MAURITANIA: QATAR POSITIONING ITSELF AS MAJOR DONOR

UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000093


DEPT FOR AF
ACCRA FOR USAID/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR SOCI MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIA: QATAR POSITIONING ITSELF AS MAJOR DONOR

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY


1. (SBU) Qatar, via its bilateral assistance implementing body, the
Qatari-Mauritanian Establishment for Social Development
(Etablissement Qataro-Mauritanian pour le Developpement Social),is
positioning itself as a lead donor in Mauritania's post coup
environment. It is the only known donor in Mauritania that has been
increasing its aid since the August 6, 2008 coup. Its current
budget is approximately $16 million USD, up from $3 million USD in
mid-2007.


2. (SBU) The Qatari-Mauritanian Establishment for Social
Development (Qatari Cooperation) was created in December 2004 by Her
Highness Sheikha Mouza Bint Nacer Al Mesned, the emir's third wife,
and has undertaken activities in Mauritania since March 2005. Its
three primary areas of intervention include: women's literacy,
vocational training and income generating activities.
Geographically, Qatar's area of intervention targets: Gorgol,
Guidimaka, Hodh El Chargi and Hodh El Gharbi, although they have
special infrastructure projects and plans around the country. Qatar
has satellite offices in each of the target regions, staffed by
Mauritanians many of whom have studied or previously worked in
Qatar. The Qatari Cooperation in Mauritania is scheduled to end as
planned on March 31, 2010. Now, the preoccupation of Executive
Director Abdelkader Ghessab is to design plans for the
sustainability of Qatar's projects, including potential hand-over to
public and/or private enterprises or alliances funded in part
through Qatari shareholders.


3. (SBU) The Qatari Cooperation's main focus is: women's literacy,
vocational training, and micro-credit for entrepreneurship. Its
methodology is to target needy individuals, particularly women in
each of the selected regional capitals. Once trained in literacy
skills, Qatar then trains those same individuals in a trade,
provides them with basic tools needed for that trade (i.e., plumbing
tools, cloth dying materials, hair cutting and beautician
implements, etc.) and assists with job placement. Individuals may,
however, enter the program at any time by requesting to be put on a
vocational training class or micro-credit project waiting list.
Special projects are chosen by the Executive Director and given
final personal approval by Her Highness Sheikha Mouza Bint Nacer Al
Mesned. Criteria for special projects, including type and size is
unclear.


4. (SBU) Beneficiaries of the Qatari Cooperation project continue
to grow despite the coup. To date, 4400 women have been trained in
the 12- month literacy course in Guidimaka, Hodh El Chargi and Hodh
El Ghabi regions. An additional 1550 women from Gorgol region are
expected to graduate from the reading and writing course in June

2009. Qatar-sponsored vocational training has also continued to
grow. Vocational training centers in Guidimaka region and
Nouakchott city have together trained over 700 people in restaurant
management, women's hair and beauty services, tailoring,
micro-project management and agriculture. An additional 167 are
expected to graduate in June 2009 with training in information and
technology management, agriculture, tailoring and micro-project
management. Qatar plans to officially open two new vocational
training centers in 2009 - Ayoun in February, and Nema in April.
Plans for a fifth vocational training center, in Gorgol province,
are underway. Furthermore, Qatar has funded 180 micro-income
generating projects in Hodh El Gharbi, Hodh El Chargi and Guidimaka.
102 of these projects were recently completed.


5. (SBU) Additional new Qatari-funded projects are in process, and
are expected to be inaugurated in coming months. By February, Qatari
Cooperation's headquarters is expected to move to a larger facility
in Nouakchott's old town city center. Additionally, their 3000
square meter Pedagogical Institute (Training of Trainers center) in
Nouakchott is expected to open in April or May 2009. Two other
projects have been approved and funded but are still in planning
stages. These include a learning center for disabled children and a
new Qataro-Mauritanian cultural center.

Special projects
--------------

6. (U) In addition to its social development activities, Qatar is
also involved in a number of large scale infrastructure projects in
diverse locations.


7. (SBU) Qatar's biggest special project to date will be the "New
City of Boutelimit", which consists of a major infrastructure
overhaul of the existing city -- roads, water systems, electrical
systems, drainage systems, schools, a stadium, and local government
buildings. The labor contract was signed in March 2008.
Engineering and architectural studies are underway.


8. (SBU) Qatar is also in the process of constructing two resorts,
or "tourist complexes" just outside of Nouakchott along the beach.
One of the resorts is being built by the Qatari-Mauritanian
Establishment while the other is being built through a separate
Qatari organization.


9. (SBU) Four special projects remain on hold since the coup due of
changes in government and logistics: (1) construction of Nouakchott
International Airport; (2) construction of new National Assembly
building; and (3) the infrastructure re-development of Chinguetti,
Mauritania's oldest city; and (4) rehabilitation of ancient
manuscripts. The Qatari Emir and Her Highness Sheikha Mouza Bint
Nacer Al Mesned were last in Mauritania immediately prior to the
August 6 coup d'etat, at which time they were reportedly discussing
the above special projects with government authorities.


10. (SBU) Comment: It is expected that Her Highness Sheikha Mouza
Bint Nacer Al Mesned will return to Nouakchott in coming weeks to
inaugurate the new Qatari Cooperation offices and/or new vocational
training facility and/or Pedagogical Institute. It is also expected
that she will discuss the four above suspended projects with junta
authorities. End comment.


11. (SBU) With most donors suspending or terminating their
development and aid assistance, Qatari Cooperation's Executive
Director opines that Qatar is involved in purely humanitarian
programming, including its infrastructure projects, and these
projects must continue to avoid popular suffering and a potential
humanitarian crisis in Mauritania's post-coup environment. However,
Qatar's motives are probably not purely humanitarian. Qatar's
continued involvement in Mauritania fits into its larger goal of
becoming a regional leader, peacemaker, and patron in the Arab
world. End comment.

WALSH