EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (UZBEKISTAN)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TASHKENT 000252 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN DEPARTMENT FOR OES/STC (EILEEN KANE) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO EAGR ENRG ECON AMGT SUBJECT: EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (UZBEKISTAN) REF: a) STATE 10843 TASHKENT 00000252 001.2 OF 003 REFERENCES: State 10843 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Post is submitting two proposals for Embassy Science Fellows (reftel) in 2009-2010: one proposal for a specialist to study water management issues in Central Asia and the second for an NSF Fellow to assess science and technology capabilities in Uzbekistan in light of current negotiations on a U.S.-Uzbek Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. END SUMMARY WATER MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL -------------- ¶2. (U) Post requests the temporary posting of an Embassy Science Fellow to Embassy Tashkent to study water management issues in Central Asia. A -- GENERAL INFORMATION TOPIC: Water management in Central Asia HOST: Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC) of Central Asia (to be confirmed) TIME FRAME: Flexible. Prefer twelve weeks in either fall 2009 or spring 2010. Medical clearance required. ADDITIONAL SKILLS: Although not required, Russian and/or Uzbek language ability will enhance the Fellow's productivity. Post will assist with translating and interpreting as needed. SECURITY CLEARANCE: Not required B -- PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION The Fellow will provide expert analysis that can be used to aid U.S. Government policy makers who follow water and energy resource management issues in Central Asia. Central Asias water resources are an important source of competition and tension among the five Central Asian states. Post-Soviet regional mechanisms have been unable to generate effective cooperative solutions and have largely failed to take into account changing political and economic relations. There are a number of key water and related energy nexus issues in Central Asia needing urgent attention. It is now clear that if Central Asian nations fail to arrive at equitable sharing of their common water resources, current tensions may escalate into serious conflicts and even use of force. The Fellow will undertake consultations with relevant Government of Uzbekistan (GOU) ministries, regional institutions, Tashkent-based international organizations, bilateral aid agencies, and third- country embassies. The objectives of these consultations will include: 1) to obtain official views on the strengths and weaknesses of the current regional mechanism, donors' perspectives on these issues and their ongoing related programs, ideas for improvements and 2) to ensure that the proposed policy for the U.S. Government is one which takes into account the programs of donors and other international institutions. It is important that the Fellow have both technical knowledge in water management and an understanding TASHKENT 00000252 002.2 OF 003 of the complex political, economic and legal issues at play. The Fellow should be an internationally respected expert with a deep understanding of the issues and processes involved in inter-state co- operation on water resource management. C -- ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Post commits to provide housing, space and office support, in-country travel arrangements, and other logistical support, as required. D -- CONTACT INFORMATION The points of contact for substantive questions about this proposal are 1) Regional ESTH Hub Officer Bruce Hudspeth, Tel: +7-7172-702-100, email: hudspethbk@state.gov; 2) Embassy Tashkent Economic Officer Robert McCutcheon, Tel: 998-71- 120-5450, email: mccutcheonra@state.gov; and 3) Embassy Tashkent Environmental Affairs Specialist Bakhtiyor Mukhamadiev, Tel: 998-71-120-5450, email: mukhamadievbr@state.gov. Management-related questions may be directed to Management Chief Doug Ellrich, Tel: 998-71-120-5450, email: ellrichdk@state.gov. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT PROPOSAL -------------- ¶3. (U) Post requests the temporary posting of an Embassy Science Fellow from the U.S. National Science Foundation to assess the scientific, engineering, and technological capabilities in Uzbekistan in light of current negotiations on a U.S.-Uzbek Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement. A -- GENERAL INFORMATION TOPIC: State of Science and Technology in Uzbekistan HOST: Committee for Coordination of Science and Technology Development, Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan TIME FRAME: Flexible. Prefer two to three months in either the summer or fall of 2009. Medical clearance required. ADDITIONAL SKILLS: Although not required, Russian and/or Uzbek language ability will enhance the Fellow's productivity. Post will assist with translating and interpreting services as needed. SECURITY CLEARANCE: Not required B -- PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION The Fellow will assess current Uzbek science and technology (S&T) capabilities, thereby assisting Post and OES/STC in ongoing negotiations on a bilateral U.S.-Uzbek S&T Cooperation Agreement. The major tasks in this project are: -- Consult with S&T decision-makers and with top scientists to identify key issues, challenges and priorities in science, engineering, and technology in Uzbekistan; -- Conduct site visits to scientific, research, engineering and technological facilities to TASHKENT 00000252 003.2 OF 003 identify S&T capabilities as well as needs and gaps; -- Draft a written assessment of Uzbekistans S&T capacity and potential; make recommendations for expanded bilateral U.S.-Uzbekistan S&T cooperation; -- Advise and assist in the preparatory work and negotiations aimed towards signing of a bilateral framework agreement between the U.S. and Uzbekistan on science and technology cooperation; and -- Act as a resource for Embassy Tashkent, the Departments Regional Environmental, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Hub for Central Asia, and OES/STC on scientific and technical issues between the U.S., Uzbekistan, and other Central Asian countries. C -- ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Post commits to provide housing, space and office support, in-country travel arrangements, and other logistical support, as required. D -- CONTACT INFORMATION The points of contact for substantive questions about this proposal are 1) Regional ESTH Hub Officer Bruce Hudspeth, Tel: +7-7172-702-100, email: hudspethbk@state.gov; 2) Embassy Tashkent Economic Officer Robert McCutcheon, Tel: 998-71- 120-5450, email: mccutcheonra@state.gov; and 3) Embassy Tashkent Environmental Affairs Specialist Bakhtiyor Mukhamadiev, Tel: 998-71-120-5450, email: mukhamadievbr@state.gov. Management-related questions may be directed to Management Chief Doug Ellrich, Tel: 998-71-120-5450, email: ellrichdk@state.gov. BUTCHER To view the entire SMART message, go to URL http://repository.state.sgov.gov/_layouts/OSS SearchResults.aspx?k=messageid:9693f3fd-f7b3- 49e0-94d0-583d2c593e0d