FY08 PRIORITIES AND WORK-ITEMS FOR AMMAN ESTH HUB

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 004379

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA (LAWSON),AND OES/PCI
STATE PASS TO USAID
STATE PASS TO EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO ETRD EAID PGOV JO
SUBJECT: FY08 PRIORITIES AND WORK-ITEMS FOR AMMAN ESTH HUB

REF: STATE 140185


1. The Amman ESTH Hub for the NEA Bureau was established in 1997.
The current incumbent (Manu Bhalla) is the fourth Hub officer. He
is supported by regional environmental specialist Rana Safadi, who
has served with the Hub for eight years.

Key Priorities and Work Items
--------------


2. Hub priorities for 2008 are closely aligned with the OES
Priorities for 2007 for NEA (reftel). The work items for the first
quarter of FY08 are specified in detail, while longer-term work
items do not have specific dates. The Hub priorities support
economic growth, sustainable development, public diplomacy/outreach,
the Arab-Israeli peace process, and advancing critical environmental
issues.

Priority 1: Water Resource Management Issues
--------------


3. Access to water for municipal and agricultural use is a critical
issue in the Middle East. Trans-boundary water issues and
appropriate water resource management policies are also key issues
in the region. Key work items include:

-- Bolster and promote active Israeli/Jordanian/Palestinian
participation in the EXACT Multilateral Working Group. The
short-term focus will be on the Water Resources meetings at the Sea
of Galilee/Lake Tiberias in Israel (November 07) and in Rome
(December 07),while also encouraging additional participation from
Italy as a donor country.
-- Evaluate Jordan's proposal for a nanotechnology hub with initial
focus on water desalination (4Q, 2007).
-- Collaborate with regional organizations such as the Middle East
Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) to monitor new desalination
technologies.
-- Support NEA bureau representatives, posts and USAID on
trans-boundary issues such as the Nile Basin Initiative, the
Tigris-Euphrates Basin, and the Red Sea-Dead Sea conveyance
pipeline.
-- Report on programs to improve access to safe drinking water,
mobilization of private capital for related infrastructure,
integrated water resources management, and trans-boundary water
cooperation issues in Jordan and the NEA region.

Priority 2: Science Outreach in the Muslim World
--------------


4. Recent polls show that U.S. S&T is still held in high regard
despite the frequent criticisms of U.S. foreign policy in the
region. S&T collaborations in the Muslim world provide the U.S.
with a natural entree for outreach and engagement. The Regional
ESTH Officer will seek to advance the Department's "Science and
Technology (S&T) Strategy for Outreach to Muslim Countries"
(approved by Secretary Rice in July 2005) through increased
high-level engagement with S&T communities in the region; reaching
out to youth (universities, high-schools),women, policy-makers, and
technology-based entrepreneurs; and increasing collaborative
activities. Program elements include:

-- In the fourth quarter of 2007, launch a monthly outreach program
at science/technology universities and high schools highlighting
U.S. S&T collaborations. This will start in Jordan and extend to
other countries by coordinating with relevant PAOs during regional
travels.
-- U.S.-Jordan Joint Commission Meeting (JCM). Ensure the November
2007 visit by the Jordanian co-chair leads to the development of a
robust agenda for the JCM. Hold the first JCM in Amman in January

2008.
-- Support the visit of James Turner, Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology to Jordan in November 2007 and
Anthony "Bud" Rock (former OES Acting A/S and long-time
Science-coned FSO) to the region in December 2007. Promote science
outreach during these visits.
-- Expand Jordanian media coverage of Embassy ESTH activities and
USG water resource management initiatives.
-- Encourage/support other posts in region in increasing their ESTH
issues media coverage.
-- Participate in discussions regarding new S&T agreements with
Saudi Arabia and Libya. Assess feasibility of possible new
agreements with other Gulf countries. Support continued
implementation of U.S.-Egypt and U.S.-Algeria/Tunisia/Morocco S&T
agreements.

AMMAN 00004379 002 OF 003


-- Develop a proposal for naming 2009 or 2010: Year of U.S.-Arab
Science Partnership.

Priority 3: Environment and Trade
--------------


5. The Regional ESTH Officer will also support the implementation
of environmental cooperation agreements with Morocco, Jordan,
Bahrain, and Oman in support of FTA/TIFA agreements. Promoting the
continued implementation of the Middle East Partnership Initiative
(MEPI) environmental capacity building will also be a key focus.
Work items will include:

-- Convening a workshop for Jordan's Environmental Rangers to define
their vision, strategy, and work-plan. Held by U.S. Forest Service,
National Parks Service, and EPA. (Amman - November 12-14, 2007).
-- Implementing MEPI regional courses on a range of environmental
topics including Vessel Oil Pollution (December 3-5, Bahrain); the
Role of Science and Role of Public Participation in Environmental
Law (January 5-9, Bahrain and Oman); Organizational Strengthening
for Environmental Ministries (dates tbd); and, Hazardous Waste
Management (dates tbd).
-- Supporting USAID/EPA implementation of the USAID-EPA interagency
agreement for Jordan FTA-related activities in 2008 and 2009.
-- Holding the next session of the U.S.-Jordan forum on
Environmental Technical Cooperation (early 2008).
-- Organizing a workshop for Jordan's judiciary on enforcement of
environmental laws (delivered by EPA judges from Environmental
Appeals Board - early 2008) and extending it to, or replicating it
for regional participants, if relevant.
-- Ensuring strong regional and U.S. participation in the
Environmental Cities of the Mediterranean Forum (June 2008).
-- Exploring the feasibility of introducing Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) principles in the NEA region.
-- Supporting posts in monitoring key regional environmental issues
including driftnet fishing (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia may
be practicing large-scale driftnet fishing),coral reef preservation
in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and oil-spill mitigation efforts in
the Suez Canal.

Priority 4: Pandemic Flu Preparedness and Public Health
--------------


6. The threat of pandemic flu continues to be one of the highest
priority public health issues in Egypt and its possible spread to
nearby NEA posts also requires vigilance. Key work items in the "H"
part of the ESTH will include:

-- Pandemic flu preparedness and avian influenza mitigation in Egypt
and surrounding countries;
-- Support for the Middle East Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening
partnership (MEPI program),and its expansion from Jordan, the UAE,
and Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Morocco, and the Palestinian
territories.

Priority 5: Support Middle East Peace Efforts
--------------


7. The ESTH Officer will support USG efforts related to the Middle
East peace process through enhanced Israeli, Palestinian, and
Jordanian cooperation on ESTH issues.

-- Monitor and report on success of Middle East Regional Cooperation
(MERC) projects on fostering Israel-Arab collaboration. Support
visiting MERC project manager in November 2007 visits to
Jordan/Israel. Review MERC pre-proposals and proposals. Attend the
MERC committee meetings in Washington to allocate project grants.
-- Ensure a successful Trilateral Research and Industrial
Development (TRIDE) Governing Board meeting in Amman in December to
foster Israel-Jordan-U.S. collaboration.
-- Assist U.S. Department of Agriculture in developing regional
environmental conferences to support the peace process, starting
with a conference on underground tank erosion and pollution in
Tiberias, with Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian participants.
-- Encourage expanded Israeli-Arab nominations and participation on
ESTH issues through the International Visitor program.
-- Support EXACT Multilateral Water working group meetings (covered
in Priority 1).

Priority 6: Hub operations and communications
--------------


8. The Regional ESTH Officer will bolster the Hub operations and
communications with posts, the inter-agency, and other Hubs.

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-- Hold a mini-ESTH conference for all NEA FSN/LES staff involved in
ESTH work in April/May 2008;
-- Continue sending bi-weekly updates on ongoing ESTH
issues/activities in the region - sent to Washington inter-agency
and regional posts;
-- Encourage ESTH officers at NEA posts to send regular updates on
ESTH issues;
-- Glean and share Hub best practices from Hub officers meetings;
-- Meet regularly with diplomatic corps to track other ESTH
activities in the region;
-- Develop a rotation program for non-ESTH officers and FSNs to
rotate through Amman Hub for 1-4 week durations. The rotations
would be offered to Embassy Amman and other NEA posts (subject to
practical constraints);
-- Develop and maintain a matrix (snap-shot) highlighting all ESTH
related activities for each NEA post.

PROJECTED TRAVEL AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS
--------------


9. The following is the rough calendar of events and projected
travel. Currently, Hub funding is expected to cover all the
projected FY 08 travel. However, a fifteen percent increase in FY09
Hub funding is requested to cover the rapid increases in regional
travel costs.

Nov 3-6: Qatar orientation trip
Nov 6-8: Israel: EXACT training work-plan meeting
(Israel-Jordan-Palestinian)
Nov 12-14: Jordan: Workshop for Environmental Rangers
Nov 18-21: UAE orientation trip
Nov 28: Visit to Aqaba with MERC Project manager
Dec 3-5: Bahrain orientation trip + MEPI workshop on vessel oil
pollution
Dec 10-13: Rome: XXV EXACT Water Working Group meeting of Core
Parties
Jan 8-10: Oman orientation trip + MEPI Workshop on Environmental
Law
Jan (tbd): Kuwait and Saudi Arabia orientation trips
Jan 28-29: Amman: U.S.-Jordan Joint Commission Meeting
Feb (tbd): Morocco and Tunisia orientation trips
Feb (tbd): MERC Committee meeting (Washington) - tentative.
Feb (tbd): Joint NEA/SCA ESTH officers conference (in SCA location)
March 3-15: WIREC, Hub Officers meeting, Washington consultations
March (tbd): Libya, Algeria, and Lebanon orientation trips
April (tbd): MERC Committee meeting (Washington)
April (tbd): Egypt: U.S.-Egypt S&T Committee Board meeting
May (tbd): FSN mini-ESTH conference (location TBD)
June (tbd): Jordan: Environmental Cities of Mediterranean Forum

PROPOSED TRAINING:
--------------


10. The following training-related activities will be undertaken by
the Hub. The regional environmental specialist would lead the
organization of the mini-ESTH conference for FSNs. She would also
attend relevant training at FSI in conjunction with any visits to
the U.S.

-- Environment Science and Technology Officers conference (spring
2008). Joint SCA/NEA region conference;
-- Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - during next visit to
Washington;
-- Amman Hub - to host mini-FSN ESTH conference in April/May 2008.
Location tbd.

Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman

HALE