DEVELOPING PEACE DIVIDENDS IN DARFUR

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001469 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREC PHUM EAID UN SU SUBJECT: DEVELOPING PEACE DIVIDENDS IN DARFUR ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On September 16, the Darfur Donors Coordination Group convened for the first time in several months to discuss criteria for resuming the DJAM and possible activities taking place in Darfur outside the DJAM framework. In addition to core donor representatives, non-traditional donors (China, India and Egypt) were also present. Though security is still unstable, there was some consensus that the time is right to examine a "bottom up" type of early recovery strategy in Darfur, especially in areas where populations had refused to participate in violence. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The September 16 meeting was one in a string of recent meetings in which donor partners have discussed the possibility of reinvigorating the defunct Darfur Joint Assessment Mission (DJAM), abandoned one year ago amidst increasing insecurity on the ground. Two criteria were identified for its resumption: security and the real possibility of inclusive consultations. (Note: At the last Core Contact Group (CCG) meeting in March, it was decided to hold off on the DJAM; the Sudanese government representatives objected, while the SLM representatives did not. The Dutch will convene another CCG meeting in the coming weeks. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) While agreeing that the primary focus of international assistance in Darfur should remain humanitarian, the group also debated what types of mostly early recovery activities could be implemented in the coming weeks and months. CDA Fernandez, pointing out that while the criteria for resuming the DJAM were still valid, there would never be a guarantee of one hundred percent security throughout all of Darfur at any given time. The October peace talks could provide an impetus to begin some small development activities in areas where there had been no forced expulsions or where local populations had refused to take part in fighting. We should reward these areas, he said. On its part, the World Bank stressed the need to look at microfinance projects and activities that would put people's livelihoods back in their own hands. ¶4. (SBU) Non-traditional donors such as China and India were more positive in their assessment of the current security situation in Darfur. (Note: Several Asian ambassadors recently visited Darfur accompanied by Sudanese government representatives. End note.) Much of their current or proposed funding in Darfur is water-related; CDA and others pointed out that while water is a tremendous issue in Darfur, we must be careful not to formalize the structures that created the conflict, and questions of ownership and land rights are paramount. The Egyptian representative also briefly referred to the October Arab donors conference on Darfur, though had no specifics to offer. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: It is clear that the resumption of the DJAM is still many months off. The UN and World Bank estimate 3-6 months before they can complete necessary validation studies and outstanding consultations. There are also lingering suspicions surrounding the DJAM based on its connection to the DPA. However, small, carefully selected development and early recovery projects within communities who have remained outside of the violence in Darfur could serve as both an incentive in the peace process (and perhaps inform the upcoming negotiations in Libya),as well as a "reward" for those communities. Such activities would not have to be directly linked to benchmarks in the political process, but could also exist outside of it. End comment. FERNANDEZ