SE GRATION MEETS WITH ROME-BASED FOOD AGENCIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 UN ROME 000047 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR DCHA, FFP, OFDA, AND AFRICA BUREAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: WFP AORC EAID PREF EAGR EFIN UN SUBJECT: SE GRATION MEETS WITH ROME-BASED FOOD AGENCIES UN ROME 00000047 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. On June 30, U.S. Special Envoy (SE) to Sudan J. Scott Gration and his deputy, Tim Shortley, held introductory meetings with FAO Deputy Director General Jim Butler and WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran as well as their respective Sudan Operations teams. Gration expressed optimism for durable peace by year's end and informed both organizations of the Sudanese Government's increased focus on improving food security. He encouraged FAO to work more closely with the government, and asked WFP to prepare possible concept notes aimed at supporting and sustaining IDPs/refugees as they return home. End Summary -------------- FAO: Need to Work Closely -------------- ¶2. At FAO, SE Gration held introductory meetings with Deputy Director General Jim Butler, Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division (TCE) Director Laurent Thomas and TCE/Sudan portfolio officers Werner Chakkalakal and Rodrigue Vinet. TCE has over 300 staff working in Sudan in agriculture relief and recovery operations valued at $135 million and supported by the EC, the U.S., Italy, Switzerland and France. The multifaceted approach supported by OFDA - the largest TCE donor in the three Darfurs - was highlighted as extremely instrumental in sustaining the peace process. ¶3. SE Gration expressed concern about planting techniques and opined that the best way to increase yields is through education campaigns using extension workers. TCE reported that, with EC funding, a successful extension worker program was initiated two years ago. This program coupled with farmer field schools are helping to educate farmers on conservation agriculture techniques. TCE also highlighted that, as a technical agency, it does not experience problems with access faced by other humanitarian agencies and noted that the technical workshops it holds, for example, on detecting Rift Valley Fever early on, actually helps to bring both sides of conflict together. Lastly, FAO reported there is pressure from regional governments, e.g., Juba, to build capacity simultaneously for all states but success is impeded by the missing requisite bureaucratic structure. ¶4. SE Gration reported that the situation is changing quickly, with NGOs back in terms of capacity but not the desired coverage (of the 13 NGOs expelled, six were FAO implementing partners, carrying out livestock vaccination campaigns, among other projects). With durable peace hoped for by the end of the year and the increasing interest of the Government toward improving food security, SE Gration encouraged FAO to work more closely with government counterparts. -------------- WFP: Synchronize Programs -------------- ¶5. At WFP, SE Gration first held a lengthy discussion with the Sudan operations team, led by Deputy Chief Operating Officer Ramiro Lopes da Silva, about the ongoing emergency relief operation in Darfur and Southern Sudan, particularly since the NGO expulsion in Darfur and the increasingly volatile security conditions in Southern Sudan. With regard to recovery activities, SE Gration asked WFP to review possible concept notes aimed at supporting and sustaining IDPs/refugees as they move out of camps to return home and rebuild their livelihoods. ¶6. In his meeting with WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, he reiterated how he foresees peace by the end of the year due to the quickly evolving situation. In light of this, he stated that programs should support IDP returns and rebuilding communities. WFP staff stated that their support to help people resettle in urban areas with food in an affordable, sustainable and scalable manner will lead to market development and stability. ¶7. Executive Director Sheeran promoted the many ways to use WFP's massive interventions as well as micro-interventions to stabilize the land and begin building a social contract. Among them, she advocated for massive public works projects and using local purchase, including through the Gates Foundation-funded Purchase for Progress Initiative. She also briefly reported on WFP discussions with private sector companies to develop a gum UN ROME 00000047 002.2 OF 002 arabic cooperative. ¶8. USSES has cleared this message. ¶9. Minimize considered. GLOVER