VZCZCXRO9131
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #0493/01 1541640
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021640Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9200
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC 0112

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAMAKO 000493 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
DEPT FOR AF/W 
DEPT FOR EB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD AORC EAID ML
SUBJECT: U.S. PARTICIPATION IN MALI'S JUNE 12-13 DONOR 
CONFERENCE 
 
BAMAKO 00000493  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1.(U)  Summary.  Mali's June 12 - 13 Donor Conference will 
provide an important opportunity for the USG to showcase our 
existing $150 million annual assistance package to Mali and 
to demonstrate support for greater donor coordination in the 
sectors in which we are active.  We are joined by our 
European and Canadian colleagues in wanting to restrict the 
conversation to existing development assistance as opposed to 
making any new announcements of additional aid. See para 6 
for the proposed US Delegation approach during Mali's Donor 
Conference round table.  Request any further guidance from 
Washington.  End Summary. 
 
2.(U)  The Malian government will host a round table for 
development partners in Bamako on June 12-13.  The round 
table is intended to reinforce cooperation between Mali and 
the international donor community via a two day discussion of 
a variety of development issues, including Mali's ten-year 
plan for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 
and its Strategic Framework for Growth and Poverty Reduction 
(CSCRP).  The round table will also examine progress since 
the last round table donor conference which was held in 
Geneva in March 2004. 
 
3.(SBU)  The Malian government hopes the round table will 
produce agreement on Mali's ten-year plan to meet the MDGs, 
the CSCRP, and an accepted system for collecting development 
statistics and indicators.  Several senior Malian officials 
are currently traveling abroad to encourage the attendance of 
high-level invitees.  International donors in Mali, however, 
have recommended to capitals that delegations be led by local 
Chiefs of Mission.  We therefore recommend that the 
Ambassador head our delegation, which will also include the 
USAID Director and the MCC Director in Mali, as well as 
members of their respective staffs. 
 
4.(SBU) Although the upcoming round table was seemingly 
intended to serve as a pledging mechanism for the donor 
community, representatives of the international donor 
community in Mali have made clear that there is little room 
for additional pledges.  The Malian government is realistic 
in its expectations, and has therefore focused the agenda on 
improved donor coordination, the implementation of the Paris 
Declaration and discussion of appropriate monitoring 
mechanisms. 
 
5.(U) The agenda for the two days is as follows: 
 
Wednesday, June 11 
 
Official opening dinner 
 
Thursday, June 12 
 
Opening Ceremony 
 
Session 1 : Progress made since the 2004 Round Table 
Focus in Session 1 will be on the CSCRP, the Paris 
Declarations, the Common Strategy of Country Assistance 
(SCAP), and governance. 
 
Session 2 : Accelerated growth and the achievement of the MDG 
Focus in Session 2 will be on the Accelerated Growth 
Strategy, Mali's 10-year plan to meet MDGs, and the extension 
of the goals of this MDG plan to the 166 vulnerable communes 
under the national food security program (PNSA), and the 
economic and social development plan (PDES). 
 
Friday, June 13 
 
Continuation of Session 2 
 
Session 3: Measuring Results 
Focus will be on ways to measure CSCRP activity. 
 
Session 4: Finance of CSCRP and MDG and role of Development 
Partners 
In addition to the presentation of the CSCRP/MDG 2008-2012 
plan, this will be the occasion for the heads of delegations 
to make a statement about each donor country's participation 
in this process. 
 
Session 5: Adoption of a Monitoring Mechanism 
 
Session 6: Wrap-up and Closing 
 
Closing Ceremony 
 
BAMAKO 00000493  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
6.(SBU) There will be several occasions for input from the US 
Delegation. During Session 1, we intend to highlight the USG 
position on the Paris Declaration, especially our support for 
the implementation of a whole-of-government approach to 
foreign assistance, the recognition of the importance of 
individual country performance, the progressive untying of 
aid, and building partnerships that leverage development 
finance resources.  We will also review commitment to 
improving aid effectiveness through our active engagement in 
the local donor coordination mechanism (known as the Common 
Strategy on Country Assistance or SCAP) and the important 
impact of good governance, transparency, and effective 
decentralization on Mali's development.  During Session 2, we 
will review the approaches taken by USAID and MCC in 
supporting accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction 
in Mali.  Session 4 will be an opportunity for the Ambassador 
to provide a broader review of the current USD 150 million 
annual assistance program and the linkages between these 
projects and Mali's stated development goals. We will also 
highlight our work with donor coordination, our preference 
for project-based vice direct budgetary support, and our 
close attention to interlinking and integrating our 
development assistance, both within the USG and the broader 
donor community. We will support this overview with more 
detailed handouts on our actual assistance to Mali. 
MCCULLEY