EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (QATAR)

UNCLAS DOHA 000152

SIPDIS

OES/STC FOR EILEEN KANE
AMMAN FOR MANU BHALLA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ESTH SENV TSPL TBIO ECON AMGT APER EPA QA
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (QATAR)

REF: SECSTATE 10843


1. Proposal for fellow: "Senior Advisor to the Qatari
Ministry of Environment"

-- Embassy Doha proposes placing a USG fellow for a minimum
three month timeframe at the newly established Ministry of
Environment in Qatar. The fellow would advise the Minister
and senior staff on all matters pertaining to establishment
of a successful environmental ministry. Specifically, he/she
will assist in the development of a multi-year action plan
for environmental management in the country. Moreover, the
fellow will advise the Embassy on, and help formulate a plan
for, strengthening U.S.-Qatar environmental collaboration.

-- Minister of Environment Abdullah Bin Mubarak Al-Midhadhi
told Ambassador in January he would welcome such a fellow,
and the Ministry's Technical Affairs Director Yousuf Al-Hamar
confirmed to Econoff Fabrycky February 26 that the ministry
is highly interested in having such a fellow, and willing to
provide the financial resources to make it happen.

-- The fellow would have an office at the Qatar Ministry of
the Environment and spend most time there. However, he/she
would also have office space at the Embassy.

-- Timeframe: Post proposes a three month (or more)
assignment, starting September 27, 2009. (Note: This is after
the summer and Ramadan/Eid holidays, and ensures that most
staff will be present.)

-- A successful fellow will possess a broad range of
experience in environmental management, particularly the
effective establishment and operation of bureaucracies to
deal with the environment. The candidate must be a
self-starter, good at inter-personal communication, and able
to work effectively while immersed in a cross-cultural
environment. Arabic language skills are useful, but not
required.

-- A senior manager from EPA with some international
experience might be a good fit, though other agencies may
have skilled candidates to offer as well.

-- A security clearance is not required.


2. Background and Description of Work Projects

-- Embassy Doha has never hosted a fellow under this program.
Qatar is a member of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference (per priority consideration noted in reftel).
Placing a USG fellow with the Qatari Ministry of Environment
would help support U.S. science diplomacy with the Muslim
world and help to strengthen a key bilateral strategic
partnership. Qatar is the world's wealthiest country on a
per capita basis, and the U.S. has strong interests in Qatar
in the political, economic, military, and education fields.
Furthering environmental cooperation through this fellowship
would enhance U.S. soft power in Qatar. Moreover, Qatar
increasingly has the vision and resources to play a leading
regional role, and establishing Qatar as a good model of
environmental protection would have salutary regional
benefits as well.

-- The USG has already cooperated in some technical fields
with the GOQ on the environment. For example:

A) National Park Service employees have advised the GOQ on
the establishment and management of a major national park in
the country's south (not yet implemented).

B) In January 2009 Qatar hosted a State Department-sponsored
workshop on Hazardous Waste Management which was led by EPA
facilitators.

C) NASA is in discussion with the ministry on placement of a
ground monitoring station in Qatar.

-- Protection of the environment, as a core government
responsibility, is still in its infancy in Qatar. However,
the ruling family and Qatari elite are increasingly aware of
the need for effective environmental management and
protection as the country develops. One of the four pillars
of Qatar's recently released government strategy ("Qatar
National Vision 2030") is "Environmental Development:
Management of the Environment such that there is harmony
between economic growth, social development and environmental
protection." The Qatar National Vision 2030 document can be
viewed at www.gsdp.gov.qa.
-- The Ministry was officially established on July 1, 2008 as
part of a broader cabinet reorganization. Before that it was
a smaller organization known as the Supreme Council for the
Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR). The Qatari Cabinet
will (reportedly by April at the latest) task the Ministry
with its official organizational chart and responsibilities.
It is probably too late for the USG to influence the
construction of such a line-and-block chart, but the major
work of "putting flesh on the bones" of this structure
remains to be done.

-- Note: The former head of SCENR and 3 senior staff still
with the ministry attended a USG/MEPI-sponsored Institutional
Strengthening Workshop in Amman in May 2008. The EPA-led
workshop gave participants tools for the creation of a
strategic vision and accompanying road-map and implementation
plans. The Qatari delegation found the workshop very useful
and was interested in USG support for implementing such a
process in Qatar. The proposed fellow's work in Qatar is a
natural follow-on to this workshop, to provide face-to-face
advice and support as Qatar's Environment Ministry builds and
implements a strategic vision and workplan.

-- The fellow's specific program of work will be determined
closer to the date of arrival, and in consultation between
the fellow, Embassy, and Ministry. However, responsibilities
could cover review and advice on: legal and regulatory
matters, staff recruitment and training, inter and
intra-governmental strategies and procedures, local
implementation of international commitments/treaties, hosting
of conferences and workshops, etc. Crucially, Post would
like the fellow to lay the groundwork for signature of an
effective Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or other
agreement between the USG and GOQ which would facilitate
full-spectrum environmental cooperation. Bureaucratic and
management experience, coupled with broad environmental
management knowledge, are more important for this assignment
than technical/scientific knowledge of any one area.

-- While the fellow would be mostly working with the Ministry
of Environment, the fellow should also spend time liaising
with other environmental stakeholders in Qatar, including:
international oil companies, the six U.S. universities at
Qatar's Education City, Qatar University (which recently
started an Environmental Department),UNESCO's regional
office, and the handful of civil society organizations
dealing with the environment.

-- Minister of Environment Al-Midhadhi does not have a
background in the environment, but he has high-level
connections that ensure his ideas and ministry are listened
to (he was the Heir Apparent's Chief of Staff before coming
to the Ministry). He is personally eager to establish his
ministry and its work program, and would welcome official USG
assistance and advice through this fellowship.


3. Administrative Support

-- Post is unable to provide housing to a fellow but the
Ministry of Environment will provide (pay for) housing in
either a corporate suite or 4-star or better hotel (e.g., the
Movenpick Tower hotel is close to the ministry and has been
used frequently by USG visitors).

-- The nature of the proposal requires that the fellow will
work full-time out of the Ministry. The Ministry will provide
the fellow with dedicated office space. However, post will
provide office space where the fellow can periodically work
at the Embassy.

-- The Ministry could possibly provide a car/driver for
residence to work transportation (unconfirmed). Other
transportation options would include long-term car rental by
the fellow, paid for by the sending agency. Transportation
outside of Doha will probably not be required but if so
(e.g., visit to potential national park sites),the ministry
would provide transport.

-- The Ministry can provide translators when needed (e.g.,
the Minister does not speak English and unless the fellow has
good Arabic skills, translation would be needed in meetings
with him). This would usually take the form of one of the
many bilingual ministry employees providing informal
translation.


4. RSO concurs with this assignment, and will make security
approval of housing options as they are determined.


5. Embassy Point of Contact
-- (Primary) Economic Officer David Fabrycky; Tel:
974-496-6731; Fax: 974-496-6709; Email: FabryckyDA@state.gov.
-- Note: Fabrycky will leave post in July 2009. Successor is
Erik Wahlstrom who will report in September 2009.
-- (Backup) Political-Economic Chief Steve Rice; Tel:
974-496-6715; Fax: 974-496-6709; Email: RiceSC@state.gov.

LeBaron