VZCZCXRO3173
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #0575/01 1711218
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191218Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9329
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MCC WASHINGTON DC 0114

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAMAKO 000575 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W AND EB 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD AORC EAID ML
SUBJECT: MALI HOLDS ROUNDTABLE IN BAMAKO FOR INTERNATIONAL 
DONORS 
 
REF: BAMAKO 493 
 
BAMAKO 00000575  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1.(SBU)  Summary:  Mali held its sixth donors' conference for 
international partners June 12-13 in Bamako.  The conference 
provided a forum for the GOM to present a series of economic 
growth, poverty reduction, governance, and Millennium 
Development Goal (MDG) programs and initiatives.  Instead of 
pledging new commitments, as the Malian government had 
perhaps intended, traditional donors outlined existing 
programs of USD 6.5 billion for the 2008-2012 period.  The 
U.S. delegation, led by the Ambassador, used the conference 
to highlight the U.S. assistance package to Mali, which makes 
us Mali's largest bilateral donor.  Although one of the round 
table's central themes was improved donor coordination and 
harmonization, a noticeable failure to coordinate on the 
conference's final press statement triggered some controversy 
as the text jointly drafted by the Dutch and Malians was not 
cleared by the Canadian, French or U.S. delegations.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.(SBU)  Mali's June 12-13 donor round table was co-chaired 
by Prime Minister Modibo Sidibe and the United Nations 
Development Program (UNDP).  The round table was intended to 
reinforce cooperation between Mali and the international 
donor community by focusing on Mali's plans for reaching the 
Millennium Development Goals and increasing growth and 
reducing poverty.  Over 250 individuals representing the 
Malian government, bilateral and multilateral partners, 
financial organizations, the private sector, and civil 
society participated.  The Malian Ministers of Finance; 
Economy, Industry and Trade; and Agriculture all played 
prominent roles.  International donors, which had agreed to 
cap representation at the Chief of Mission level in order to 
manage expectations for the conference, were generally 
represented by local Ambassadors or agency heads (reftel). 
China, Japan and several Arab and Islamic development 
organizations attended, as well as Turkey (which pledged USD 
100,000) and Egypt (which expressed interest in technical 
exchange programs).  The U.S. delegation was led by the 
Ambassador with assistance from the USAID and the MCC 
directors. 
 
3.(U)  Prime Minister Sidibe opened the conference with a 
comprehensive speech outlining the economic and social 
progress Mali has made despite exogenous shocks and continued 
instability in Mali's northern regions.  He noted that Mali's 
economy continues to grow at an average of 5 percent 
annually, that school attendance is rising, access to water 
is increasing, and infrastructure developments expanding. 
The Minister presented Mali's plans for economic growth, 
poverty reduction, good governance, and its 10 year strategy 
for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. 
 
4.(U)  There was little in the way of new commitments, apart 
from the Turkish delegation, as donor contributions and 
engagement in Mali are already significant.  Existing funding 
for Mali totals USD 5.3 billion for 2008-2011 and USD 1.2 
billion for 2012.  A joint commission will review the 
implementation of these engagements as well Mali's Strategic 
Framework for Growth and Poverty Reduction (CSCRP) on an 
annual basis.  The Ambassador's speech highlighted U.S 
support for good governance while our USAID director provided 
an overview of U.S. food security programs designed to 
support 166 local communes regarded as vulnerable.  The USAID 
director lauded the Malian government's new food security 
initiatives and encouraged the government to coordinate with 
on-going donor projects in affected communes.  The MCC 
director discussed policy reform, noting that while 
significant resources are dedicated to infrastructure 
improvements, the impacts of these improvements in terms of 
poverty reduction depend on how they are managed.  The MCC 
director encouraged effective and efficient management within 
the framework of public-private partnerships. 
 
5.(SBU)  As the current head of the donors' coordination 
group in Mali, the Dutch delegation played a central role 
during the conference and jointly drafted the round table's 
final press statement with the Malians.  Unfortunately, they 
drafted the text without consulting with the French or U.S. 
delegations.  The Canadian delegation, which participated to 
some extent in the drafting process, objected that some of 
their concerns were not reflected in the final document. 
When the statement was read to conference participants, the 
French Ambassador said it was difficult to react not having 
seen the document beforehand, while the Canadian Ambassador 
said Canada was not in complete agreement with the text.  The 
Dutch delegation apologized but indicated that it believed 
 
BAMAKO 00000575  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
that, as head of the donors' coordination group, it had the 
authority to negotiate with the Malian government on behalf 
of the entire donor community.  At this point, Prime Minister 
Sidibe said he thought the document was a "close enough 
reflection of the discussions" and that the GOM and donors 
could move ahead. 
 
6.(SBU) COMMENT:  The donor round table was generally 
well-prepared and well-managed.  The Minister of Finance and 
the new Minister of Economy stood out as particularly 
eloquent (and less defensive than other Ministers).  The 
Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families 
also gave a well-received presentation.  One source of 
friction between the donors and the Malian government is the 
slow pace of reform and the donor community urged the Malians 
to implement key reforms in the economic, social and 
political spheres.  Reaction to the round table's final press 
statement reflected the challenges of increased donor 
coordination in Mali.  Although the round table did not 
produce any new developments, it provided a useful accounting 
of ongoing international support to Mali. 
MCCULLEY