Cablegate: Yemen: Mepi Fy 2003 Funding Recommendations

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SANAA 002917

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMPI KPAO EAID ECON PREL YM DEMOCRATIC REFORM ECON COM
SUBJECT: YEMEN: MEPI FY 2003 FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS

REF: A. SECSTATE 337476
B. SANAA 1599

1. (u) Post warmly welcomes the MEPI FY 03 funding
recommendations (ref a) and is pleased that Yemen is strongly
represented across the pillars. At the same time, Post would
appreciate being considered for the following programs:

Economic Pillar: Post requests that Yemen be considered for
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development as part of the
Middle East Finance Corporation. Because SMEs constitute 96
percent of the private sector in Yemen, their development is
vital to the continued growth of the country's economy (ref
b).

Education Pillar: Post requests that Yemen be included in the
"Partnership Schools" program. Reftel b explains the
inadequacies of Yemen's educational system. In sum: Yemen's
schools are ill-suited to meet the needs of a growing
population and developing economy: teachers are poorly
trained, qualified English language instructors are rare, and
technology is not yet used in most classrooms.

Women's Pillar: Post welcomes MEPI strategic thinking on
women's issues and believes Yemen will be fertile ground for
continued focus on women's development.

2. (u) Comment: MEPI funding in Yemen has been successful in
strengthening democratic processes and will soon bring
internet connectivity to ten schools and increase women's
literacy. Post looks forward to the development
opportunities the FY 03 allocations will bring. End Comment.
HULL

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