DARFUR - HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001523 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NAIROBI FOR SFO NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI UN SU SUBJECT: DARFUR - HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT COMMUNIQUE KHARTOUM 00001523 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary: On September 24, the high-level committee that oversees the implementation of the Joint Communique on the facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur met in Khartoum. In the capacity of donor observer, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez, accompanied by a USAID representative, attended the meeting. ¶2. The Tripartite Joint Technical Committee (TJTC) briefed the committee on the September 23 launch of the Non-governmental Organization (NGO) General Directory of Procedures (GDP) and the Darfur Fast Track Annex. The committee noted that Sudanese government representatives had met with the CARE regional coordinator regarding the expulsion of CARE Sudan Country Director Paul Barker and that a more comprehensive summary of the issue would be provide at the next meeting. In addition, participants requested that the committee review current U.N. World Food Program (WFP) logistical constraints resulting from Darfur military escort requirements and an extension for the Moratorium on Restrictions which will expire in January 2008. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. On September 24, the high-level committee that oversees the implementation of the Joint Communique on the facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur met in Khartoum. The Joint Communique signed in March 2007 by the GNU and the UN is intended to improve the efficiency and processing of bureaucratic procedures that hinder NGO operations in Darfur, including visa, travel permit, and custom clearances. The meeting was co-chaired by the Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator/Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General. Attendants included representatives from the GNU Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Arab and African Groups, international and national NGOs, and the UN. U.S. Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez and USAID staff attended the meeting in the role of the donor observer. -------------- LAUNCH OF THE PROCEDURES MANUAL -------------- ¶4. The TJTC briefed the high-level committee on the September 23 launch of the GDP and Darfur Fast Track Annex. Intended to ensure transparency and facilitate the timely navigation of bureaucratic procedures by NGOs operating in Darfur and throughout Sudan, the GDP provides NGOs with clear guidance on administrative procedures. The GDP has been disseminated electronically and will be posted on the HAC and U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) websites. The TJTC reported that the Arabic translation of the GDP is nearly finalized and that GDP training for NGOs at thg field ant haRtuo ldva, arm plavnEd!For vHecimang(ee/Q*4 dj%(doaiveeg/emfd5fatoE,%flOrus