MCC NOT IN TAJIKISTAN'S SIGHTS

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 002095 SIPDIS SIPDIS MCC; STATE FOR EB/IFD/ODF; STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN TI SUBJECT: MCC NOT IN TAJIKISTAN'S SIGHTS REF: state 159723 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: EmbOffs delivered Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) scorecards and talking points to multiple audiences of unenthusiastic Tajik officials. Tajik government officials recognize that the country still has far to go to be considered for MCC candidacy, and sidestepped our attempts to engage in constructive discussions as to how they might get there. While MCC goals match many of Tajikistan's own goals as enunciated in its National Strategic Plan, the MCC carrot will not work in Tajikistan in the near future. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Deputy Minister of Finance Sokhibov Shavkat politely listened to EmbOffs November 14, but preferred to discuss the problem with educating young Tajiks. In his opinion, Tajikistan must first and foremost address the crisis in its unskilled workforce by increasing support to all areas of education. He did not acknowledge a connection between improvements in education and the MCC goals. ¶3. (U) A group of scholars at the Center of Strategic Studies on November 15 questioned EmbOffs about the meaning and origin of the indicators by which the MCC makes its determinations, choosing not to discuss the goals themselves or the issues involved. (NOTE: EmbOffs had translated the scorecard into Russian for their convenience. END NOTE). ¶4. (U) COMMENT: The best way to engage Tajikistan on MCC is to unite with other initiatives including the UN Millennium Development Goals and Tajikistan's own National Strategic Plan or their National Poverty Reduction Strategy, which have much in common with the MCC goals. Post will continue to push Tajikistan to implement these programs in concert with international partner organizations here. END COMMENT. JACOBSON