COMPACT PROPOSAL MOVES ALONG -- FROM LOCAL

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000409 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE, EUR/PGI, DRL, EB DEPT PLEASE PASS USAID AND MCC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID KMCA AM SUBJECT: COMPACT PROPOSAL MOVES ALONG -- FROM LOCAL CONSULTANTS TO INTERNATIONAL EXPERT SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) The GOAM has informed Post that AVAG Solutions, the local consulting firm hired to compile Armenia's MCA compact proposal, completed its work and presented a draft version of the proposal to the GOAM MCA Board of Trustees on March 2. The Board reportedly discussed and approved the document for further vetting the same day. ¶2. (SBU) The GOAM has hired an international consultant, Dr. Eugene McCarthy, to review the document, meet with the GOAM MCA Board and donor agencies in Armenia from March 15-30, and prepare it for formal submission to the Millennium Challenge Corporation in early April. Funding for McCarthy's services comes from a World Bank grant to the GOAM for this purpose. The World Bank referred McCarthy to the GOAM from what they claim was a list of international experts. ¶3. (SBU) According to information obtained by Post, the current draft proposes approximately USD 130 million of development projects focusing on rural infrastructure projects (irrigation and road improvement). EVANS