Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LILONGWE683
2009-12-16 14:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:  

LILONGWE 2011 MISSION STRATEGIC PLAN (MSP) REVIEW

Tags:  ABUD AFIN AMGT KICR KSEP KSPR MI 
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VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLG #0683/01 3501409
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161409Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY LILONGWE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0119
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

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.

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MSP Goal #1: Reducing Poverty Through Economic Growth
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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.

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MSP Goal #2: Strengthening Democracy and Good Governance
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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.

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MSP Goal #3: Investing in Health
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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.

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MSP Goal #4: Improving Basic Education for All
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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.

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MSP Goal #5: Building Malawi's Capacity for Regional Peacekeeping
and Fighting Terrorism
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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.

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MSP Goal #6: Promoting Mutual Understanding Between the United
States and Malawi
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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.

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MSP Goal #7: Managing Mission Growth
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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.

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2012 MSP Planning and Future Actions
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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