SOUTHERN SUDAN - ADMINISTRATOR FORE'S SITE VISIT TO JUBA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 001927 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF A/S FRAZIER, AF/SPG, S/E NATSIOS, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W USAID FOR ADMINISTRATOR FORE, BFEINSTEIN, AA/AFR KALMQUIST, AA/DCHA MHESS, DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/SFO, USAID/REDSO GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND BPITTMAN ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI UN SU SUBJECT: SOUTHERN SUDAN - ADMINISTRATOR FORE'S SITE VISIT TO JUBA KHARTOUM 00001927 001.2 OF 003 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. On November 23, the USAID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance Henrietta H. Fore, Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez, Assistant Administrator for USAID's Africa Bureau (AA/AFR) Kate Almquist, and the USAID/Sudan Mission Director traveled to Juba, Southern Sudan, to review progress on USAID-funded development projects. During the visit, Administrator Fore expressed firm USG commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and noted the progress that had been made towards development in Southern Sudan. The delegation met with representatives from the Government of Southern Sudan's (GOSS) Ministry of Transportation and Roads (MTR) and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MFEP). In addition, Administrator Fore visited three USAID-funded project sites: a Juba-Yei road maintenance site, the newly built MTR facility, and a new soil testing laboratory. End Summary. ¶2. USAID is implementing activities that will provide critically needed rehabilitation to major transportation routes in Southern Sudan. The USG, along with other international donors, has committed to support the rehabilitation of the transportation corridor between Juba and neighboring countries. The Juba-Nimule road will provide year-round access to neighboring Kenya and Uganda. In particular, it will support access to Mombasa, the major port for East and Central Africa. In the next two years, USAID plans to rehabilitate 377 km of roadways and reconstruct nine bridges, significantly reducing transportation costs, improving highway safety, supporting the integration of Southern Sudan with neighboring countries, and generating social and economic benefits. -------------- Visit to Road Maintenance Training Site -------------- ¶3. In Juba, Administrator Fore met with the MTR Under Secretary Daniel Wani, MTR staff, four newly trained road maintenance contractors, and the contractors' road works crews at a site along the Juba-Yei road where approximately 60 trainees were repairing a 40 km stretch of road, which is a vital link to trade. Under Secretary Wani thanked USAID for training Southern Sudanese SIPDIS contractors to perform labor-based road maintenance work and introduced the supervisors of the Southern Sudanese Road Maintenance Contractors, two of whom were women. Each of the supervisors expressed their gratitude to USAID for the six-week course on road maintenance in Kissi Kenya and the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned, while earning money. As a result of the training, one supervisor said that he is now a "road doctor." Supervisors mentioned that labor-based road maintenance provides employment to local people where the road work is being done and provides additional opportunities for the communities. Administrator Fore expressed her appreciation to the supervisors and stated that she was impressed that women were involved in the road maintenance project as supervisors and engineers. -------------- Press Q and A -------------- ¶4. Administrator Fore briefly took questions from the assembled press. During the session, Administrator Fore reaffirmed USG commitment to the CPA and cited examples of peace dividends, such as the labor-based maintenance initiative. Administrator Fore commented that USAID aims to help the GOSS and the Sudanese people become more self-reliant, achieve long-term sustainability of development projects, and ensure peace and stability in the region. -------------- -------------- Visit to Ministry of Transportation and Roads Facility -------------- -------------- ¶5. The delegation toured the USAID-funded newly built MTR facility and received a briefing on USAID's infrastructure projects from the GOSS Minister of Transportation David Deng Athorbei. Administrator Fore and Minister Deng exchanged ideas for continued collaboration. Minister Deng expressed appreciation for USAID's support to Southern Sudan and Administrator Fore's visit to the region to see first hand the progress being made by the MTR. The Minister stated that KHARTOUM 00001927 002.2 OF 003 USAID's support during the emergency road repair programs had opened 1,500 km of roadway in Southern Sudan and asked for continued support to the MTR in building badly needed road systems. ¶6. Administrator Fore thanked the Minister and his team for the warm welcome and agreed the country needed improved roads and stressed the importance of roads as a tangible peace dividend that will help facilitate returnees, generate employment, and improve trade within the region and outside of Southern Sudan. Administrator Fore noted that it is important that women are involved in road maintenance work and welcomed continued partnership between the MTR and USAID. ¶7. USAID assisted the Ministry to build the new MTR compound, which will house the roads agency in the future. Deng noted that the Ministry and the compound did not exist at the signing of the CPA and that through USAID's support MTR facilities are now operational. -------------- -------------- Visit to Newly Constructed Soil Testing Laboratory -------------- -------------- ¶8. In the past, soil testing could only be done in Khartoum or neighboring countries, such as Uganda and Kenya. With the completion of the material testing laboratory, soil for Southern Sudan can now be tested in Juba, saving time in road planning and construction. ¶9. Administrator Fore visited the newly built soil testing laboratory and observed staff conducting laboratory tests. This facility will provide testing of soil for road construction, as well as the general construction industry. The Juba laboratory will also serve as a training facility to open five other facilities in Southern Sudan. -------------- Ministry of Finance -------------- ¶10. Administrator Fore met with the GOSS Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Kuol Athian Mawien to discuss progress on the USAID-supported financial management systems. Minister Mawien reported that while progress had been made through the training of personnel in the ministries on the new financial management system, additional IT equipment and training at the state and county level were needed. The Minister reported that significant challenges with collecting revenues still exist and border customs staff need more training to collect customs revenue at the borders. For example, from June to October, nine ministries overspent their budgets because they had no internal controls. ¶11. The Minister stressed that additional peace dividends are needed, especially as elections are approaching. The Minister noted that USAID and the UN Development Program (UNDP) had worked with the Ministry to develop a work plan for budget control and financial management, which has addressed several of the issues that were highlighted in the World Bank's recent report. The Minister intends to implement a monthly system to track and manage budgets that will be circulated to all ministries and the public. ¶12. When Administrator Fore asked what the Minister's priority for assistance would be, the Minister replied that training for customs personnel, budget management, and revenue collection, as well as technical assistance on policy development. AA/AFR Almquist asked for an update on the financial management system that USAID has supported. The Minister reported that training had been conducted at the level of ministries and now further training is needed at the state and county level. In addition, equipment is needed to implement the system. The USAID/Sudan Mission Director stated that USAID sees the MFEP as a strategic partner in Southern Sudan, particularly in the battle against corruption and that USAID is committed to helping make the government work for the people of Southern Sudan. -------------- -------------- Visit to NEC Site and Interim USAID Office Compound -------------- -------------- ¶13. Administrator Fore visited the 19-acre piece of land that the KHARTOUM 00001927 003.2 OF 003 GOSS has leased to the USG, without charge, for 99 years to allow the USG to rapidly expand their presence in the region. Construction at the site has not yet begun. ¶14. The Administrator also toured the USAID interim office compound, which is currently under renovation but is expected to be ready for use in April 2008. The interim office site will eventually have 40 workstations and allow USAID to bring to Juba the staff that are critically needed to implement and oversee USAID-funded reconstruction and development programs. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶15. This is a critical time in Southern Sudan, when expectations for peace dividends and development are high. With the census and elections approaching, the need to deliver tangible results of peace is increasingly important. The USG remains a key partner of the GOSS and the Southern Sudanese people, maintaining its strong support for implementation of the CPA. USAID has achieved visible and important results through its infrastructure improvement project and has enabled GOSS ministries to set up systems and policies for providing public services in the region. USAID continues to work closely with GOSS colleagues to resolve the challenges that have arisen in preparing for the census and elections and managing the region's financial resources. ¶16. AA/AFR Almquist and Administrator Fore's staff have cleared this cable. FERNANDEZ