EMBASSY JAKARTA PROPOSAL FOR SCIENCE FELLOWS

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000013 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND OES/STC/EKANE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO TRGY ENRG ID SUBJECT: EMBASSY JAKARTA PROPOSAL FOR SCIENCE FELLOWS REF: A) SECSTATE 30914 B) JAKARTA 3471 C) JAKARTA 2712 D) JAKARTA 2336 ¶1. (U) Summary. Embassy Jakarta would like to express its interest in the Embassy Science Fellows Program (ESFP) and request Department assistance in identifying up to two interested candidates focused on marine affairs, preferably from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Embassy Jakarta has an important opportunity to support two top Government of Indonesia priorities in 2008: 1) the Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (Ina-TEWS); and 2) The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI). ¶2. (U) Recruiting a highly qualified candidate(s) under the ESFP will, among other benefits: 1) increase technical support for key U.S. environmental initiatives; 2) expand the relationship between U.S. government agencies, the Embassy, and the Indonesia government; 3) support OES' emphasis on creating genuine partnerships with scientists in the Muslim world; and 4) set a precedent for future ESFP candidates that demonstrates the exciting projects that are available in Indonesia. The Embassy is prepared to provide office space, appropriate housing, and local travel costs. End Summary. SUMMARY OF INA-TEWS AND CTI -------------- ¶3. (U) Indonesia has moved aggressively to develop the Ina-TEWS, that, when completed, will serve as a cornerstone of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS). The IOTWS is a regional system of national tsunami warning systems designed to provide warning services across the Indian Ocean basin. Indonesia has set an initial goal of deploying 22 tsunameters and developing the infrastructure needed to maintain them before the end of 2008. This project is led by the State Ministry for Research and Technology (RISTEK) and is a high priority for Indonesia. ¶4. (U) The Coral Triangle, a marine area stretching across the waters between Indonesia, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands, contains the richest marine biodiversity in the world, including some of the highest levels of coral diversity and globally important fish spawning and production areas. The GOI has referred to the Triangle as the marine equivalent of the Amazon and Congo basins. The area supports the livelihoods of some 126 million people. The GOI has taken a leadership role through the CTI, a multilateral program seeking to protect this important ecosystem, raising it to the agenda of the 13th United Nations FCCC Conference of Parties (COP-13) meeting on climate change in Bali this December. The USG has announced its intention to commit $4.35 million in new funds to CTI. The GOI has specifically requested that NOAA have a role in CTI (REFTEL B). PROPOSED ACTIVITIES UNDER THE PROGRAM -------------- ¶5. (U) Embassy Jakarta sees one or two Fellows focusing on activities with the GOI on the Ina-TEWS, CTI, and other marine affairs projects. We have already laid some of the groundwork for support of the Ina-TEWS in partnership with NOAA and have begun development of an Ina-TEWS Public Private Partnership with interested U.S. companies in Indonesia. The ESFP would allow a NOAA representative to focus full time on cultivating that Partnership. ¶6. (U) There are several additional potential areas for collaboration with NOAA. The GOI has specifically requested that NOAA play a part in the implementation of the CTI, for example. A Fellow could help us determine details on possible collaboration with NOAA within our program to support this high profile initiative. A Fellow could also potentially support USAID's Fisheries Program, which seeks to work with the fisheries industry to reduce negative environmental impacts and promote sustainable business models. BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION IN ESFP -------------- ¶7. (U) We see several potential benefits to recruiting one or two candidates, preferably from NOAA, under the ESFP: -- Support for U.S. programs: The U.S. has already expressed financial and political support for the Ina-TEWS, CTI, and other marine initiatives such as building sustainable fisheries. NOAA scientists have the scientific and technical expertise to help us guide and prioritize that support. -- Creating a link to other NOAA programs: NOAA's participation in Ina-TEWS, CTI, or other activities could extend beyond their tenure in Indonesia and would help us develop the right future role for NOAA's coral and other related programs. -- Strengthening U.S.-Indonesian relations: We have already seen the great cooperation between NOAA and GOI scientific and technical agencies through the IOTWS. Recruiting one or two NOAA scientists to support Indonesian initiatives will be well received by our Indonesian counterparts and will support OES' emphasis on creating genuine partnerships with scientists in the Muslim world. -- Setting a Precedent: Participation in this program could serve as the launch for a regular ESFP program here in Jakarta. We can build on momentum created by successes under Ina-TEWS or CTI to attract interested scientists from other agencies to work with our mission, leveraging the full expertise and intellectual resources of the U.S. government. LOGISTICS -------------- ¶8. (U) Embassy Jakarta is prepared to provide logistical support for up to two prospective Fellows under the ESFP guidelines. We would provide secure office space on the embassy compound with appropriate computer, email and internet access. We will provide appropriate housing in one of our several TDY apartments. The Fellows would also have access to the Embassy Health Unit (pending appropriate medical clearances),FPO and CLO. Embassy Jakarta's preferred timeline is an April/May 2008 arrival, July/August 2008 departure. HUME