POST'S SECOND FSN NOMINATION FOR 2009 ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE,

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000494 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON PK SUBJECT: POST'S SECOND FSN NOMINATION FOR 2009 ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND HEALTH COURSE REF: STATE 15409 ¶1. (U) Post would like to nominate Asmat Raza for the 2009 Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) course at FSI. Mr. Raza will serve as the back up FSN for Post's Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) which funds most of our ESTH programs. This course would help bolster his reporting and drafting skills as well as increase his knowledge of ESTH policy issues. ¶2. (U) Please see below the requested biographic data on Asmat Raza: ¶A. Name/Grade - Asmat Raza; FSN-12 ¶B. Date of Birth - 04/30/1962 ¶C. Nationality - Pakistan ¶D. Passport Number - AR9897731 ¶E. Agency - FAS ¶F. Title - Senior Agricultural Specialist ¶G. American Supervisor - Joseph M. Carroll, Carrolljm@state.gov and joe.carroll@usda.gov ¶3. (U) Education, Job Experience, and Current Responsibilities: Asmat Raza has a Masters in Agriculture and a Masters in Applied Entomology. His past job experience includes working as the Deputy Director for Projects at the Planning Commission of Pakistan dealing with the agriculture, livestock, health and environmental programs. Prior to that, he was Assistant Chief in the agriculture section of the Planning Commission, developing agricultural plans, and evaluating proposals linked to science and technology, livestock and agriculture. He has also worked as a Research Officer in the Punjab Agriculture Department, conducting research trials on the environmental aspects of certain agricultural issues. Mr. Raza joined U.S. Embassy Islamabad in December 2005 and reports on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) matters, crop analysis, trade policy, and animal and livestock issues, including diseases like avian influenza and Ug99(wheat stem rust disease). Post would like Mr. Raza to serve as the back up for the current BEP FSN, as the program continues to expand and since his current portfolio meshes well with the BEP. ¶4. (U) Description of how course would enhance nominee's productivity at Post: This ESTH course would give Mr. Raza a greater sense of ESTH procedures and priorities and provide him with a broader context of U.S. policy objectives. The course will provide him necessary tools and will enhance his skills in reporting in a variety of subjects such as avian influenza, Ug99 and SPS issues. Furthermore, it will strengthen his interviewing skills, an important capability as he often meets with Government of Pakistan officials. It is important to have a second FSN conversant in ESTH issues and we feel that this course would give him the proper tools to do so. ¶5. (U) Suggestions for Course Content: It would be helpful for Asmat Raza and for Post if the course content is geared towards enhancing his drafting, interviewing and reporting skills, as well as current ESTH policies and procedures. ¶6. (U) Previous FSI Training: Asmat Raza has not had any previous FSI training. PATTERSON