELS 3216
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 001984

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01984 02 OF 03 081328Z
FOR CPENCE
SECSTATE PASS TO SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AA/EGAT
ESIMMONS, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND
WWHELEN
USUN FOR MLUTZ
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES
GENEVA FOR RMA
BRUSSELS FOR USEU
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP
SUBJECT: U.S. DOLLAR 480,000 PROPOSAL FOR LINKING FAO/WFP
JOINT CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENTS WITH THE SUB-SAHARAN
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CILSS AND SADC - REQUEST FOR USAID
FUNDING

INSECURITY, SCOPE FOR MARKET-BASED SOLUTIONS);
- IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC PROCESS ISSUES TO BE IMPROVED: FOR
INSTANCE, PREPARING FOR COUNTRY MISSIONS, TRAINING/BRIEFING
FAO AND WFP TEAM MEMBERS, WORKING WITH LOCAL PARTNERS
(GOVERNMENTS, DONOR AGENCIES, NGOS),COUNTRY BRIEFINGS,
RESOLVING DIFFERENCES AND PREPARING FINAL REPORT;
- UNDERTAKEN PRE-CFSA VISITS TO NINE COUNTRIES IN SOUTHERN
AFRICA IN 2003 TO COLLECT INFORMATION, ESTABLISH OR RENEW
TIES WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, AND GATHER INPUT ON HOW THE CFSA
PROCESS IS PERCEIVED BY ALL PARTIES AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL.

IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING WITHIN FAO AND WFP
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01984 02 OF 03 081328Z
-- AND BETWEEN THE TWO INSTITUTIONS -- WE PROPOSE TO
ORGANIZE AND MANAGE A WIDER EXPERT CONSULTATION PROCESS, TO
TAKE PLACE OVER A PERIOD OF UP TO ONE YEAR AND A HALF. THIS
WOULD INCLUDE SPECIALISTS FROM FAO, WFP, DONOR AGENCIES,
SPECIALISTS FROM REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (FROM THE SOUTHERN
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) OR THE (CILSS) THE SAHEL
PERMANENT INTER-STATE ANTI-DROUGHT COMMISSION) AND
INDEPENDENT EXPERTS. THE EXPERT CONSULTATION WOULD DRAW UPON
INTERNAL RESOURCES AT FAO AND WFP, WOULD BE MANAGED JOINTLY
BY THESE TWO INSTITUTIONS (WITH SEPARATE AND CLEARLY DEFINED
SCOPES AND BUDGETS),AND WOULD REQUIRE SEVERAL WORKING
MEETINGS/WORKSHOPS. THIS EXPERT CONSULTATION COULD INCLUDE,
AMONG OTHER THINGS:

- SEVERAL SHORT COMMISSIONED PAPERS, PRESENTATIONS;

- COLLABORATION BETWEEN SEVERAL FAO SERVICES AND CILSS TO
FINALIZE ONGOING WORK TO MOVE FROM CEREAL BALANCE TO FOOD
BALANCE SHEETS FOR SELECTED COUNTRIES IN THE CILSS REGION.
THE PRECISE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE WORK NEED TO BE
DETERMINED THROUGH DISCUSSIONS THE CILSS;

- COLLABORATION BETWEEN SEVERAL FAO SERVICES AND SADC ON THE
INTEGRATION OF EARLY WARNING INFORMATION INTO THE FAO'S
CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF THE FOOD SITUATION AT THE COUNTRY
LEVEL, AND INTO THE FAO/WFP JOINT CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY
ASSESSMENTS. HERE TOO, THE PRECISE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE
WORK NEED TO BE DETERMINED THROUGH ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS
WITH SADC;

- IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL PARTIES ON ALL ELEMENTS OF
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01984 02 OF 03 081328Z
THE PROCESS: PREPARATION AND BRIEFING OF TEAMS, IN-COUNTRY
ASSESSMENTS, PARTICIPATION, IN-COUNTRY BRIEFING, FINALIZING
THE CONCLUSIONS AND REPORT.
AMONG SPECIFIC OUTPUTS, OR TANGIBLE RESULTS, FROM THIS
EXPERT CONSULTATION, WE ENVISAGE THE FOLLOWING:

- UPDATED VERSIONS OF THE CURRENT FAO AND WFP METHODOLOGIES
ON JOINT CFSAS;

- A COMMON HANDBOOK FOR FAO/WFP TEAMS (AND PARTNERS) ON
PRACTICAL STEPS TO JOINT CFSAS. THIS HANDBOOK WOULD REFER
TO, BUT BE MUCH MORE CONCISE, THAN THE RESPECTIVE
METHODOLOGIES, AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THREE LANGUAGES
(ENGLISH, FRENCH AND SPANISH, MOST LIKELY);

- THE JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF MORE COMPREHENSIVE FOOD BALANCE
SHEETS FOR SELECTED CILSS COUNTRIES;

- CLARIFICATION OF RESPECTIVE ROLES, AND SPECIFIC
COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH SADC'S EARLY WARNING UNIT ON
CFSAS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA;

- TRAINING OF A FIRST GROUP OF 20 PERSONS IN THE USE OF THE

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8761

PAGE 01 ROME 01984 03 OF 03 081328Z
ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00
USNW-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00
EUR-00 FAAE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
L-00 VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02
IRM-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 NFAT-00 SAS-00
/004W
-------------- 61DDC8 081328Z /38
P 081328Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9749
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
AMEMBASSY DAKAR
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY TOKYO
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
USEU BRUSSELS 3217
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 001984

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, IO A/S HOLMES, IO/EDA WINNICK, E
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01984 03 OF 03 081328Z
FOR CPENCE
SECSTATE PASS TO SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS, RTILSWORTH AND TWEDT
USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, AA/DCHA WINTER, AA/EGAT
ESIMMONS, D/DCHA/OFDA BMCCONNELL, D/DCHA/FFP LANDIS AND
WWHELEN
USUN FOR MLUTZ
USAID DAKAR FOR ESTES
GENEVA FOR RMA
BRUSSELS FOR USEU
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR AORC PREF EAGR ECON KUNR UN WFP EAID UN WFP EAID UN WFP
SUBJECT: U.S. DOLLAR 480,000 PROPOSAL FOR LINKING FAO/WFP
JOINT CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENTS WITH THE SUB-SAHARAN
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CILSS AND SADC - REQUEST FOR USAID
FUNDING

NEW CFSA GUIDELINES AND HANDBOOK.

IN ADDITION, WE ENVISAGE THAT THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CFSA
PROCESS, AND THE TESTING OF NEW MATERIAL WOULD TAKE PLACE
UNDER `REAL LIFE' CONDITIONS, WITH RESULTS BEING COMPILED IN
A SPECIAL REPORT GATHERING COMMISSIONED PAPERS, PROCEEDINGS
FROM WORKSHOPS, UPDATED METHODOLOGY AND CFSA HANDBOOK.

AT THIS TIME, WE ARE CONSIDERING PROPOSALS TO USAID AND TO
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, BECAUSE OF THEIR MAJOR CONTRIBUTION
TO, AND INTEREST IN, ASSESSING AND RESPONDING TO FOOD
SECURITY EMERGENCIES. OUR FIRST ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THIS
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 01984 03 OF 03 081328Z
EXPERT CONSULTATION OVER UP TO ONE YEAR AND-A-HALF IS
SLIGHTLY OVER U.S. DOLLARS OR EUROS 480,000, INCLUDING ALL
MEETINGS, COMMISSIONED PAPERS, TRANSLATIONS, TRAINING
WORKSHOPS, ETC.

WE BELIEVE THAT THIS EXPERT CONSULTATION WOULD BE A VERY
EFFICIENT, PARTICIPATORY AND TRANSPARENT WAY TO IMPROVE A
KEY COMPONENT OF DECISION MAKING THROUGH WHICH VERY LARGE
FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS ARE MADE, TO ASSIST NEEDY POPULATIONS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU; PLEASE LET US KNOW IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. BEST REGARDS, HENRI P. JOSSERAND,
CHIEF, GLOBAL INFORMATION AND EARLY WARNING SERVICE, FAO-
ROME (SIGNED) AND WOLFGANG HERBINGER, CHIEF, EMERGENCY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT, WFP-ROME (SIGNED)." END TEXT OF APRIL 29, 2003
FAO-WFP LETTER TO US MISSION.

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


4. US MISSION STRONGLY ENDORSES THIS OUTREACH BY FAO AND WFP
TO STRENGTHEN UN LINKAGES WITH TWO IMPORTANT SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICAN REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE U.S. THROUGH USAID
HAS LONG SUPPORTED. (WE NOTE THE MAY 7 ISSUANCE BY SADC OF A
LANDMARK STUDY ENTITLED: "TOWARDS IDENTIFYING IMPACTS OF
HIV/AIDS ON FOOD INSECURITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA AND
IMPLICATIONS FOR RESPONSE - FINDINGS FROM MALAWI, ZAMBIA AND
ZIMBABWE.") WE BELIEVE THAT A RELATIVELY MODEST USAID
INVESTMENT OF U.S. DOLLARS 480,000 WILL PUSH UN EMERGENCY
NEEDS ASSESSMENTS IN THE DIRECTION OF TRULY BECOMING
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 01984 03 OF 03 081328Z
CONSENSUS BUILDING PROCESSES, AND BETTER ENSURING THAT
ASSESSMENT RESULTS ARE FULLY CREDIBLE AND ACTIONABLE. HALL

UNCLASSIFIED

>
2003ROME01984 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED