FOLLOW UP TO THE CAIRO SPEECH: CONSULTATIVE PROCESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 071325 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON OEXC OSCI PREL SCUL SENV SOCI TNGD TSPL, XF, XI, ZP, ZR SUBJECT: FOLLOW UP TO THE CAIRO SPEECH: CONSULTATIVE PROCESS FOR MUSLIM ENGAGEMENT FOR CHIEFS OF MISSION FROM THE SECRETARY ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 8-14. ¶2. SUMMARY: The President's June 4 speech in Cairo called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world based on mutual respect and the pursuit of partnerships in areas of mutual interest. Among the President's highest priorities is moving aggressively to fulfill the promise of his speech by implementing the initiatives he laid out, and by ensuring an ethos of mutual respect and partnership pervades our engagement with Muslim communities worldwide. In support of USG efforts to implement these goals, we ask that you and your country teams consult with stakeholders and partners including community leaders in civil society, the private sector, and government; as well as members of target communities such as women, youth, and disenfranchised groups. Stakeholder views on what elements would be of greatest interest to them to pursue in partnership with the U.S. will be vital to the development and implementation of the President's initiatives. The consultative process is also intended to demonstrate U.S. commitment to dialogue and partnership. To best support ongoing implementation discussions, initial responses are requested by July 22. End Summary. BACKGROUND: Follow up on the Cairo speech -------------- ¶3. The President's June 4 speech in Cairo, available on the White House website, laid the foundation for a new beginning with Muslim communities worldwide based on a vision of mutual respect, peace, advancement, partnership and opportunity. The Cairo speech is part of a broader, long-term engagement effort, which includes the President's Inaugural address, Nowruz message, and speech in Ankara. However, the President has also recognized that what we do matters more than what we say, and has emphasized that above all we will demonstrate through actions our commitment to a better future. ¶4. Following up swiftly and visibly on the Cairo speech is imperative. We are moving aggressively to implement and amplify the initiatives the President laid out. Working with Muslim communities on these initiatives by seeking their input, obtaining their support, and fostering a sense of dialogue and partnership is critical to the success of this effort and realizing the ethos of engagement. Three areas of engagement -------------- ¶5. The President's Cairo speech covered a wide range of policy priorities, including: countering violent extremism; Middle East peace; nuclear proliferation; democracy and human rights; religious freedom; women's rights; and advancing social and economic opportunity. ¶6. Related to these priorities, he described three broad areas of engagement and a number of specific initiatives, defined STATE 00071325 002 OF 004 SUBJECT: FOLLOW UP TO THE CAIRO SPEECH: CONSULTATIVE PROCESS FOR MUSLIM ENGAGEME below. For each of these areas, we seek input from local stakeholders and community members that would help develop the most effective activities and programs possible with respect to the policy priorities outlined above. --Human development, including education, youth, women and girls, public health, democracy and rule of law, and economic development. Specific initiatives identified in the speech include expanding exchange programs; increasing scholarships; encouraging American study-abroad in Muslim communities; matching Muslim students with U.S. internships; investments in online learning for teachers and children; online networks for youth; partnership with the OIC to eradicate polio; partnerships to promote child and maternal health; partnerships to expand literacy for girls; and microfinance partnerships to help women pursue employment. --Entrepreneurship and Interfaith Partnership, including interfaith dialogue on addressing humanitarian needs and ways of increasing innovation and entrepreneurship to bring creative and self-sustaining solutions to development challenges. Specific initiatives from the speech include creating a business volunteer corps; hosting a summit on entrepreneurship this year; creating a new online intercultural network; and mobilizing interfaith service partnerships. --Science and Technology, including education, technology transfer, capacity development, scientific exchanges, and specific ways of applying science to solve local problems or issues such as water scarcity, new sources of energy, and the creation of green jobs. Specific initiatives from the speech include creating a new fund to support technological development; opening scientific centers of excellence in Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia; and appointing science envoys. ¶7. These areas of engagement are not exhaustive nor are they mutually exclusive. Implementing the list of specific initiatives promised by the President is a priority but just a first step. We welcome feedback from your consultations on additional areas of emphasis or ways to advance the policy priorities outlined above and in the speech. ACTION: Launching a consultative process -------------- ¶8. ACTION: Chiefs of Mission are requested to work with country teams to undertake consultations with civil society, private sector, government entities, and members of target communities including women, youth, and disenfranchised communities, convening and connecting stakeholders to discuss the speech, the priorities outlined within, stakeholder priorities, and potential follow-up actions that are responsive to needs and ideas identified by local communities. Our goal is to partner with stakeholders both in planning and in implementation, ensuring that local communities are invested in the initiatives, that the initiatives are owned by communities impacted and demonstrate meaningful collaboration between the USG and the communities we seek to engage. ¶9. We encourage creativity in creating context-appropriate dialogue opportunities that will result in open communication and exchange of ideas. In some cases, that may mean that the consultations you organize are hosted by local NGOs, community and religious leaders, or other civil society or private sector leadership. In some countries special effort may be needed to engage Muslim women in providing their ideas and insights. Engaging FSNs on our technical staff can also be an important source of ideas. We also encourage you to explore, STATE 00071325 003 OF 004 SUBJECT: FOLLOW UP TO THE CAIRO SPEECH: CONSULTATIVE PROCESS FOR MUSLIM ENGAGEME as appropriate to your country context, cross-sectoral and interfaith opportunities for dialogue and potential partnership in key areas, for example by bringing the NGO and private sector communities together. ¶10. ACTION, continued: Posts are also requested to describe the consultative process undertaken, including how outreach was organized and conducted, the entities and communities who participated, the structure of the events, and the issues raised. We are interested in learning not only of new ideas, but also of new outreach methodologies. ¶11. ACTION, continued: We also request that Posts review and share the key findings of civil society consultations, conferences and other events that have been or are being undertaken without USG leadership or participation, but which may yield insights into the priorities and perspectives of local communities. ¶12. ACTION, continued: Posts are encouraged to provide ideas on how to link current and potential activities for greatest impact - for example, by linking internship or education opportunities to job opportunities; by linking technology development and transfer to entrepreneurship. ¶13. ACTION, continued: Where media engagement and coverage would be feasible and appropriate, we encourage posts to incorporate such engagement and coverage into their planning for consultations. ¶14. ACTION, continued: We recognize that there will be an ongoing consultative process. Posts are requested to submit periodic updates on their outreach. However, in order to ensure timely follow-up to the President's speech and to inform our ongoing efforts to plan initiatives, we request initial responses by July 22. We acknowledge and understand that the foregoing represents an extensive set of requests, and appreciate Posts' efforts to respond to this Presidential priority. Please send submissions to the attention of Greg Behrman on the Policy Planning staff. Funding and review criteria -------------- ¶15. As we are in the process of exploring the range of opportunities, we ask that you manage expectations appropriately. We anticipate that many initiatives and partnerships will not require new funding beyond increases in the FY 2010 budget; can leverage the funding of other, non USG donors; and-or, as in the case of activities in which the USG acts as a convener or facilitator, will not require funding. Proposed activities that will require additional funds beyond FY 2010 levels will be reviewed in the context of the FY 2011 budget process. Beyond funding constraints, we know that there are concerns about visa and other administrative and legal issues related to our exchange and scholarship programs. These issues have improved-for example, those traveling on F and J visas receive expeditious processing-and we will continue to review our processes in support of our visitor and exchange programs. ¶16. In reviewing proposals, some of the issues that will be considered are: --Opportunities to scale-up successful programs. We are interested in programs that expand reach by taking successful efforts to scale. These may be current USG-supported programs or innovative non-USG programs identified through consultations that can be expanded with additional resources. Expanding reach into underserved populations, including women, STATE 00071325 004 OF 004 --Partnering and leveraging. We are interested in programs that have local organizations, including local NGOs, universities, government, or private sector entities as the primary partner. Leveraging non-USG resources to broaden impact will be important. --Achieving impact and measuring performance. Proposals must demonstrate the potential for impact greater than current investments. Process -------------- ¶17. In keeping with the high priority the President has placed on follow-up to the Cairo speech, the White House has convened an Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) and four sub-IPCs which will meet regularly. The Department of State has created a parallel structure led by a State-USAID Steering Group. Through Department-USAID representatives to the IPC process, the interagency community will consider the results of Posts' consultations in determining a way forward. ¶18. We appreciate your leadership on these issues. The President laid out a vision for a new beginning with Muslim communities worldwide. Making that vision a reality relies in great part on the reach, relationships, knowledge and convening power of your teams. ¶19. For Tripoli, minimize considered. CLINTON