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

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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,

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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,

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--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