VZCZCXRO6294
RR RUEHMR
DE RUEHMR #0402/01 3161759
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121759Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4473
INFO RUEHOR/AMEMBASSY GABORONE 0526
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1199
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 4907

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000402 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR M/PRI TONI PONCE 
GABORONE FOR R/HRO CASSANDRA HAMBLIN 
PRETORIA FOR RHAP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AODE AMGT KMRS LT
SUBJECT: NSDD-38  U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STAFFING 
REQUEST FOR MASERU, LESOTHO 
 
REF: STATE 114698 
 
¶1.  Embassy Maseru approves in principle and welcomes the 
addition of three United States Agency for International 
Development Health Positions in Lesotho as detailed in the 
NSDD-38 request.  Post is pleased to provide the following with 
respect to the USAID NSDD-38 request to place this additional 
staffing at U.S. Embassy Maseru, namely a GS-13 five year PSC 
appointment USAID Care and Treatment Specialist, a GS-13 five 
year PSC appointment Community-Based OVC/Care Specialist and a 
GS-13 five year PSC appointment Health Systems Strengthening 
Specialist. 
 
 
 
¶2.  The in-country USAID presence requested under this NSDD-38 
is included in Maseru's FY11 MSP, cited under Performance Goal 
Paper - Containing the HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Revitalizing Health 
Infrastructure and further detailed in the OGAC 2009 PEPFAR 
Country Operational Plan (COP). 
 
 
 
¶3.  Embassy Maseru is currently understaffed and under budgeted 
to support fully all existing program and activities.  The 
Mission, therefore, presently has no other resources available 
to support additional President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 
(PEPFAR) activities in Lesotho anticipated to be $140 million 
over the next five years.  These three proposed USAID positions 
are required to implement and monitor on-going PEPFAR 
activities. 
 
 
 
¶4.  Post agrees with USAID's NSDD-38 application that TDY, FSN, 
or local contractor personnel are insufficient to support fully 
this program.  The PEPFAR program is a Presidential initiative 
and a significant foreign policy program for the United States. 
The Lesotho PEPFAR program involves substantial taxpayer 
resources and requires a high degree of technical knowledge of 
and coordination with USAID headquarters, the Government of 
Lesotho (GOL), partnering USG agencies, and other donors on 
issues that are politically sensitive, financially important and 
technically and diplomatically complex. The Chief of Mission 
concurs with USAID that these new staffing positions are in the 
best interest of USG efforts to support PEPFAR and its 
associated programs, and that these positions must be filled by 
PSC employees with appropriate security clearances. 
 
 
 
¶5.  Post has worked in close cooperation with USAID to develop a 
plan for management services, office space, residential housing, 
and funding to support this increase in staffing.  We agree that 
USAID should subscribe to the full range of ICASS services to 
support these positions.  We have agreed on the renovation and 
provision of space on the chancery compound to house the USAID 
staff in light of security concerns at this critical crime 
threat post and on funding for staffing increases. 
 
¶6.  Post concurs with USAID that the benefits of this program 
are very substantial relative to the inherent security risks 
associated with additional personnel on the ground.  We are 
working very closely with all appropriate offices to manage and 
mitigate potential security risks. 
 
¶7.  Consequently, the Chief of Mission approves the United 
States Agency for International Development request case number: 
 USAID-AMC0-0038-2009 subject to the following conditions: 
 
A)  All positions shall fall under Chief of Mission authority. 
 
B)  USAID provides sufficient funding to undertake the following: 
 
a)  financially support to the degree proportionate to new total 
staffing requirements the renovation of existing warehouse 
space, fitting it out to become functional office space to 
support the increased three-person staffing footprint; 
 
b)  procure and deliver furniture, furnishings, and equipment to 
support the entirety of USAID office functions; 
 
c)  lease appropriate housing, including fitting all 
post-required security upgrades to conform to the Interagency 
Housing Board (IAHB) and Regional Security Office (RSO) 
guidelines and regulations; 
 
d)  procure and deliver residential furniture and furnishings 
 
MASERU 00000402  002 OF 002 
 
 
(including  emergency power supply (generators), appliances, 
heaters, air conditioners, curtains, etc.) which conform to post 
practice and IAHB guidelines; 
 
e)  provide for all direct staffing and benefit costs associated 
with all USAID personnel employed at post. 
 
C)  Diplomatic Security provides prerequisite approvals/waivers 
for the renovations of existing facilities to allow co-location 
of USAID offices on the current Embassy compound.  In the 
absence of such approvals/waivers, USAID must provide funding 
for leasing of commercial office space. 
 
D) All USAID personnel must complete appropriate security 
training, at the Foreign Service Institute if practical, on the 
operational and security requirements associated with an 
assignment to a U.S. mission overseas. 
 
¶8.  Post requests acceptance of these conditions by telegram 
response at the earliest convenience. 
NOLAN