LILONGWE 2011 MISSION STRATEGIC PLAN (MSP) REVIEW

UNCLAS LILONGWE 000683 DEPARTMENT FOR RM/SPP SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ABUD AFIN AMGT KICR KSEP KSPR MI SUBJECT: LILONGWE 2011 MISSION STRATEGIC PLAN (MSP) REVIEW ¶1. (U) Summary: Mission Malawi's comprehensive mid-year review of the 2011 MSP results shows that a majority of the Mission's Seven Goals are "On-" or "Above-Target" with significant achievements in the areas of health, education, democracy and management. The seven goal teams provided overviews of their actions and initiatives taken in support of their Goals and reported on the expected impacts and performance indicators. The Mission's MSP Teams received guidance and feedback for use in developing the 2012 MSP. As a result of this review effort, Mission Malawi is well-positioned to make continued progress on the attainment of its Performance Targets and Goals for 2012. End Summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #1: Reducing Poverty Through Economic Growth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) Our review of MSP Goal One, "Reducing Poverty Through Economic Growth", shows both "Above Target" and Below Target" achievement. On the plus side, the number of individuals receiving short-term agricultural sector productivity training was 20% over the target. This training helped increase farmer incomes and strengthen food security. On the minus side, while Mission Malawi engaged the Government of Malawi (GOM) on a host of economic policy and business interest matters, the GOM has slipped in some key policy areas. These include macro economic management and the security of investments. Future plans call for increased engagement on power sector reform and the expansion of food security program in Central and Southern Malawi while pressing for a renewed commitment to market-based policies. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #2: Strengthening Democracy and Good Governance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (U) Mission Malawi was able to achieve substantial progress with regard to strengthening representative democracy. USG efforts supported voter education, strengthened the Electoral Commission, and contributed to election observation during the May 2009 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. These efforts supported what was deemed by the international community to be a free and credible election that represented the will of the Malawian people. The Mission fell short on impacting the number of laws drafted with USG support subjected to a final vote in the legislature. However, we expect more of these bills to be taken up early in 2010. Future efforts will support local government elections and will further strengthen the ability of Parliamentarians to draft, debate, and pass key legislation. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #3: Investing in Health - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (U) Mission efforts in the health sector were "Above Target". USG-supported HIV activities reached more than 1.7 million people with counseling and testing services. Approximately 170,000 Malawians were on anti-retroviral treatment and more than 35,000 pregnant mothers received ARV prophylaxis, a treatment that prevents mother to child transmission of HIV. The Mission will focus additional efforts in the coming year on prevention of the disease. Other USG efforts in the maternal health field contributed to achievement of 52% of all babies being delivered in an institutional setting, surpassing the target of 49%. This achievement is resulting in fewer neonatal deaths within the first month after delivery. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #4: Improving Basic Education for All - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (U) USG progress toward this goal also rated an "Above Target" assessment. Out of a total of approximately 3.6 million school-going children, more than 1.9 million were enrolled in a USG-supported school. This included more than 80% of all grade one and grade two students. Standardized achievement tests also showed that children participating in USG-supported interactive radio education programs scored higher on both math and Chichewa exams. The interactive radio education program will be scaled up to grades three and four in coming years and modified to better address teacher training. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #5: Building Malawi's Capacity for Regional Peacekeeping and Fighting Terrorism - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (U) While we fell short of our Goal Five benchmarks, we saw very healthy progress in building Malawi's capacity for regional peacekeeping and fighting terrorism. This goal sought a Malawi Defense Force (MDF) deployment of an 800-person Battalion to Chad in support of a UN International Peace Keeping Mission. While the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) was certified as deployment-ready by the UN after completing extensive USG-provided training, the GOM was unable to fund a $15M forward operating base package that the UN required. The GOM has informed Post that it will fund the operating base package in CY 2010 so the MDF can make a battalion-size deployment in CY 2010. Meanwhile, the MDF continues to demonstrate that it is a capable, professional military force that can successfully operate in the international arena. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #6: Promoting Mutual Understanding Between the United States and Malawi - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (U) We had some notable successes in "Promoting Mutual Understanding between the United States and Malawi." Our education advisory program achieved significant results during the reporting period highlighted by a very successful "College Fair 2009". Over 2,000 Malawian students attended the fair which had representatives from over 50 U.S. Colleges and Universities. Addressing the portrayal of the U.S. Government in Malawi media, the Mission's pro-active outreach resulted in 161 positive stories and 29 neutral stories, contrasted against only 3 negative stories - - a ratio of 54 to 1 of positive stories to negative stories. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MSP Goal #7: Managing Mission Growth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (U) We were "on target" in MSP Goal Seven, "Managing Mission Growth". With the objective of increasing the percentage of Mission personnel working within facilities meeting DS security standards, Post made significant strides. From increasing the security of the building where our Public Affairs Section is located, to completing planning and preparations for the OBO Perimeter Security Upgrade project scheduled to commence in March 2010, Mission Malawi made significant progress in its pursuit of this Goal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2012 MSP Planning and Future Actions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶9. (U) Mission Malawi has scheduled a Strategic Planning Off-Site in January 2010 to consider further improvements and updates to our current MSP. We plan to further refine our performance indicators, especially in the health, education and democracy areas. For example, we will give serious consideration to a family planning performance indicator under our Health Goal to complement the current performance indicator stressing preventive health care and infant care. BODDE