REFORMING USG TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 000596 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID EFIN ECON PREL AF SUBJECT: REFORMING USG TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, HIGH OFFICE OF OVERSIGHT, AND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Mission is developing a new, coordinated approach for providing salary support and technical assistance to key Ministries and offices of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA). We are designing programs to reduce ministerial stove-piping and enhance the GIRoA's ability to harmonize the activities of Ministries and independent agencies. We are also working with other donors to ensure we maximize the positive impact of our assistance and avoid duplication of effort. The USG is developing three new technical assistance programs for: (i) the Office of the President (OoP),including the Office of Administrative Affairs (OAA) and the Office of the National Security Council (ONSC); (ii)the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA); and(iii) the High Office of Oversight (HOO). In addition, a fourth mechanism, developed in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, will provide salary support directly to the GIRoA. All the new programs will support elements of the GIRoA that are responsible for inter-ministerial coordination. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Four new programs will support Ministries and agencies that serve an interagency coordination role within the GIRoA. The goal of these assistance programs will be to support key institutions which will produce tangible results over the next 12-18 months, while also building the capacity of mid-level staff on the Tashkeel (the authorized personnel structure) to ensure that our institution building efforts are sustainable and will last beyond the U.S. civilian uplift and increase in financial support. ¶3. (SBU) USG assistance to the OoP, MoFA and HOO has been provided through USAID's cooperative agreement with the Asia Foundation since ¶2001. The activities under this agreement included technical advisory support, salary supplements, operational expenses, and emergency surge support to respond to immediate needs. This agreement expired on January 31, 2010, but a portion of the program was extended to continue funding technical advisors in the HOO until March 31, 2010. While the old program had positive impact, itct positions in the ONSC, OAA and the HOO will be supported if this joint panel can reach consensus on the positions. Priority will be given for senior and mid-level �0A;positions that: i) contribute to inter-ministerial policy-making, ii) support interagency processes, and iii) provide coordination, communications, and record keeping functions that help with inter-ministerial coordination. -------------- HIGH OFFICE OF OVERSIGHT PROGRAM -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The USG is looking at alternative ways to support the HOO national advisors currently paid by the Asia Foundation, by either placing the advisors onto the Tashkeel or transferring them to UNDP's Accountability and Transparency (ACT) program. Future USG support to HOO will focus on building HOO capacity to carry out its mandate to support and oversee the development of sectoral and institutional anti-corruption strategies and action plans focusing on both corruption prevention and anti-corruption enforcement, ensure better coordination and efficiency of anti-corruption KABUL 00000596 002 OF 002 efforts, and initiate anti-corruption reforms. Activities will include building HOO technical capacity in priority areas (asset declaration, complaints, case tracking, monitoring and reporting, etc.); developing a long-term institutional development and sustainability plan, as well as a strategic action plan for leading and monitoring Afghan anti-corruption efforts; developing and implementing a plan to regionalize the HOO; and increasing HOO's ability to publicize its work and raise awareness of anticorruption issues. A concept paper has been developed in consultation with HOO, the U.S. Rule of Law/Anti-Corruption team, USAID, and other donors. The final scope of work will be drafted by March 31. We expect to have a new program in place by the end of May. -------------- OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PROGRAM -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The OoP program will focus on the OAA and the ONSC. The OAA provides direct administrative support to the President and ensures that executive policies and procedures are followed and that official Presidential documents are available to ministries, parliament, and the public. The ONSC directs national security policy and strategy formulation, ensures the President is well informed on national security matters and during crises, and administers the national security decision-making processes and structures. The goal of the OoP program will be to help the OoP ensure integrated, transparent, proactive, and corruption-free governance in conformity with GIRoA laws and regulations. Activities will focus around workforce development, systems development, and technical assistance. ¶8. (SBU) USAID is coordinating with POL and POL-MIL to develop an inventory of existing support to the OAA and ONSC to ensure that the new program complements the work of other donors and the military. The civ-mil Executive Working Group (EWG) recently tasked the POL-MIL counselor to lead efforts to coordinate policy and administrative support to the ONSC, assuming responsibility for the effort that had on an ad hoc basis been led by USFOR-A's L/EMB office. A full-time USAID team composed of a U.S. Direct Hire and a Foreign Service National are meeting regularly with GIRoA officials who have been designated to represent GIRoA interests in the development of this program. A scope of work will be drafted by March 31 and a new program should be in play by the end of May. -------------- MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PROGRAM -------------- ¶9. (SBU) New program development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been delayed because of Cabinet and management changes within the Ministry and the Ministry's preoccupation with the January 28 London Conference. In January, Minister Zalmay Rassoul, formerly the National Security Advisor (who direct the activities of the ONSC),was confirmed as Minister of Foreign Affairs. USAID and the Political and Economic Sections will work together to develop an appropriate project with the MoFA that focuses on regional cooperation, staff capacity building, and regional economic affairs. A scope of work will be developed by March 31 and a new program should be in place by the end of May. EIKENBERRY