MISSION PLAN FOR ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN MOROCCO: STATUS REPORT #3

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000022 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/OFI, NEA/MAG AND PDAS CHENEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016 TAGS: EAID ECON KDEM PGOV SCUL KMPI MO SUBJECT: MISSION PLAN FOR ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN MOROCCO: STATUS REPORT #3 REF: A. STATE 806071 ¶B. RABAT 1026 ¶C. RABAT 1388 ¶D. RABAT 2073 Classified By: AMBASSADOR THOMAS T. RILEY FOR REASONS 1.4 B & D ¶1. (U) Per ref A Action Request, Post submits the following quarterly assessment of its Democratic Reform Strategy as outlined in ref B. Our report is keyed to the Milestones (M) and Tactics (T) outlined in our strategy and provides an update through December 31, 2005. Update narratives contain both a summary of GOM progress towards the Milestone and executed or pending post activities to implement the Tactics. -------------- ¶2. (C) Objective One: Competent, Effective, Responsive Government -------------- M: Morocco maintains MCA eligibility by meeting reform criteria for FY 06, October 2005. -- Assessment: On November 8, the USG announced that Morocco had successfully maintained its MCA eligibility for FY06. This milestone is now complete. M: Political parties implement the political party law currently under consideration in parliament making parties more transparent, effective, democratic and responsive, December 2005. T: Direct post and MEPI implementer engagement with political parties to encourage adoption and application of the new law. -- Assessment: The political party law passed both houses of parliament. This follows the Ambassador's advocacy efforts with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Justice and others, and two roundtable debates with Members of Parliament (MP) and civil society on the political party law organized by the Mission. MEPI implementer NDI is preparing a training seminar on implementation of the new law for delivery upon passage. M: Parliament improves its capacities to meet its constitutional responsibilities by 1) adopting a new external communication strategy, December 2005; 2) asserting its authority to review, adopt, and monitor the national budget, December 2006. T: MEPI implementers and USAID's Parliament Support Project provide the technical assistance required. -- Assessment: USAID awarded a three-year contract to The State University of NY (SUNY) in October 2004. In addition, USAID has ongoing training activities for MPs and staff (both chambers) on budget analysis and oversight. The Parliamentary Support Project facilitated the development of terms of reference for a procurement by Parliament of a communications strategy. The program also brought Moroccan MPs to Albany, New York City and Washington, DC in September to study how to strengthen legislative committees, improve budget oversight, and increase interaction between legislators and citizens. M: Enhance the availability and delivery of local government services in response to citizen priorities by improving access to private financial markets through a municipal credit rating system, December 2006. T: Implement USAID Local Governance and Transparency Program providing specific performance measures to strengthen the management and financial capacity of local governments. -- Assessment: USAID awarded a three-year contract to RTI in May 2005. One objective of the project is to improve local city government performance by facilitating access to long term financing. USAID has developed a detailed work plan for 2005-2006 and selected regions and municipalities for implementation of the local government program. Mission will use RTI performance measures to further assess program as initiative moves ahead. USAID and RTI's team met with senior local officials in several cities including Rabat and Casablanca to assist in the implementation of the project at the local level. M: Coordination between public authorities and civil society improves as evidenced by MCA national compact consultations, January 2006. T: Use MEPI and Mission events to promote coordination between Moroccan government and civil society. -- Assessment: Emboffs continue to brief GOM interlocutors and NGOs on the MCA. The GOM has named a day-to-day MCA contact, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisor Haya Bouhia, and a working group to shepherd its MCA compact negotiations. The GOM has made good progress on certain portions of the required civil society dialogue, but the MCA team has yet to determine if these efforts are sufficiently broad. A second MCA team visited Morocco in December and reported good progress in developing its Compact. A third MCA team visit is planned for January 2006. M: Parliamentary passage of banking sector reform law, 2005; implementation of banking reform law and Central Bank reform law, January 2006; parliamentary passage of anti-money laundering legislation, January 2006. -- Assessment: The bank reform bill is now before Parliament, with passage possible in 2006. The Central Bank reform law has passed and is now in the implementation stage. The Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation has been delivered to the Secretary General of the Government (SGG), but has not yet been introduced to Parliament. ECON and PAS organized a Special International Visitor Program (IVP) on AML in 2004, which familiarized potential future members of the GOM's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) envisioned by the draft AML bill with U.S. practices. The Ambassador has demarched the SGG directly regarding AML legislation. Post and Washington visitors have lobbied key GOM ministries on the importance of passage of the AML bill. In November 2005, the semi-official Moroccan daily, La Matin, carried a front page article on the importance of AML legislation. In December 2005, six GOM officials attended AML training in the U.S. -------------- -- ¶3. (C) Objective Two: Inclusion and Opportunity -------------- -- M: Increased awareness of family code reforms on the part of citizens, judges and other public authorities, especially in rural areas as witnessed through increased use and application of the provisions of the family code, December ¶2006. T: Use MEPI and small grants programming to disseminate the new reforms in imaginative and effective ways; signed the USAID/MEPI Grant program for the development of learner-friendly literacy materials on the family code in July 2005; support an extension of current MEPI-funded activities. -- Assessment: Post executed a highly successfully MEPI Small Grant to fund an NGO's efforts to promote understanding of the new Moudawana family code through traveling theater shows. USAID/MEPI implementer Global Rights is working with local NGOs and associations to raise awareness of the Moudawana. Global Rights revised a 422 page Arabic facilitators program manual to include the new family code provisions. Published in July 2004, over 1000 hard copies and over 1000 CD-ROM versions have been distributed. Over 600 NGOs now use the manual. Global Rights has also distributed 1000 copies of a poster explaining key Moudawana provisions in Arabic, French, and Berber. Post endorses Global Rights' request for additional MEPI funding to continue its work in Morocco. Academy for Educational Development (AED) is implementing a MEPI-funded program which uses the Moudawana as subject matter for literacy training as part of USAID's integrated basic education and vocational training program. Situational analysis of literacy materials and training capacity is to be conducted in four key regions. A U.S. literacy expert arrived in July for innovative methodology development. Materials will be developed in the autumn with subsequent grants to NGOs for training USAID to consolidate NGO reports on numbers trained on women's rights for use in subsequent assessments by post. MEPI implementer World Learning (WL) is carrying out a USD 750,000 regional grant. WL has developed comic strips in Moroccan Arabic and French making the provisions of the new family code more accessible to the general public. These comic strips have been distributed to associations throughout Morocco in consultation with the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity (SDFS). The Project Director has met with the Ministers of Education and SDFS to develop a plan to use the comic strips in school libraries and classrooms. WL has distributed small grants to NGOs working to increase awareness of the new family code in rural areas. WL also conducted a baseline study assessing the current understanding/awareness of the new family code in urban and rural areas. The Demos Institute is implementing a USD 250,000 MEPI grant for building the capacity of Arab women NGOs and groups that advocate for reforming family laws. A Demos led conference included women from 13 Arab countries to discuss plans for the production of a manual to aid capacity-building for women's NGOs and advocacy strategies for promoting new family laws. M: Expand the number of literate Moroccans, including adults, October 2005. T: The USAID MEPI-funded Literacy program, launched in July 2005 with classes focusing on literacy for adults, particularly women in rural areas beginning October 2005. Open ESF-funded new girls' homes enabling rural girls to continue education beyond the sixth grade. -- Assessment: In September 2005, USAID awarded grants to three NGOs in different parts of the country to open dormitory-style girls homes. Each home houses 20 girls while they attend school away from their families. In December 2005, AED awarded MEPI-funded grants to 16 Moroccan NGOs for literacy programs. Each NGO will train 100 women and will participate in the development of literacy training material based on the Moudawana. M: Increase the relevance of education opportunities for Moroccan young people (as measured by increased student retention in the educational system, through 9th grade, especially among girls and by access to vocational training), November 2005. T: USAID's integrated basic education and vocational training program. -- Assessment: Local teams in the program's four regions have been identified and their plans finalized. Existing primary teacher training materials were reviewed for adaptation at the middle school level. Initial computer training for teachers started and selected middle schools have received their multi-media lab equipment. The CISCO network training program has delivered job preparedness training to 300 students. One hundred recipients of Women in Technology scholarships are taking CISCO network training at the USAID-supported CISCO Academies with the first students having graduated in summer 2005. M: FTA Implementation begins, January 2006. T: MEPI and USAID-funded technical assistance ongoing. USD 1 million MEPI-funded Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) Legal Review underway. -- Assessment: All relevant legislation completed and FTA is set to go into effect on January 1, 2006. CLDP report drafted and in clearance within the USG. CLDP offering additional technical assistance in standards training for leather and tariff rate quota (TRQ) implementation. M: Expanded understanding and enforcement of Morocco's new labor code and labor requirements of U.S. Free Trade Agreement, December 2006. T: USD 3.0 million in DOL/ILAB grants to ILO to train labor inspectors, labor unions and employers in new labor code and disseminate public information concerning new code. MEPI USD 500,000 grant for Moroccan-hosted regional conference to promote labor standards and explain FTA labor requirements and to defray costs of Moroccan participation in December 2005 conference in Oman. -- Assessment: A chief technical advisor (CTA) selected by USDOL and ILO has conducted intensive training program of GOM labor inspectorate underway since March 2005. CTA is preparing handouts on the June 2003 Labor Code for employers' associations unions, and others. USDOL joined with the GOM and USTR in hosting a MEPI-sponsored North Africa ) Middle East Labor Dialogue in Rabat. Six other Arab nations sent delegations and several resident Arab foreign missions sent observers. A total of 65 Middle East representatives took part. Conference received extensive local and international media coverage. The first phase of a labor code training project ended in June with 310 labor inspectors and 43 regional employment representatives receiving training. A second phase is planned to teach 30 inspectors how to train others in inspection methods. In December, Oman hosted a Labor Dialogue. M: MCA Compact concluded and MCC-funded reform projects begin, January-December 2006. T: U.S. Embassy and Washington visitors monitor and actively support MCA dialogue and compact finalization. MCC provides in-country permanent staff to support implementation and monitoring of MCA projects. -- Assessment: GOM has identified its MCA point of contact and Working Group. MCA Senior Country Director Michael Grossman met with Prime Minister Jettou and Minister Delegate of Foreign Affairs Fassi Fihri in August and the GOM described its vision for its draft Compact and provided additional details via Mission-facilitated DVC in September. Grossman and staff returned to Morocco in late September to visit rural areas, to meet with the GOM, private sector, other donors and to continue discussions of the Compact. GOM team traveled to Washington in November to present a second version of the Compact proposal. In December, an MCA team visited Morocco to focus on environmental, agricultural, rural tourism and economic rate of return issues as well as review the consultative process. The MCA team reported good progress, but that six to nine months of work remain on the Compact proposal. M: Improve English Language instruction in Moroccan high and middle schools, September 2006. T: Regional English Language Office and Bureau of ECA exchange programs to "train the trainer" in modern, content-based ELT methods that focus on practical language skills that enhance the marketability of graduates. E -- Assessment: Using funding from its Regional English Language Office (RELO),PAS trained 54 Moroccan English teachers in a summer 2005 institute. With MEPI funding this will be expanded to 80 or more teachers in 2006. One hundred thirty students participated in summer camps in Taghazout. In October 2005, the English Access Microscholarship program extended its one-year training program of 96 existing students into a second year and increased the number of first-year students to 477. This training is conducted by Amideast, 10 American Language Centers throughout Morocco, and the Ajef de l'Orient NGO. The MEPI-funded "English in a Box" program began in October with 22 sets of materials presented to youth centers throughout Morocco and 11 sets to English ACCESS Micro-scholarship schools. Twenty two Peace corps volunteers also received training in this program. In November, PAS and ECA funded English language specialist Kathy Nyikos to conduct workshops on "Teaching in Large, Resource-challenged classes" to nearly 400 teachers in five Moroccan cities. -------------- - ¶4. (C) Objective Three: Freedom of Expression -------------- - M: Legislation is passed to revise the existing press code and decriminalize libel. Journalists previously jailed for libel freed, December 2005. T: Provide MEPI-funded programs and IV programs on media law; distribute IIP products promoting a free press advocacy at all levels of Moroccan government for press freedom. -- Assessment: GOM has not yet submitted this legislation to Parliament, but work on the legislation is under way with discussions ongoing between journalists and the Ministry of Communications. The Ambassador has conducted advocacy on the issue with the Ministers of Communications and Justice. In 2005, PAS conducted extensive outreach activities, sent five Moroccan journalists to the U.S. for an exchange program on media training and has plans to send eight to ten more in ¶2006. In September, the Ambassador conducted an interview with a local francophone financial daily underscoring U.S. support for free speech in Morocco. Ambassador and DCM conducted advocacy related to press freedom with senior GOM officials. In December, the American Moroccan Institute hosted a conference in Rabat on U.S.-Arab relations through the media. M: Journalists adopt uniform, national, professional standards for journalism ethics lending to enhanced professional performance in media coverage, July 2006. T: Renew Mission outreach and training programs to professionalize the Moroccan media. Work with professional associations to encourage adoption of journalistic ethical standards. -- Assessment: The journalist union has not formally adopted a statement of ethics. PAS has included ethics training in professional programs for journalists in seven cities, distributed targeted material on journalism ethics and has also sent five journalists on International Visitor (IV) exchange programs which included an ethics component. PAS expects to send another eight to ten journalists on IVs in FY06. Six MEPI Programs related to journalistic ethics are now in the vetting process. The Ministry of Communications is negotiating with the Journalists' Union (JU) to develop a National Code of Ethics for journalists. PAS is working to identify an NGO to assist the JU in this regard. PAS will program a speaker on these topics in February. M: New licenses granted to radio and television outlets signaling liberalization of the broadcast media sector, February 2006. T: Utilize MEPI-funded programs to teach marketing and technical training for small radio station operators; implement IV program to encourage broadcast entrepreneurs; obtain training opportunities through IBB and Department of State programs to enhance professionalism among private and public broadcasters. -- Assessment: The GOM has formed the governing body that will be responsible for issuing licenses to new radio and television stations, Haute Autorite de la Communication Audiovisuelle (HACA). New licenses are scheduled to be distributed in January 2006. In October, Ambassador and Broadcaster's Board of Governors delegation held meetings with the Minister of Communications and HACA regarding Radio Sawa licensing. All parties agreed to regularize its status. M: Women prepare to launch candidacies for 2007 parliamentary elections, December 2006. T: MEPI and small grants to support women's representation in the formal political system, September 2005-April 2006. -- Assessment: Moroccans participated in two sessions of a MEPI women's campaign school program in Tunis. USAID requested ESF support for women's political participation. M: Civil society organizations (CSO) assume their role in defining, expressing and addressing the priority policy concerns of organized groups of citizens, October 2006. T: Promote CSO participation in international and regional dialogues, including the Forum for the Future in Bahrain; Design and launch a USAID program for institutional capacity building and policy advocacy to support public participation (unfunded); MEPI grants to support activities aimed at building institutional capacity in civil society. -- Assessment: A MEPI SPA Grant has partially funded Tanmia.ma, an NGO web portal that will establish focal point centers to get grassroots organizations "on-line." There was strong Moroccan participation in the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) for civil society meeting in Venice in July ¶2005. With strong support from Embassy Rabat, Morocco (with leading roles played by the GOM and the Moroccan NGO Maroc 2020) hosted the Democracy Assistance Dialogue in Rabat in October 2005, which for the first time brought together NGOs and government representatives from around the region for a discussion of democracy. The Forum for the Future, hosted by Bahrain, offered civil society organizations an opportunity to share their work and recommendations. Post is investigating ECA and other grant mechanisms to enhance civil society. In November, USAID conducted an assessment of civil society participation in Morocco and will develop programs for institutional capacity building and public advocacy should ESF funding be available. M: Youth acquire the civics knowledge and organizational skills to constructively contribute to democratic life in Morocco, December 2006. T: Design and launch a USAID program for creating youth organizations and civics education (unfunded); MEPI grants to support creation of youth organizations, civic education and the political participation of young people. -- Assessment: USAID has made an initial proposal to USAID/Washington on youth support/participation programs focused on youth centers and organizations (this initiative is dependent on the availability of ESF funding). Arab CIVITAS has trained over 3,500 middle and high school students on its "Project Citizen" modules in addition to teachers and some university level students. This project can only move forward with adequate ESF funding. -------------- ¶5. (C) Diplomatic Strategies -------------- M: Ongoing dialogue and advocacy on reform efforts by Ambassador, DCM and other Embassy officers with Moroccan officials and civil society. -- Assessment: Ambassador and DCM have demarched key GOM interlocutors (including the MFA, the Prime Minister, and other Ministers) on reform objectives. Post organized roundtable exchanges between three separate Codels (Smith, King, and Lugar) and Parliamentarians on democracy and reform. Embassy conducted strong advocacy on freedom of expression with Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Communications. Ambassador lobbied key legislative and executive branch officials on FTA-related legislation, MCA, ML, and press freedom. M: Vigorous public diploacy programs targeting reform priorities. -- Asessment: Ongoing. PAS is conducting regular outrach activities including guest speakers, IV progams, media placements and targeted information dstribution. sing PAS funding, seven journalisttraining programs were held across Morocco. Dar merica in Casablanca has organized one or more dscussion programs each month on topics related to ur overall reform strategy. The Ambassador has poken in a variety of public venues (including frmal speeches and media interviews) advocating ou reform agenda. PAS to provide internet trainin in southern Morocco. M: Semi-annual convening f the Assistant Secretary level strategic dialoge to set benchmarks and evaluate progress. -- Asessment: Nothing to report. M: CODEL and congresional staff involvement in visits to Parliament -- Assessment: Post used a lunch in honor of CODEL Smith in May to lobby for banking reform and AML Legislation. CODEL Smith also conducted a successful roundtable with Parliamentarians on a range of political and economic issues. In August, CODEL King discussed Morocco's democratic transition with Parliamentarians. Senator Lugar met with reformers in August. In July, the National Congress of State Legislators (NCSL) held a seminar for 40 parliamentary staff to improve research and communication. NCSL held a regional parliamentary workshop in November, bringing legislators and staff from Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia together with three state senators from the legislatures of Alaska, Illinois and Nevada. In December, a delegation from the American Council of Young Political Leaders met with parliamentary leaders and youth groups. M: MCC engagement with GOM and civil society on compact negotiations -- Assessment: Post organized the January 2005 visit of then MCC CEO Paul Applegarth. Post continues its regular diplomatic engagement with the GOM on MCA issues, including lobbying for conclusion of the Compact and strengthening of the civil society dialogue component and addressing GOM technical and policy questions on MCA. MCC Senior Country Director Grossman visited Morocco in August, participated in a Mission-facilitated DVC with the GOM in September and returned for a second visit in September. In November, GOM representatives presented their revised Compact proposal in Washington. In December, another MCA team visited Morocco and remarked that it was evident that there had been engagement with civil society, but it remained unclear if this was sufficient to satisfy the MCC process. M: Regular Scheduled USTR/MFA Meetings to review FTA implementation per the agreement text. -- Assessment: Post facilitated regular contact between USTR and the GOM, which led to the approval of the FTA that will go into effect on January 1, 2006. The USG and GOM will continue to meet on a regular, but less frequent basis to ensure that the FTA is being managed properly. M: Intervention by senior officials on the margins of international fora to reiterate importance of reform in the region. -- Assessment: U/S Burns met FM Bennaisa on September 21 the margins of UNGA and discussed reform issues. NEA DAS Carpenter met with Deputy Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri on the margins of the DAD to discuss progress on Moroccan political openness. At the Forum for the Future, U.S. and Moroccan representatives consulted on the Fund for the Future. Morocco is among the initial contributors to the Fund for the Future and has provided political support for the Foundation for the Future. -------------- ¶6. (C) Resource Requirements -------------- M: English-Language Training: Provide English language training to up to 2,000 underprivileged young Moroccans, similar to the current English Access Micro-Scholarship Program, in 10 of Morocco's cities where the disappointment, disaffection and disengagement of a large number of urban poor is a growing problem. In addition to the practical and marketable language skill this would provide, the program would also connect the students to the world outside of their disadvantaged neighborhoods, introduce them to American culture and values and, both through lesson content and targeted programs, encourage their participation in civil society. -- Assessment: Amideast held summer camps for 573 participants under the English Access Micro-Scholarship Program funded through MEPI and NEA/PD. Post has scaled back plans to provide training for the additional 1,400 students originally envisioned due to a lack of funding. Full scholarships, via a $14,000 Regional English language office grant allowed 130 participants to attend summer camps held in Taghazout run by the Peace Corps. M: Additional Media training. -- UPDATE: PAS secured funding for English language training for approximately 100 journalists in eight cities. PAS is currently reviewing six MEPI proposals for additional training. M: Increased civil society capacity building -- UPDATE: MEPI RO conducted Strategic Planning for Local Organizations for Moroccan NGOs in Casablanca September 24-25. USAID civil society programming assessment done in November. Activities are being delayed due to a lack of funding. M: Additional Youth organizing/civic participation -- UPDATE: NDI is forming cadre of young officials by involving party youth movements in training programs. The embassy hosted an informal gathering of Moroccan youth in mid-August to elicit views on issues of concern. Recommendation to include youth issues into broader public participation project including civil society. Further activities are postponed due to a lack of funding. ****************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ****************************************** Riley