IRFFI DONORS DISCUSS TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 002550 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN EAID IZ SUBJECT: IRFFI DONORS DISCUSS TERMS OF REFERENCE ¶1. (SBU) The Italian Embassy hosted an informal meeting of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) Donors Committee on July 31. Representatives from Donor countries were invited to review a draft report on the Terms of Reference (TOR),which were originally raised at the last IRFFI meeting in Istanbul. Comments on the TOR are due by September 10, and the final product is scheduled for release by September 30. A soft copy of the TOR will be sent separately. The next official IRFFI Donors Committee meeting will be held in Bari (Italy) October 29-30. ¶2. (SBU) Earlier the same day, Donors Committee Co-Chair Gianludovico de Martino met with his Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation Co-Chair counterpart, Dr. Faik Al Rasol (on behalf of Minister Ali Baban),to discuss the draft TOR. Martino noted that the focus for IRFFI now would be a transition to an Iraqi-led reconstruction and development process. Emphasis has shifted to implementation, monitoring, evaluation and ensuring the sustainability of projects. ¶3. (SBU) Member comments highlighted the need to avoid duplication of effort with the International Compact with Iraq (ICI). Currently, separate Secretariats for IRFFI and ICI are being developed, and all agreed that IRFFI should aim to complement the ICI. Additionally, IRFFI would solicit new monetary donations from Iraq's neighbors, namely the Gulf states. CROCKER