Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ROME3949
2005-12-01 09:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

AVIAN INFLUENZA: ENCOURAGING FAO TO DEVELOP A

Tags:  EAGR TBIO EAID AORC FAO OIE 
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UNCLAS ROME 003949 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING WARSAW)

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

STATE FOR OES/IHA HFOSTER, IO/EDA SKOTOK
FAS FOR FAA/IO/WE/SBLEGGI, MFAIR
USDA FOR APHIS/IS/SHEESLEY
WARSAW FOR FAS MINISTER COUNSELOR
WARSAW FOR ECON OFFICER
INFO FOR FAS/FAA/IO/EEE, FAS/FAA/IO/WE, FAS/FAA/IS/KMS,
FAS/FASTO_CHRON, FAS/ICD/IOID, USDA/APHIS/BRS,
USDA/APHIS/DA, USDA/APHIS/HQ, USDA/APHIS/OA,
USDA/APHIS/PREC, USDA/ARS, USDA/FSIS
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA GGOTTLIEB, PMORRIS; GH/KHILL AND
DCARROLL; EGAT A/AA JSMITH; ANE/ACLEMENTS; AFR/MHARVEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO EAID AORC FAO OIE
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: ENCOURAGING FAO TO DEVELOP A
NEEDS ASSESSMENT TOOL

REF: (A) ROME 3320, (B) ROME 2979

UNCLAS ROME 003949

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING WARSAW)

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

STATE FOR OES/IHA HFOSTER, IO/EDA SKOTOK
FAS FOR FAA/IO/WE/SBLEGGI, MFAIR
USDA FOR APHIS/IS/SHEESLEY
WARSAW FOR FAS MINISTER COUNSELOR
WARSAW FOR ECON OFFICER
INFO FOR FAS/FAA/IO/EEE, FAS/FAA/IO/WE, FAS/FAA/IS/KMS,
FAS/FASTO_CHRON, FAS/ICD/IOID, USDA/APHIS/BRS,
USDA/APHIS/DA, USDA/APHIS/HQ, USDA/APHIS/OA,
USDA/APHIS/PREC, USDA/ARS, USDA/FSIS
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA GGOTTLIEB, PMORRIS; GH/KHILL AND
DCARROLL; EGAT A/AA JSMITH; ANE/ACLEMENTS; AFR/MHARVEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR TBIO EAID AORC FAO OIE
SUBJECT: AVIAN INFLUENZA: ENCOURAGING FAO TO DEVELOP A
NEEDS ASSESSMENT TOOL

REF: (A) ROME 3320, (B) ROME 2979


1. Summary: USDA APHIS Administrator Ron DeHaven met
with FAO veterinary officials Samuel Jutzi and Jan
Slingenbergh on November 29 to discuss ways to improve
collaboration between USDA and FAO on Avian Influenza.
OIE official Alex Thiermann also participated in the
meeting. FAO is currently focused on preparations for
the Beijing pledging conference scheduled for January

2006. According to FAO, the global target for the
Beijing conference will be $1 billion, of which half is
needed for managing the animal health side of the issue.
DeHaven stressed the critical need for a uniform approach
to country-by-country needs assessments in advance of the
Beijing meeting. End summary.


2. USDA APHIS Administrator Ron DeHaven paid an
introductory call on Samuel Jutzi, Director of the FAO
Animal Production and Health Division, and Jan
Slingenbergh, an FAO staff veterinarian. Alex Thiermann,
a senior official with the International Organization for
Animal Health, also joined the meeting. DeHaven was
accompanied by Peter Fernandez, APHIS regional
representative in Brussels, Jay Mitchell, APHIS Trade
Policy Advisor, and David Hegwood, Agricultural Minister-
Counselor, USUN Rome. The primary purpose for the
meeting was to discuss how APHIS and FAO could
collaborate more closely on fighting avian influenza as
an animal health issue.


3. Jutzi noted that FAO is focused on preparations for
the Beijing pledging conference, which is being jointly
organized by WHO, OIE, FAO, and the World Bank, in late
January. According to Jutzi, the funding target is $1
billion, of which half would be designated for
controlling avian influenza in poultry. He emphasized,
however, that the immediate (6 months) and urgent need is
for $60 million. Of this $60 million, FAO projects its
budget requirements at about $40 million. The remainder
would be rounded out by direct donor investments in
infected and at-risk countries. The immediate and longer-
term budget estimates are consistent with those developed
for the Geneva Conference in November 2005.


4. DeHaven emphasized the importance of a systematic
approach to needs assessments in infected and at-risk
countries. Jutzi acknowledged that this is currently a
weak spot. In preparation for Beijing, the World Bank
has been carrying out needs assessments in a small sample
of countries in an effort to create a needs assessment
template. FAO and OIE have been carrying out more
extensive needs assessments over the last two years, but
there has been no uniformity to the effort. The WHO has
also been carrying out needs assessments, but focused
only on the human health dimension. DeHaven suggested
FAO and OIE use the existing OIE veterinary systems
assessment tool as the basis for developing a needs
assessment tool for avian influenza. He further offered
that a group of scientific experts could be convened on
short notice to help develop the needs assessment tool.
Finally, he noted that a country-by-country needs
assessment would help to ensure better donor support at
the Beijing conference.

Jutzi agreed with DeHaven's suggestions. DeHaven agreed
to send a letter to FAO and OIE requesting they commence
work on the needs assessment tool as quickly as possible.
Hall