UNDP ENHANCING COLLABORATION & FOCUS IN SIERRA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000379

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV SL
SUBJECT: UNDP ENHANCING COLLABORATION & FOCUS IN SIERRA
LEONE

REF: FREETOWN 267

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador Perry and Poloff met with Samuel
Nyambi, Resident Representative for UNDP, on July 10. Mr.
Nyambi will spend approximately two months in Sierra Leone to
provide needed guidance to the UNDP mission, which has
suffered somewhat over the past seven months due to lack of
leadership at the highest level. He discussed his priorities
for the UNDP country program, which include the mining
sector, providing assistance to the President with regards to
strategy and policy, and finalizing the Poverty Reduction
Strategy Paper. He also wants to create mechanisms for
regular communication between UNDP and donors on key issues,
and encouraging inter-donor engagement. Though Mr. Nyambi
intends to leave by the end of August, his brief mission here
has and will continue to lay the groundwork for a stronger
UNDP country office following his departure. End Summary.

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UNDP IN SIERRA LEONE
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2. (C) Mr. Nyambi explained that Sierra Leone is one of eight
countries in Africa where the Executive Representative of the
Secretary-General (ERSG) also wears the hat of the UNDP
Resident Representative. While the bulk of the day-to-day
work is conducted under this arrangement by the Country
Director, the ERSG normally provides leadership and manages
25-30% of the workload. Since the departure of the previous
ERSG, Victor Angelo, in December 2007, the UNDP Country
Director has had difficulty absorbing the additional work.
Mr. Nyambi, retired from full-time employment with UNDP, was
sent to Sierra Leone to shoulder some of that responsibility,
and provide some needed guidance and focus. His mission
coincides with that of the Acting ERSG Michael v. der
Schulenberg (reftel A),and he will help the A/ERSG shape the
proposed follow-on mission to UNIOSIL following the
completion of its mandate September 30. Given the A/ERSG's
frequent assertion, both publicly and privately, that
development needs to be the UN focus in Sierra Leone, Mr.
Nyambi will play a pivotal advisory role in determining what
the UN presence will look like here in the future.


3. (C) Mr. Nyambi highlighted the primary areas of importance
for UNDP in Sierra Leone, noting that the local elections
were a considerable undertaking for the office. Attention
will now be placed on several issues, including: assisting
the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to renegotiate mining
concessions; establishing a Strategy and Policy Unit within
the Office of the President; and finalizing the Poverty
Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The PRSP work is
particularly critical, because the GoSL has an ambitious
timeline planned for its validation in order to hold a
consultation with stakeholders in October. Mr. Nyambi sees
the role of UNDP in this process is to ensure that as many
stakeholders, including local civil society groups, are
active in validating the strategy, and that the consultation
in October hosts traditional and emerging donors. Another
area of potential focus is the maritime sector, and he
expressed interest in closely collaborating with the Mission
on maritime security efforts, as well as development of the
fishing sector.

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USG EFFORTS AND DONOR COORDINATION
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4. (C) Ambassador Perry outlined the Mission's key areas of
engagement with regards to programming, putting special
emphasis on issues of rising importance, including health and
encouraging trade and investment. She indicated that it would
be worthwhile to systematically share information about USG
funding with other donors, but that there is no structure in
place to do so. Mr. Nyambi agreed with this statement,
stating that there is a need for regular engagement between
the GoSL and donors, as well as between donors. Both agreed
that duplication of efforts is a potential problem that must
be avoided to make effective use of the development funds
available. The Ministry of Finance and International
Development is now receiving direct budget support from UNDP,
and will be taking the lead on development issues. Mr. Nyambi
is aware that the Minister of Finance and International
Development intends to call a meeting with key donors in the
near future, and UNDP will encourage the Minister to call
such meetings with regular frequency.

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COMMENT

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5. (C) Mr. Nyambi's mission brings focus to important topics
in the short-term, and is also creating long-term direction
to the UNDP and larger UN mission. The key issues he
highlighted are significant, especially strengthening the
fishing and mining sectors, finalizing the once-dormant PRSP,
and building capacity within the government. Ensuring better
coordination among and between all stakeholders, including
the GoSL and donors, is also significant and would meet a
need often noted by the Ambassador and other senior members
of the international community. Finally, Mr. Nyambi's
position as advisor to the A/ERSG will be critical in
assisting with the development of the UNIOSIL follow-on
mission. His presence in-country is a sign that high-level UN
officials in New York are cognizant of the void left by the
previous ERSG's departure, and the need for strong leadership
and guidance within the UN system in Sierra Leone. End
Comment.
PERRY