INL TRAINING, OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 2, FRANKFURT RSC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000559

SIPDIS

POSTS FOR INL AND FMO

DEPT FOR INL/AAE, INL/RM, SCA/CEN, EUR/EX, EUR/RUS

FROM THE REGIONAL INL OFFICER ASTANA

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM AMGT AFIN ASEC
SUBJECT: INL TRAINING, OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 2, FRANKFURT RSC

REF: ASTANA 097


1. Summary: INL/RM, INL Regional Officer, and INL/AAE conducted
training for INL personnel and financial management staff from
missions in Central Asia, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine at
the Frankfurt Regional Support Center (RSC) October 30-November 2.



2. The training introduced participants to INL's new Local
Financial Management System (LFMS); introduced new employees (and
refreshed the memory of the experienced officers) to INL procurement
procedures and policies; provided an overview of INL funding and
budgeting; included a round table discussion on vetting which will
be reported septel; updated all participants on changes to the new
foreign assistance funding "F" process; generated enthusiasm for
regular training continuum for INL Officers and in particular LES
employees; and generated thanks and praise for RSC Frankfurt's
facilities and staff. End summary.

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LFMS, PROCUREMENT, BUDGET
--------------


3. Russ Hugo, Paul Schindwolf, Saowanee Wannawichya, and Wanlabha
Kumhaeng from INL/RM Bangkok guided all participants through the new
LFMS application. Attendees reacted positively to the options it
provides and look forward to implementing it at their posts.
Participants requested INL Washington issue guidance on how to
distribute LFMS data entry workload between ICASS service providers
and INL personnel.


4. Mary Pat Hayes-Crow from INL/RM/MS provided a comprehensive
overview of procurement and even arranged for extra sessions from
RPSO Frankfurt and the Defense Logistics Agency. Suggestions by
participants on procurement included exploring the possibility of a
blanket waiver for countries of the former Soviet Union to purchase
Russian language/manufacture computers, other equipment, and
vehicles.


5. Ellen Winchester and Dabriun Swain from INL/RM/BUD briefed the
participants on the movement of funds. All participants now have a
better idea of processes that result in funds arriving at post from
Congressional appropriations. It is expected that the mechanics of
the funding process that distributes funds from the Department to
post will be simplified once LFMS is fully implemented.


6. INL/AAE's Aaron Alton, Andrew Buhler and Elizabeth Carroll
briefed post personnel on the new F budgeting process and on INL's
role in the core teams and the decision making on funding levels for
INL programs.

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VETTING
--------------



7. Vetting was the subject of a group discussion that revealed many
frustrations with the process, although absolutely no disagreement
about the need to implement the law. All agreed with the necessity
of vetting police/security/law enforcement participants receiving
INL funded assistance, but similarly agreed that there were too many
gray areas in the policy guidance. In particular, participants
noted lack of clarity regarding vetting of police officers receiving
assistance through third party implementers such as the United
Nations or the International Organization for Migration or
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). INL/AAE attendees offered to
consolidate the numerous questions and clarify the uncertainties via
front channel cable to all posts.

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TRAINING
--------------


8. Many participants advocated improving the quantity and quality
of training for INL American and LES employees. The ongoing session
(and its two previous iterations for Central Asian posts in June
2006 and October 2005) were viewed as excellent venues to develop

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project proposals, improve employee skills, and disseminate
information about new programs and policy. Suggestions were raised
that training could further be improved by establishing regular INL
courses/modules at FSI on procurement, budget, project design and
implementation, end-use monitoring, vetting, etc, especially for INL
LE staff members as they are the continuity for all INL overseas
programs. A regular training continuum would be useful so that
newly hired employees would be trained in introductory courses,
while those with several years of experience would progress through
a series of higher level courses to provide the necessary knowledge
to properly and effectively fulfill the INL mission.

--------------
KUDOS FOR RSC FRANKFURT
--------------


9. Participants unanimously offered kudos to RSC Annett Jurkutat
who made all arrangements for use of training rooms at the RSC and
requested hotel reservations for the participants. Ms. Jurkutat was
organized, logical, and efficient and participants appreciated her
flexibility in the face of numerous changes to the participant list.


ORDWAY