Cablegate: Iraq Partners Forum Discusses Election Preparations and Un
VZCZCXRO1303
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3275 3541449
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201449Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5805
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003275
STATE FOR NEA/I/ECON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: Iraq Partners Forum Discusses Election Preparations and UN
Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)
1. (SBU) The Iraq Partners Forum (IPF), which holds monthly meetings
among the donors, UN, and World Bank to discuss international donor
coordination, met on December 16 and focused on the UN's efforts for
the upcoming elections and its strategic planning for assistance in
the upcoming years. Emboffs and representatives of the UK, EU,
Sweden, Japan, Italy, Greece, Spain, Danish and Poland attended.
2. (SBU) Sandra Mitchell, head of UNAMI's Election Assistance Team,
briefed donors on her team's role in advising the Independent High
Electoral Commission (IHEC). She expressed confidence that IHEC is
fully capable of effectively executing the election, with support
from UNAMI and USAID-funded International Foundation for Election
Systems (IFES). UNAMI is providing input to the election security
planning process, and will field 14 observer teams on Election Day.
In coordination with IFES, UNAMI will play a significant role in
administering out-of-country voting. (Note: Election briefing will
be reported in septel.)
3. (SBU) Christine McNab, Deputy Special Representative of the
Secretary General (DSRSG) for UNAMI's Office of Development and
Humanitarian Support (ODHS), said that UNAMI has begun preparation
for the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), which will
guide the UN's collective work for 2011-2014. UNAMI, in
consultation with the GoI, has identified six priority areas for the
UNDAF: Governance, Rule of Law, Diversified Economic Growth,
Environmental Protection, Essential Services, and Human Capital.
McNab noted that these areas are all in line with Iraq's draft
National Development Plan, but stressed that the UNDAF strongly
references international treaties and conventions, such as the
Millennium Development Goals. She added that UNAMI hopes to
conclude the UNDAF with the current Iraqi government by late
February, in advance of the UN's global deadline of late March for
all UNDAFs. McNab acknowledged that details of the UNDAF will have
to be discussed between the new government and the separate UN
agencies.
3. (SBU) McNabb also discussed UNAMI's efforts to integrate its UN
agencies and enhance UN cooperation with the international donor
community. UNAMI will focus its future efforts on the following
programs: (1) address the social needs of those living in Iraq's
Disputed Internal Boundaries; (2) focus on Iraq's transboundary
water issues with Turkey, Syria and Iran; (3) support the GoI reform
efforts of the Public Distribution System and help the GoI move
towards the development of a social safety net; and (4) set
benchmarks for GoI progress on civic registration and conducting the
census.
4. (SBU) In a December 17 meeting with econoffs, UNAMI's ODHS
program official Karin McLennan revealed that her office seeks to
refocus the IPF to launch assistance coordination in various
sectors. McLennan recommends that various UN agency heads also be
included in future IPF meetings to improve information exchange
between the UN and donors. She also suggested that that the IPF
tackle more contentious issues affecting Iraq, such as cross-border
issues, the hydrocarbon law, and election and political issues as
well as include countries from the region such as Turkey, Kuwait,
Jordan and Egypt.
Hill