Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME896
2004-03-08 13:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

WFP BOARD APPROVES CAMBODIA PROTRACTED RELIEF AND

Tags:  EAID EAGR AORC PREF KUNR WFP UNHCR 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 000896 

SIPDIS


FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

PHNOM PENH FOR AMBASSADOR RAY AND USAID DIRECTOR
STATE FOR AS/PRM DEWEY, PRM/P, EAP/BCLTV AND IO/EDA BEHREND
AND KOTOK
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, ANE/ESA
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ
BRUSSELS FOR USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF KUNR WFP UNHCR
SUBJECT: WFP BOARD APPROVES CAMBODIA PROTRACTED RELIEF AND
RECOVERY OPERATION (PRRO) VALUED AT U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 46.88
MILLION - 85,000 METRIC TONS


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

UNCLAS ROME 000896

SIPDIS


FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME

PHNOM PENH FOR AMBASSADOR RAY AND USAID DIRECTOR
STATE FOR AS/PRM DEWEY, PRM/P, EAP/BCLTV AND IO/EDA BEHREND
AND KOTOK
USAID FOR DAA/DCHA GRIGSBY, DCHA/FFP LANDIS, ANE/ESA
USDA/FAS FOR CHAMBLISS/TILSWORTH/GAINOR
GENEVA FOR AMBASSADOR MOLEY, RMA LYNCH AND NKYLOH/USAID
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR NEGROPONTE AND MLUTZ
BRUSSELS FOR USAID/LERNER
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR AORC PREF KUNR WFP UNHCR
SUBJECT: WFP BOARD APPROVES CAMBODIA PROTRACTED RELIEF AND
RECOVERY OPERATION (PRRO) VALUED AT U.S. DOLLARS (USD) 46.88
MILLION - 85,000 METRIC TONS


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


1. The WFP Executive Board, at its first regular session
(February 23-26),approved a Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operation for Cambodia. The project 10305.0, entitled
Assisting People in Crisis, is for thirty months (July 2004-
December 2006),and covers 2,491,710 beneficiaries. Total
cost to WFP is USD 46.88 million. Over the life-of-project,
WFP will supply (subject to the availability of funds) a
total of 85,000 metric tons of food aid. End summary.

--------------
Background
--------------


2. There is a clear justification for continued food aid to
Cambodia, given that: (i) Cambodia is both a least developed
(LDC) and a low-income, food-deficit country; (ii)
agricultural production still suffers from the after-effects
of war, internally displaced persons and widespread
landmines; and (iii) the country continues to be wracked by
natural disasters. Given its recent history, Cambodia has a
plethora of disadvantaged groups including internally
displaced people and returned refugees, war widows, orphans,
child combatants, and disabled. The prevalence of child
labor and of cross-border trafficking of women and children
illustrate the difficulties that poor and vulnerable groups
face in securing more sustainable livelihoods. WFP is
presently the largest UN player with an annual Protracted
Relief and Recovery (PRRO) Operation budget (2001-2003) of
approximately USD 20 million/annum.
WFP assistance to Cambodia under this proposed PRRO will
cover: a) disaster management and community asset creation
(food-for-work),30,728 tons, 1.46 million beneficiaries
over life-of-project; b) education sector support through

school feeding, 38,362 tons, 474,000 beneficiaries; and c)
health and nutrition, 13,446 tons, 158,500 beneficiaries. A
3 percent contingency reserve (2,464 tons) is also
requested.

-------------- --------------
U.S. intervention in support of approval of the Cambodia
PRRO
-------------- --------------


3. Herewith the essence of the supportive U.S. intervention:

-The work of nurturing the conditions for democratic
development in an impoverished nation so new to the
democratic experience and so lacking in basic institutional
development and human resources must be seen as complex and
long-term.

-All available data point toward a tremendous need for
continued assistance, particularly given recent information
suggesting an increase in child and infant mortality over
the past five years, alarmingly high anemia and malnutrition
rates, the highest adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Asia,
the highest rate of TB in the region, etc.

-While WFP is careful to target its food for work response
to the poorest communities, special efforts are required to
avoid "make-work" projects that have only marginal impact on
the root causes of chronic poverty. WFP is encouraged to
intensify its focus on post-project maintenance,
particularly with NGOs and community organizations.

-USDEL stressed the need for a "deeper" partnership between

WFP and the host country which would involve RGC commitment
to defray a percentage of WFP's operational costs.

-USDEL requested clarification as to how WFP plans to
involve the other two major Rome-based agencies, namely the
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - in
its 2004-2006 Cambodia relief and recovery agenda.

-------------- --------------
Donor support to WFP's Cambodia PRRO operations since 1999
-------------- --------------


4. Covering the period January 1, 1999 - June 30, 2004
(PRROs 6038.0 and 6038.1),the United States has provided to
date 42,919 metric tons through WFP, valued at USD 26.0
million. Japan, the largest donor to WFP Cambodia, has
contributed since 1999 a total of 90,121 metric tons valued
at USD 40.22 million.

--------------
Other donor comments
--------------


5. Germany commented that cash-for-work (rather than food-
for-work) should be seriously explored by WFP. Several
donors underlined the need to intensify local purchases.
Note. WFP Country Director Rebecca Hanson estimated that
about 20 percent of WFP's commodity requirements are met
through local purchasing. She also informed that WFP was
assigning a P-3 level international finance officer. End
note. There were questions related to WFP's exit strategy,
and concern that results/impacts were mixed. Germany felt
that the risk assessment analysis on progress related to the
political process "may be overly optimistic."


--------------
Executive Board approval
--------------


6. The WFP Board approved the Protracted Relief and Recovery
Operation for Cambodia. The project 10305.0, entitled
Assisting People in Crisis, is for thirty months (July 2004-
December 2006),and covers 2,491,710 beneficiaries. Total
cost to WFP is USD 46.88 million. Over the life-of-project,
WFP will supply (subject to the availability of funds) a
total of 85,000 metric tons of food aid. Hall


NNNN
2004ROME00896 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED