Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME896
2003-03-04 15:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

IDLO PROPOSAL TO USAID FOR U.S. DOLLARS 2.25

Tags:  AORC EAID PREF EU EAGR IDLO UNAORC UN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000896 

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

USAID KABUL FOR AMBASSADOR FINN AND USAID DIRECTOR BUCK
USAID FOR GC GARDNER, AA/DCHA WINTER, DAA/DCHA ROGERS AND
DCHA/DG ALEXANDER
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, L/NESA AND UNA, SA/PAB, IO/EDA FOR
WINNICK

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00896 01 OF 02 041641Z
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID PREF EU EAGR EAID PREF EU EAGR IDLO UNAORC IDLO UN
SUBJECT: IDLO PROPOSAL TO USAID FOR U.S. DOLLARS 2.25
MILLION IN PROGRAM SUPPORT, 2003-2005

REF: (A) 02 ROME 01544, (B) 02 ROME 01616

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000896

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

USAID KABUL FOR AMBASSADOR FINN AND USAID DIRECTOR BUCK
USAID FOR GC GARDNER, AA/DCHA WINTER, DAA/DCHA ROGERS AND
DCHA/DG ALEXANDER
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, L/NESA AND UNA, SA/PAB, IO/EDA FOR
WINNICK

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00896 01 OF 02 041641Z
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAID PREF EU EAGR EAID PREF EU EAGR IDLO UNAORC IDLO UN
SUBJECT: IDLO PROPOSAL TO USAID FOR U.S. DOLLARS 2.25
MILLION IN PROGRAM SUPPORT, 2003-2005

REF: (A) 02 ROME 01544, (B) 02 ROME 01616

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


1. THE ROME-BASED INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION
(IDLO) HAS SENT TO THE U.S. MISSION A PROPOSAL FOR PROGRAM
SUPPORT FOR THE PERIOD 2003-2005 REQUESTING USAID FUNDING OF
U.S. DOLLARS 2.25 MILLION (U.S. 750,000/ANNUM). IDLO IS
FUNDED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS; USAID HAS PREVIOUSLY
PROVIDED IDLO WITH U.S. 985,076 DOLLARS (2000) AND U.S.
1,335,257 DOLLARS (2001). IDLO ASSERTS THAT USAID MULTI-YEAR
ASSISTANCE WOULD GREATLY STRENGTHEN THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL
OF SECURING A MORE PREDICTABLE FUNDING BASE. IDLO'S
TECHNICAL COOPERATION, PRESENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED IN MORE
THAN 50 COUNTRIES, EQUIPS LEGAL PROFESSIONALS AND LOCAL
INSTITUTIONS TO PURSUE RULE OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE WORK AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL. IT HAS PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN ISLAMIC LAW.
MOREOVER, IDLO IS ABOUT TO BROADEN ITS OUTREACH BY SIGNING
AN AGREEMENT WITH UNDP WHEREBY IT WILL BECOME A UNDP
EXECUTING AGENCY. THE U.S. MISSION ASKS THAT SERIOUS
CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO ENHANCING USAID SUPPORT TO IDLO.

--------------
BACKGROUND
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 00896 01 OF 02 041641Z
--------------


2. IDLO IS A PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION (PIO) BASED
IN ROME. IT DIFFERS FROM CONTRACTORS AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) IN THAT INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT AND
AFFILIATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS ESTABLISH ITS LEGAL
STATUS. IDLO IS EXEMPT FROM MANY PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL
ACQUISITION REGULATION AND THE COMPETITION IN CONTRACTING
ACT. WITH REGARD TO USAID, ITS SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE
UNDER ADS 308.


3. IDLO INFORMS THAT IS ABOUT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT
WITH UNDP UNDER WHICH THE PARTIES WILL BECOME EXECUTING
AGENCIES FOR EACH OTHER'S PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.
SPECIFICALLY, IDLO'S RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

- SUPPORT UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES IN CONNECTION WITH
LEGAL, JUDICIAL, AND GOOD GOVERNANCE CAPACITY BUILDING
ACTIVITIES;
- PROVIDE SUBSTANTIVE RESOURCES IN THE FORM OF
DOCUMENTATION, RESEARCH, AND EXPERTS FOR TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS RELATED TO LEGAL AND
GOVERNANCE REFORMS;
- PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR FIELD
PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF
LAW;
- CONDUCT TRAINING ON RULE OF LAW AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
TOPICS; AND
- PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO REBUILD LOCAL LEGAL
CAPACITY IN POST-CONFLICT SITUATIONS.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 ROME 00896 01 OF 02 041641Z
NOTE: IN PARTICULAR, THIS WILL INVOLVE ASSISTING LOCAL
AUTHORITIES AND/OR THE UNITED NATIONS TRANSITION
ADMINISTRATION IN THE COUNTRY TO REBUILD LOCAL EXPERTISE TO
ENFORCE THE RULE OF LAW AFTER ARMED CONFLICTS. THIS COULD
INCLUDE TRAINING OR RETRAINING OF THE JUDICIARY AND
ASSISTANCE IN IMPROVING THE COUNTRY'S LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK,
AND COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF RELEVANT LEGAL TEXTS AND
OTHER LEGAL ASSESSMENT WORK TO FACILITATE AND ACCELERATE
LEGAL REFORM EFFORTS SUPPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY. END NOTE.


4. REFERENCE B ADDRESSED IDLO'S LEGAL REFORM INITIATIVE FOR
AFGHANISTAN. IDLO HAS REPORTEDLY AMASSED AN EXTENSIVE
COLLECTION OF LEGAL TEXTS. IN ADDITION, IT IS WORKING WITH
THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP A UNIFIED FRAMEWORK LEGAL
REFORM INVOLVING REVIEW OF KEY LEGISLATION FOR CONFORMANCE
WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND THE INTERIM CONSTITUTION.
IDLO HAS RECENTLY OPENED AN OFFICE IN KABUL WITH A STAFF OF

3. IT HAS GOOD ACCESS TO ISLAMIC SCHOLARS AND LEGAL
PROFESSIONALS THROUGH SOME OF ITS MEMBER STATES AND GRANT
SUPPORTERS SUCH AS THE KUWAIT FUND FOR ARAB AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, ARAB FUND FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,
OPEC FUND, AND THE ARAB BANK FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
AFRICA (BADEA). US MISSION HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THESE

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9654

PAGE 01 ROME 00896 02 OF 02 041641Z
ACTION AID-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AGRE-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00
EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02
IRM-00 TEST-00 SA-00 R-00 ECA-00 PRM-00 SAS-00
/002W
-------------- 3EE7BA 041843Z /38
P 041545Z MAR 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8563
INFO USMISSION US IN NEW YORK NY
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY KABUL

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 ROME 000896

SIPDIS

AIDAC

FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

USAID KABUL FOR AMBASSADOR FINN AND USAID DIRECTOR BUCK
USAID FOR GC GARDNER, AA/DCHA WINTER, DAA/DCHA ROGERS AND
DCHA/DG ALEXANDER
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY, L/NESA AND UNA, SA/PAB, IO/EDA FOR
WINNICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 00896 02 OF 02 041641Z
TAGS: AORC EAID PREF EU EAGR EAID PREF EU EAGR IDLO UNAORC IDLO UN
SUBJECT: IDLO PROPOSAL TO USAID FOR U.S. DOLLARS 2.25
MILLION IN PROGRAM SUPPORT, 2003-2005

LINKS ARE PROVING VALUABLE IN AFGHANISTAN WHERE IDLO IS
AMONG OTHER THINGS ASSISTING A NUMBER OF USAID-FINANCED
PROVIDERS.


5. U.S. MISSION REPRESENTATIVE PHILIP LAMADE MET WITH IDLO
DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WILLIAM LORIS, A FORMER USAID LAWYER, ON
FEBRUARY 18, 2003. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1983, IDLO HAS
CONDUCTED LEGAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
IN DEVELOPING AND TRANSITION ECONOMY COUNTRIES. CURRENT U.S-
FUNDED WORK INCLUDES PROJECTS IN KOSOVO (JUDICIAL TRAINING);
OMAN (JUDICIAL REFORM); EAST TIMOR (JUDICIAL TRAINING);
MONGOLIA (JUDICIAL BENCH BOOKS); AND SWAZILAND (COMMUNITY
EDUCATION ON THE NEW CONSTITUTION). IDLO'S LEGAL STAFF IS
DIVERSE AND HAS THE CAPABILITY TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS IN THE
MAJOR UN LANGUAGES AS WELL AS RUSSIAN AND AMHARIC. NOTE: ITS
TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE GIVEN AT ITS HEADQUARTERS IN ROME,
REGIONAL OFFICES, E.G., SYDNEY AND SOON CAIRO, AND COUNTRY
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS AS WELL. END NOTE.


6. ITS FOUR PROGRAM "CONES" INCLUDE BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL AND
FINANCIAL LAW, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW
(INCLUDING CONVENTION ESTABLISHED LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS SUCH AS
WTO),GOVERNANCE AND JUDICIAL REFORM. FIVE OUT OF FIFTY-TWO
IDLO PERMANENT STAFF SPEND 100 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME
SUPPORTING THE INSTITUTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF
THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NETWORK.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 ROME 00896 02 OF 02 041641Z
--------------
COMMENT
--------------


7. IDLO HAS SENT TO THE U.S. MISSION A PROPOSAL FOR PROGRAM
SUPPORT FOR THE PERIOD 2003-2005 REQUESTING USAID FUNDING OF
U.S. DOLLARS 2.25 MILLION (U.S. 750,000/ANNUM). IDLO ASSERTS
THAT USAID MULTI-YEAR ASSISTANCE WOULD GREATLY STRENGTHEN
THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL OF SECURING A MORE PREDICTABLE
FUNDING BASE. US MISSION IS CONVINCED THAT IDLO HAS
PARTICULAR EXPERTISE IN ISLAMIC LAW, SOLID SUPPORT FROM THE
GOVERNMENT OF ITALY, AND WILL EFFECTIVELY EXPAND ITS
OUTREACH THROUGH PARTNERING WITH UNDP. THE U.S. MISSION ASKS
THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO ENHANCING USAID
SUPPORT TO IDLO. HALL

UNCLASSIFIED

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2003ROME00896 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED