Scopes of work for follow-up actions to the

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000842 SENSITIVE SIPDIS Dept for AF/C, INL, S/SAI (Ross),S/P, PM, DRL/AE, EEB/ESC/IEC USAID for A, AA/AFR, AFR/EA, AFR/SD, AFR/DP and AA/DCHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCOR PGOV PREF ECON EAGR EAID KJUS EINV MASS, CG SUBJECT: Scopes of work for follow-up actions to the Secretary's August 10-11 DRC visit REF: A) KINSHASA 822 B) KINSHASA 808 C) KINSHASA 787 ¶1. See guidance request at para. 3. ¶2. Ref A provides a matrix for follow-up actions to the Secretary's August 10-11 visit to Kinshasa and Goma. Additional information on the overall themes and strategy for each action item can be found in Refs B and C. This cable (para. 4) provides, as indicated para. 1 of Ref A, proposed scopes of work for each area of action in the matrix. Also included are comments for each area on proposed activities, issues to be looked at, and the general approach to be taken in each area. The ordering of each area of action (A, B, C, etc.) is the same as in Ref A. ¶3. Guidance request: Post would appreciate guidance on the timing and availability of resources to fund the team visits and would also welcome suggestions for the composition of team members. End guidance request. ¶4. Begin scopes of work: ¶A. Anti-corruption -------------- Purpose: To develop a working plan for joint U.S.-Congolese actions against corruption by high-ranking officials in the military and in government (political and civil service). Activities: ¶1. Review existing analyses of corruption and recommendations for anti-corruption programs. This will include reviewing the recommendations of Michael Hershman, a co-founder of Transparency International, from his September 14-16 visit to the DRC. Identify structural weaknesses that can be addressed quickly to achieve visible progress in reducing corruption. ¶2. Identify structural weaknesses that can be addressed quickly to achieve visible progress in reducing corruption. ¶3. Formulate a comprehensive, long-term framework for cooperation between the U.S. and the GDRC, with other participants as appropriate, to address corruption. Issues: ¶1. Who are potential champions for anti-corruption reforms in the DRC? ¶2. What opportunities exist for reducing opportunities for corruption and fighting corruption through education programs? ¶3. What opportunities exist for cleaning up public procurements in the DRC? Approach: Michael Hershman, a co-founder of Transparency International, visited the DRC from September 14-16. He met with President Kabila, the Vice-Minister of Justice, a senior military official and others. He will prepare a report of his findings with recommendations on how to proceed. Many USG actions in this area will be based on the recommendations in Hershman's report and on other factors. Embassy will provide support to implement his recommendations. (Note: Many of Hershman's recommendations will be applicable to the issues raised in section B below on Economic Governance. End note.) A high-level team comprised of four representatives, one each from State, USAID, Justice and the private sector will spend approximately two weeks in the GDRC and will be supported by the U.S. Mission in the DRC. The team will work primarily in Kinshasa and will consult with the U.S. Mission, World Bank, IMF, Congolese and international investors, the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministries of Justice, Defense, parliamentarians, QMinister and the Ministries of Justice, Defense, parliamentarians, and other as appropriate. ¶B. Economic Governance -------------- Purpose: To support the DRC's long-term economic development through implementing of specific measures by the GDRC that would result in an improved investment climate, better public financial management, and more transparent management of the DRC's key mineral wealth. Activities: ¶1. In coordination with other donors, identify specific steps to facilitate implementation of required steps as part of the DRC's participation in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). ¶2. Support donor-led efforts, including those of the World Bank, to improve public financial management through targeted U.S. technical assistance to the GDRC. ¶3. Review existing strategies and programs of USG and other actors to reduce the illegal trade of minerals in the eastern DRC. As part of this process, indentify mechanisms and areas of potential USG support to create positive economic incentives for the legal minerals trade and increased regional economic integration as a means of reducing illegal commerce. ¶4. In light of the likely IMF Board approval of the anticipated IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF),identify actions to support full implementation of structural measures contained in the PRGF. ¶5. In conjunction with the World Bank/International Finance Corporation, identify areas for possible USG technical assistance to help improve the ease of doing business in the DRC. Issues: ¶1. How can we support better communication among economic line ministries as a means of facilitating investment and reducing bureaucracy and corruption? ¶2. What are specific steps (e.g., simplification of tax administration system) that would support the broader goal of better economic governance? ¶3. How do we coordinate both better management of the DRC's overall mineral wealth with the specific issue of stemming the illegal minerals trade in eastern DRC? ¶4. How do we link anti-corruption efforts to improved economic governance? ¶5. How can the USG serve to complement existing donor efforts in these areas? Approach: A high-level team comprised of four representatives, one each from State, USAID, Treasury and the private sector will spend approximately two weeks in the GDRC and will be supported by the U.S. Mission in the DRC. Work will commence in Kinshasa. The team will consult with the U.S. Mission, World Bank, IMF, Congolese and international investors, the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministries of Finance, Budget, and Economy and Trade, as well as the Congolese Central Bank. Work will continue in several key regions, including Katagana and the Kivus through consultations with the private sector, international organizations, and provincial and local officials and representatives. ¶C. Security Sector Reform -------------- Purpose: In cooperation with the GDRC and like-minded donors, to assist in implementing fundamental reforms in the military, police, and judicial sectors. Activities: ¶1. Review existing strategies and programs of USG and other actors, notably the UN, donors active or potentially active in SSR, and the GDRC. ¶2. Identify short-term and long-term objectives for USG engagement on SSR. ¶3. Recommend a strategic framework to help professionalize the army (FARDC),concentrating on reducing the incidents of human rights violations, including sexual and gender based violence. Qviolations, including sexual and gender based violence. ¶4. Continue USG mil-to-mil training programs, as well as existing support to civilian magistrates and border police training. ¶5. Identify additional sources of financing for SSR-related activities. Issues: ¶1. How can we work with the FARDC to ensure buy-in to implement an automated salary payment system, thus reducing the opportunity for corruption? ¶2. How can we better coordinate the various SSR assistance programs to better leverage efficiency and reduce duplicative/useless programs. ¶3. How do we ensure that USG mil-to-mil training will have a sustained effect? ¶4. Is there scope to expand USAID's training for civilian magistrates to military magistrates (with the understanding that another USG agency may be required to take this on)? ¶5. Are there areas in police sector reform where the USG could become more active? ¶6. Will our SSR efforts focus primarily on the eastern DRC or will we view this as a DRC-wide issue? Approach: A high-level team comprised of four representatives, one each from State, USAID, DoD or Africom and private sector will spend approximately two weeks in the GDRC and will be supported by the U.S. Mission in the DRC. Work will commence in Kinshasa. The team will consult with the U.S. Mission, MONUC, IOM, key donors, the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministries of Defense, Justice and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Congolese National Police. Work will continue in the eastern DRC (Goma, Bukavu, Dungu, Bunia, etc.) and in Kisangani through consultations with MONUC, NGO and international organizations, provincial and local officials and senior police and army representatives. ¶D. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence -------------- Purpose: To refine USG strategy and recommend additional actions to prevent and respond to SGBV. Activities: ¶1. Review existing strategies and programs of USG and other actors, notably the UN and GDRC. ¶2. Identify political/diplomatic and assistance interventions to: a. Protect civilian populations and prevent acts of SGBV b. Strengthen systems of accountability, legal services, justice and detention c. Increase access to comprehensive care and treatment ¶3. Recommend a strategic framework for a USG whole-of-government program to prevent and respond to SGBV ¶4. Identify additional sources of financing for SGBV-related activities Issues: ¶1. How can abuse by security forces be reduced? ¶2. How can IDPs be better protected? ¶3. How can the justice and prison systems be strengthened? ¶4. Where are their opportunities to extend SGBV-related services to increase access? ¶5. What additional sources of financing can be identified? ¶6. To what extent should programs be focused in Eastern DRC rather than working in other parts of the country? Approach: A team of three individuals (Alec Ross, Jared Cohen, and Mira Patel of the Secretary's Policy Planning staff (S/P) visited Kinshasa and Goma from September 9-12 on a fact-finding mission to look at technological approaches to combating SGBV. Embassy will provide support to implement their recommendations. A high-level team comprised of four representatives, one each from State, USAID, other agency (TBD) and NGO (TBD) will spend approximately two weeks in the GDRC and will be supported by the U.S. Mission in the DRC. Work will commence in Kinshasa. The team will consult with the U.S. Mission, MONUC and other UN Agencies, key donors, the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministries of QPresident, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Justice and Gender. Work will continue in Goma (Bukavu, Bunia, Dungu, TBD) through consultations with IDPs, survivors, USG implementing partners, NGO personnel, MONUC, UNICEF, provincial and local officials and senior police and army representatives. ¶E. Agriculture and Food Security -------------- Purpose: To identify new initiatives and mechanisms to assist the DRC to promote agricultural development, broad-based economic growth, and achieve food security so that DRC can achieve the 2015 MDG Goal: Halve the proportion of young children who are undernourished; halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger; halve the proportion of women and men living on less than $1.25/day. Activities: ¶1. Review existing USG strategies for emergency and development food assistance and strategies for Agriculture-led economic growth including constraints to production, access to markets and sustainable natural resource management. ¶2. Review donor activities, donor coordination platforms and GDRC capacities to implement new initiatives to promote sustainable agricultural-led economic growth and enhance food security. ¶3. Recommend a strategic framework for a Whole-Of-Government Approach to Food Security in DRC. DRC's participation in the Global Food Security Response has not yet been made clear for 2010, 2011 and beyond. Link the Food Security Strategic Framework to the MDG Goal and the Global Food Security Response. ¶4. Identify political/diplomatic and assistance interventions to: a. Respond to emergency food needs b. Meet the MDG goal in DRC c. Strengthen the economic governance of the Agriculture Sector d. Promote Regional trade in Agricultural products ¶5. Identify additional sources of financing for Agriculture-led economic growth and to achieve Food Security. Issues: ¶1. What mechanisms beyond the Global Food Security Initiative can DRC expect to be able to access to address constraints to agricultural led growth and food security? ¶2. DRC's engagement in the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program of COMESA will benefit from high level USG guidance to the Office of the Prime Minister and Office of the President, to encourage the launching of that platform in DRC. ¶3. How can we draw further attention to the importance of empowering women within the agriculture sector in DRC? ¶4. How can DRC access GCC funding so that the role of DRC's forests in mediating global climate is understood and the forests are protected from destruction? ¶5. What additional sources of financing can be identified? Approach: A high-level team comprised of four representatives, one each from State, USAID, [Other Agency-TBD] and [NGO-TBD] will spend approximately two weeks in the GDRC and will be supported by the U.S. Mission in the DRC. Work will commence in Kinshasa. The team will consult with the U.S. Mission, Donor and Government Representatives (Min. of Ag),the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister. Work will continue in outside Kinshasa (cassava processing unit/Plateau de Bateke and cassava research center of M'vuazi); Katanga Agriculture Visit; Kivu visits to see Multi-Year Assistance/Development Programs; possible Equateur landscapes/conservation visits if time permits. End scopes of work. GARVELINK