MAJOR DONORS DISCUSS FAO INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL

UNCLAS ROME 000327

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

FROM THE U.S. MISSION TO THE UN AGENCIES IN ROME

USDA FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS, LREICH, RHUGHES;
STATE FOR IO DAS MILLER, IO/EDA, OES/O, OES/E, E, EB;
AID FOR EGAT, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC EAGR EAID PREL KUNR FAO IFAD
SUBJECT: MAJOR DONORS DISCUSS FAO INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL
EVALUATION, AND FAO AND IFAD ELECTIONS

REF: (A) 04 ROME 3570, (B) 04 ROME 4297
(C) 04 ROME 4624, (D) ROME 0239

Portions are sensitive but unclassified -- please handle
accordingly.


1. (U) Summary: Rome-based representatives of the
"Geneva Group" (top 14 UN contributors) met on 28 January
to plan next steps in the Independent External Evaluation
(IEE) of FAO. They agreed on a general approach to the
organization and governance of the IEE Intersessional
Working Group (ISWG),and welcomed an offer by the U.S.
and Canada to draft a paper on this. They called for
solidarity in meeting the costs of the IEE (Switzerland
and the U.S. have already contributed to the start-up
phase of the IEE, and the UK, Sweden and Canada intend to
announce contributions to the process shortly). The
Group also discussed the elections for Director General
of FAO and for President of the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD). End summary.


2. (U) Geneva Group representatives met at the U.S.
Mission on 28 January, under the chairmanship of UK
Ambassador Matthew Wyatt. Australia, Belgium, Canada,
Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland participated (France was
the only major donor unable to attend).

---
IEE
---


3. (SBU) During about 90 minutes of discussion, members
generally agreed on the following points:

-- There is a role for the Geneva Group as a forum for
coordination and exchange of ideas on the IEE, but policy
decisions should be left to the regional groups, and the
Geneva Group should generally avoid taking public
positions as a block, so as to avoid North-South
polarization of IEE matters.

-- The IEE Intersessional Working Group (ISWG) should aim
to complete its work before June 2005, if possible, and
should strive to minimize costs.

-- The proposal for a 7-member ISWG Bureau, with
representatives from each regional group, seems to be
gaining momentum among ISWG participants. Before such a
structure could be accepted, the Bureau's
responsibilities would have to be delineated clearly.

-- To carry out its work, the ISWG needs an independent
expert/adviser to manage the process. To accelerate the
selection of this expert/advisor, members should consult
their capitals and transmit names of recommended experts
with curriculum vitae to the ISWG Chairman.

-- The FAO Secretariat can play a useful role in the IEE
in two ways: (1) by providing clerical and administrative
support, possibly on a cost-reimbursable basis, and (2)
by offering ideas and advice to the ISWG, provided that
these are filtered through the independent expert/adviser
so that the Secretariat does not capture or control the
IEE process.

-- Terms of reference (TOR) for the IEE should be drawn
up by independent experts on the basis of a clear mandate
from the ISWG. A seminar to help the ISWG to clarify
this mandate could be useful.


-- The IEE requires solidarity among members to cover the
costs of both the preparatory phase and the evaluation
itself. (Switzerland has contributed $40,000 already;
the U.S. has earmarked $250,000 in FY 2005, 10% of which
would be available very shortly, and the UK expects to
make a similar contribution; Sweden expects to contribute
at least $100,000; Canada intends to contribute soon.
Other Geneva Group members and the EC are considering
making contributions, but several prefer to see the final
TOR before making a commitment.)


4. (SBU) It was reported that the ISWG Chair, Brazilian
Permrep Flavio Perri, plans to hold the next meeting of
the ISWG during the week of 21 February. In preparation
for this meeting, and in recognition of the next EU and
European Regional Group coordination meetings scheduled
for 8 February, Geneva Group members took note of the
following next steps:

-- Geneva Group members should work through their
respective regional groups to ensure a response to
Chairman Perri's letter of 17 January.

-- Before 8 February, the North America Group will
prepare a draft paper outlining its views on the IEE
process (drawing on the Geneva Group discussion),and
will discuss it with Ambassador Perri and circulate a
revised draft prior to the 21 February ISWG.

-- FAO Council Independent Chairman Mekouar is expected
to send a letter to all FAO members, encouraging
contributions to the IEE process.

-- The US plans to present through its embassies a
demarche to OECD, Gulf and other likely donor governments
to urge their financial support for the IEE.

--------------
FAO AND IFAD CANDIDACIES
--------------


5. (SBU) Members discussed the contest for Director
General of FAO. It was noted that thus far the incumbent
Jacques Diouf is the only official candidate, but that
another government may be considering a nomination. U.S.
Acting Permrep said that Secretary Powell, in connection
with the candidacy for Director General of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, had publicly
reaffirmed the position (described also as the position
of the Geneva Group in Vienna) that heads of UN agencies
should be allowed only two terms. EU delegates indicated
that there was still some ambiguity regarding the EU
position of term limits at FAO. There was some
discussion about prospects for other candidates.


6. (SBU) The Geneva Group also discussed latest
developments regarding the upcoming election of IFAD
President, following the nomination by Indonesia of a
challenger to the Swedish incuthe terms of the discussion and lay down guiding
principles. The early USG contribution to IEE start-up


costs and our pledge to contribute a substantial sum to
the IEE itself have sent a strong, positive signal. The
Geneva Group in Rome offers a useful sounding board and
forum for exchange of ideas, and it is also a mechanism
to begin mobilizing contributions to the IEE; but we will
need to follow up in capitals of likely donor
governments, including selected G-77 governments.

CLEVERLEY


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2005ROME00327 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED