BIOTECH OUTREACH: MALAWI REQUEST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LILONGWE 000156 SIPDIS FOR EB/TPP/ABT/BTT (DMalac and Jbobo) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON TBIO TSPL ETRD SENV EAGR MI SUBJECT: BIOTECH OUTREACH: MALAWI REQUEST REF: State 15050 ¶1. Summary. In 2002 Malawi enacted a Biosafety Act, which created a framework for regulating biotechnology. Necessary regulatory structures and guidelines have not followed, however, and implementation remains weak. The arrival of USG food aid in 2002 and 2003 raised safety and environmental concerns among some members of the public, the NGO community, and some in Government. Given Malawi's recurrent food crises, including another possible shortage this year, advancing USG policy on biotech is a Mission priority. Post therefore requests $48,000 in funding for an outreach program. End summary. ¶2. Goals: The Mission outreach program targets two groups: the policy makers and the consumers. The Public Affairs Section has already held several lectures and an AFNET on biotech issues, and the Malawi public has expressed interest in learning more. Malawian scientists are largely pro-biotech and understand the scientific issues. Policy makers need educating, however, and so does the public. Rumors of infertility and illness due to biotech maize persist. There have also been reports in the press that biotech maize is unsafe to eat and is brought to Malawi from the U.S. as a dumping ground, and that biotech maize is only eaten by cattle in the US. ¶3. PAS has already started a partnership with the Malawi Human Rights Youth Network (MHRYN),targeting civil society with the message that biotech maize is safe to eat. MHRYN is well-placed to reach out to NGOs and other human rights groups. Together, we have mounted a national civic education awareness campaign for civil society organizations, government officials, agriculture extension workers, farmers and consumers of biotech maize, but lack funding to reach a broad audience. For this message to be best delivered, a baseline survey of beliefs and concerns would help focus our outreach strategy. ¶4. Malawi also needs information on biotech at the technical and policy levels. Policy makers need to develop implementation tools for the biotech policy. Malawi scientists must decide what the biotech investment priorities are so that the biotech agenda can be driven by Malawians. Malawi policy makers need to understand that biotech is a tool for fighting hunger. Biotech food must have appropriate regulations, needs to be grown in an environmentally safe manner, and should not endanger Malawi's trading status with other countries. ¶5. Audiences and strategies: The Public Affairs Section and the committee chaired by MHRYN propose a multi-faceted public diplomacy campaign targeting a variety of audiences. a) Policy makers and academics: Invite an U.S. Speaker and Malawian scientists to spend one week with the appropriate Ministry of Agriculture officials to develop guidelines and structures for the biotech policy. Utilize examples of approved biotech legislation and develop a framework for implementing existing legislation. The U.S. Speaker would also be invited to conduct a workshop aimed at Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Economic Planning officials and other appropriate government officials and academics (two days) to consider Malawi's biotech investment strategies. To follow up these meetings, the Public Affairs Section would continue with roundtable discussions and academic lectures with Malawian scientists to further develop biotech strategies. b) Consumers: Visit the most populated districts with a local biotech expert, train local NGOS to communicate with the villagers, and supply pamphlets and informational material in the local language explaining the safety of biotech maize. Pamphlets would be in simple language but would explain the basics of biotech. Design radio and television messages - advertisements and longer shows/discussion - to widely disseminate the biotech message (i.e. that biotech maize is safe to eat). Advertisements would be in local languages discussing the safety of biotech maize. Longer discussions would focus on a variety of topics, including the uses of biotech, biotech as a tool for fighting hunger, biotech and the environment, and biotech and trade. The key to this strategy is that Malawian NGOs and experts will help disseminate the message, not just U.S. officials discussing U.S. policy. ¶6. Budget: Total budget requested: $48,000 Breakdown: U.S. Speaker and workshops for policy makers: $19,000: $6,000 for U.S. Speaker (10 days) $10,000 in workshop costs (including one week with Ministry of Agriculture): room rental, transport and lodging for participants ($56/day for seven days for 20 participants plus room rental and transport) $2,000 for printed materials $1,000 for room rental and related expenses for future round table discussions NGO training: $15,000: $8,000 travel and accommodation car hire: $3,200 fuel: $1,800 Accommodation, meals and expert fees: $3,000 $6,000 brochures and pamphlets: design: $1,500 printing:$4,500 $1,000 poster: design and printing Radio and television messages: $9,000 $2,000 development of adverts $5,000 airtime on radio and television $1,000 newspaper adverts $1,000 expert fees for radio/TV shows Baseline survey: $5,000 To conduct a survey of beliefs and misinformation about biotech at the consumer level. $3,500: transport and accommodation $1,000: fees for survey workers $ 500: administration costs, stationery Browning