PEPFAR TEAM BRIEFS PRESIDENT KIKWETE ON PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAR ES SALAAM 000584 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JTREADWELL, S/GAC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KHIV SOCI TZ SUBJECT: PEPFAR TEAM BRIEFS PRESIDENT KIKWETE ON PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK ¶1. SUMMARY: At President Kikwete's request, Mission PEPFAR team met with him on August 7 to discuss the program and the status of Partnership Framework negotiations. Further discussion covered other U.S. bilateral assistance to Tanzania and issues related to the administrative and technical (A&T) status of key U.S. personnel and the Department of Defense programs in Tanzania. Kikwete indicated he was pleased with the progress and cooperation between the USG and GOT on the Partnership Framework. He called for greater focus on HIV/AIDS prevention as well as additional capacity building for health services. Kikwete reiterated his commitment to food security and agricultural development and expressed appreciation for USG efforts to improve education in Tanzania. He agreed to look into the outstanding A&T issue. END SUMMARY. Update on PEPFAR Partnership Framework negotiations -------------- -------------- ¶2. The PEPFAR team provided President Kikwete with a positive assessment of progress towards establishing a Partnership Framework agreement. The USG and GOT were engaged in productive, collaborative meetings to create a Partnership Framework that would be used as a road map for continued HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment programs in Tanzania. The collaborative spirit of the negotiations with a diverse array of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies ensured that the Framework would reflect a multisectoral approach to combating HIV/AIDS in Tanzania and address USG priorities of sustainability and expanding the GOT's capacity to plan, oversee and manage its national response. ¶3. The PEPFAR team outlined the three most important outcomes from the Partnership Framework discussion, which include a costed, prioritized National Multi-sectoral Strategic Framework; the creation of a policy and implementation forum to ensure coordination between PEPFAR, GOT, and Global Fund resources received by GOT for HIV/AIDS; and a commitment by the GOT to increase domestic spending on HIV/AIDS. President Kikwete acknowledged the importance of the Partnership Framework negotiations and was pleased to hear they were progressing well. He also stated that as the Framework negotiations progress, it would be important that they continue to involve multiple Ministries and Agencies. ¶4. President Kikwete highlighted the need for a greater focus on HIV/AIDS prevention. He said awareness of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania was rising because of the 2008 national HIV testing campaign and access to ART treatment. He expressed his interest in launching a second national HIV testing campaign in early 2010, including publicizing the testing of himself and the First Lady, as they had done in 2006. ¶5. The PEPFAR team raised its concern about the strain placed on Human Resources for Health (HRH) in Tanzania. President Kikwete agreed that this is a major problem. He would like to see an increased focus on capacity building for health care personnel. Ideally this effort would include additional pre-service training for nurses and health care workers, as well as initiatives to strengthen the capacity of existing health care workers at the district level. President Kikwete said he envisioned using a model similar to the one used to develop secondary schools in Tanzania, to expand access to health care in rural areas. Update on other bilateral assistance -------------- ¶6. USAID Mission Director also raised the Obama Administration's commitment to food security; U.S. assistance will continue in Tanzania, with a new and focused commitment on developing food security for the country. President Kikwete reiterated the GOT's commitment to increase agricultural research and noted his wish to see the University of Morogoro become a "center of excellence" for agricultural research. He expressed his desire to direct one percent of the national budget to agricultural research. President Kikwete, the CDA and the Mission Director agreed that increasing farm production in a way that allows farmers to generate income from surplus production should be a major goal. ¶7. After the Mission Director noted the USG's commitment to education in Tanzania, President Kikwete expressed his appreciation for the USG's initiatives and was pleased to hear that the majority of education related promises made last year during President Bush's visit have been met or are near completion. Request for President Kikwete's assistance -------------- ¶8. The PEPFAR team asked for President Kikwete assistance in resolving the issue of obtaining Administrative and Technical status for three members of the HHS/CDC team. Discussions with the MFA have reached a critical juncture and have not been able to resolve certain issues. President Kikwete committed to looking into the DAR ES SAL 00000584 002 OF 002 matter, but he noted the inherent bureaucratic and administrative challenges within all government systems. Upcoming Travel -------------- ¶9. President Kikwete confirmed that he plans to visit West Point on September 30, 2009. ¶10. Mission participants: CDA Larry Andre, PEPFAR Coordinator Tracy Carson, USAID Mission Director Robert Cunnane, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Country Director Edward Sekonde, CDC Country Director John Vertefeuille, Peace Corps Country Director Andrea Wognar-Diagne, Patrick Swai (USAID) and Eunice Mmari (CDC). ANDRE