US Mission/Rome attends WFP-sponsored Regional

UNCLAS ROME 005227

SIPDIS


AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY DAKAR FOR AMBASSADOR ROTH AND USAID DIRECTOR
CARDUNER
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, AFR/WA, DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, DCHA/D/OFDA, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS ABIDJAN FOR LOPEZ
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLRY AND USAID/KYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS AND USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN AND AFRICA DIRECTORATE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF KUNR MR WFP UN
SUBJECT: US Mission/Rome attends WFP-sponsored Regional
Ministerial Conference for the Launch of the "Alliance for
Action" on School Feeding, Health and Basic Education for
the Sahel - Dakar, Senegal, September 9-10, 2003

REF: (A) Rome 4996

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SUMMARY
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1. US Mission/Rome personnel attended (September 9-10, in
Dakar, Senegal) a WFP-sponsored Regional Ministerial
Conference for the Launch of the "Alliance for Action" on
School Feeding, Health and Basic Education for the Sahel.
Nine countries of the region pledged their support to the
effort. Delegates emphasized: a) integration of school
feeding activities in government strategies and action
plans, as well as in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
(PRSP) was essential to secure resources for this activity
in the long term; and b) the need for collaboration at
country level between central and local partners, as well as
between the ministries of education and health in this
effort. WFP's Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu
concluded the organization's interventions by re-emphasising
that the success of the Alliance will depend on governments'
driving force and the commitment of all partners involved.

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Background
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2. US Mission/Rome Humanitarian Attache Tim Lavelle, and
Special Assistant to the Ambassador, Max Finberg, attended
(Dakar, September 9-10) a WFP-sponsored Regional Ministerial
Conference for the Launch of the Alliance for Action on
School Feeding, Health and Basic Education, for the Sahel
region.


3. The Ministers of Education of Cape Verde, Chad, Guinea
Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal, the Secretary-
General of Burkina Faso's Ministry of Basic Education and
the Permanent Secretary of The Gambia's Department of State
for Education were present, together with representatives of
UN agencies, donors, NGOs and the private sector. The
conference was opened by the President of Senegal, H.E.
Abdoulaye Wade, and chaired by the Minister of National
Education of Mali, Mr. Mamadou Lamine Traore.


4. At the end of the conference, the Ministers of Education
and their representatives respectively adopted a Declaration
on the "Alliance for Action on School Feeding, Health and
Basic Education for the Sahel", as well as a document
outlining the Alliance strategy.

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Presentations
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5. In addition to supportive interventions by the nine
countries present, the following international partner
comments are summarized herewith:, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, AFR/WA, DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, DCHA/D/OFDA, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MC

a) WFP introduced its global school feeding campaign, and
highlighted its specific school feeding activities in the
countries of the Sahel;

b) UNESCO elaborated on the status of the Education for All
(EFA) movement in the region and the importance of school
feeding in this context. It expressed its willingness to
support the Alliance at regional and country levels, and
emphasised the importance of government commitment to the
Alliance, government capacity building, the need for
effective monitoring, and for mainstreaming of Alliance
activities into ongoing initiatives to ensure their success
and sustainability;

c) UNICEF emphasised the rights-based approach towards
education. It confirmed its commitment to ensuring that
children are assisted not only with one piece of support,
but with a complete minimum package of services that are
essential for a healthy body and mind, and for an effective
education. It pointed at the importance to involve the child
in the design and implementation of activities, the need to
identify effective ways of assisting children in emergency
situations, and the need to accelerate the various existing
international initiatives in support of education, such as
the World Bank Fast Track and the UNICEF 25/2005
Initiatives;

d) WHO presented the progress that has been made over the
last decades in combating diseases like schistosomiasis and
helminth infections. It emphasised that non-medical
personnel, such as teachers, can easily administer treatment
and prevention programmes, which are highly effective, low
cost and harmless interventions. WHO also introduced the
Partners in Parasite Control (PPC) Initiative, a forum owned
by countries where intestinal parasites are endemic,
technically supported by WHO, and open to any agency or
institution that subscribes to the goals, as well as the
private sector. Its goal is to reach at least 75 percent of
school-age children at risk of morbidity by the year 2010
through intestinal parasite treatment programmes. WHO
concluded by stating that a meeting like this was long
overdue and that the Alliance document is an excellent basis
to move the goals and concepts forward in a fast manner;

e) FAO supported the Alliance and suggested school gardens
to be an integral part of the assistance to schoolchildren
where feasible. FAO presented the objectives of school
gardens and effective approaches to promoting them, and
described the difference between school gardens and school
farms;

f) The World Bank provided comprehensive information on
their EFA Fast Track Initiative;

g) The U.S. delegation described the rationale behind and
the magnitude of U.S. support to school feeding both
domestically and in support of developing countries. It
applauded this initiative and the individuals who are movingCLAS SECTION
03 OF 03 ROME 005227

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

AMEMBASSY DAKAR FOR AMBASSADOR ROTH AND USAID DIRECTOR
CARDUNER
USAID/W FOR ADMINISTRATOR NATSIOS, D/A SCHIECK, AA/DCHA
WINTER, AA/AFR NEWMAN AND DAA/AFR BROWN, AFR/WA, DCHA/D/FFP
LANDIS, DCHA/D/OFDA, AA/GLOBAL PETERSON
STATE FOR IO A/S HOLMES, A/S PRM DEWEY, A/S AF KANSTEINER,
AF/W, IO/EDA BEHREND/KOTOK
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, MCHAMBLISS
USDA/FAS ABIDJAN FOR LOPEZ
USMISSION GENEVA FOR AMBASSA

it forward and reiterated the U.S. commitment in combating
the problem of chronic hunger. However, it was pointed out
that the U.S. McGovern-Dole International Food for Education
and Child Nutrition Program does not include funding for any
of the Sahel countries this year.

h) The regional NGO network ENDA introduced their work
portfolio and described in particular support networks,
advocacy and sensitisation activities around the school,
which they are facilitating and assisting;

i) Finally, The New Partnership for Africa (NEPAD)
Secretariat emphasised the great potential of School Feeding

SIPDIS
to stimulate increased enrolment and regular attendance of
children from poor families. School feeding programmes are
seen as a means to empower people and stimulate economic
recovery across Africa in the long run.


6. In general, the nine countries pledged their support to
the effort. Overall, delegates emphasized: a) integration of
school feeding activities in government strategies and
action plans, as well as in Poverty Reduction Strategy
Papers (PRSP) was essential to secure resources for this
activity in the long term; and b) the need for collaboration
at country level between central and local partners, as well
as between the ministries of education and health in this
effort.


7. WFP's Deputy Executive Director Sheila Sisulu concluded
the organization's interventions by re-emphasising that the
success of the Alliance will depend on governments' driving
force and the commitment of all partners involved.

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Comment
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8. We applaud WFP's efforts in facilitating the preparation
of an "Alliance for Action" for the Sahel. Big steps have
already been taken in support to primary education by the
governments of a number of Sahelian countries. The
conference's subtle message: "let's not let the momentum
slide." And, at least one donor has stepped forward smartly.
Italy, at the Third Regular Session of the WFP Executive
Board (ref A) announced that it was donating euros 2 million
(USD 2.3 million) in support of WFP's Sahel school feeding
initiative. Hall


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2003ROME05227 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED