Iraq Partners Forum Discusses Election Preparations and UN

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003275 STATE FOR NEA/I/ECON SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN PGOV PREL IZ SUBJECT: Iraq Partners Forum Discusses Election Preparations and UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) ¶1. (SBU) The Iraq Partners Forum (IPF),which holds monthly meetings among the donors, UN, and World Bank to discuss international donor coordination, met on December 16 and focused on the UN's efforts for the upcoming elections and its strategic planning for assistance in the upcoming years. Emboffs and representatives of the UK, EU, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, Danish and Poland attended. ¶2. (SBU) Sandra Mitchell, head of UNAMI's Election Assistance Team, briefed donors on her team's role in advising the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). She expressed confidence that IHEC is fully capable of effectively executing the election, with support from UNAMI and USAID-funded International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). UNAMI is providing input to the election security planning process, and will field 14 observer teams on Election Day. In coordination with IFES, UNAMI will play a significant role in administering out-of-country voting. (Note: Election briefing will be reported in septel.) ¶3. (SBU) Christine McNab, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG) for UNAMI's Office of Development and Humanitarian Support (ODHS),said that UNAMI has begun preparation for the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF),which will guide the UN's collective work for 2011-2014. UNAMI, in consultation with the GoI, has identified six priority areas for the UNDAF: Governance, Rule of Law, Diversified Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, Essential Services, and Human Capital. McNab noted that these areas are all in line with Iraq's draft National Development Plan, but stressed that the UNDAF strongly references international treaties and conventions, such as the Millennium Development Goals. She added that UNAMI hopes to conclude the UNDAF with the current Iraqi government by late February, in advance of the UN's global deadline of late March for all UNDAFs. McNab acknowledged that details of the UNDAF will have to be discussed between the new government and the separate UN agencies. ¶3. (SBU) McNabb also discussed UNAMI's efforts to integrate its UN agencies and enhance UN cooperation with the international donor community. UNAMI will focus its future efforts on the following programs: (1) address the social needs of those living in Iraq's Disputed Internal Boundaries; (2) focus on Iraq's transboundary water issues with Turkey, Syria and Iran; (3) support the GoI reform efforts of the Public Distribution System and help the GoI move towards the development of a social safety net; and (4) set benchmarks for GoI progress on civic registration and conducting the census. ¶4. (SBU) In a December 17 meeting with econoffs, UNAMI's ODHS program official Karin McLennan revealed that her office seeks to refocus the IPF to launch assistance coordination in various sectors. McLennan recommends that various UN agency heads also be included in future IPF meetings to improve information exchange between the UN and donors. She also suggested that that the IPF tackle more contentious issues affecting Iraq, such as cross-border issues, the hydrocarbon law, and election and political issues as well as include countries from the region such as Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt. Hill