VZCZCXRO1228
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0534/01 1691145
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171145Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8131
INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000534 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL EAID CG UN EUN
SUBJECT:  Shortley and van de Geer discuss eastern Congo programs 
with UN agencies and donor representatives 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Representatives of UN agencies briefed AF Senior 
Adviser Tim Shortley and EU Special Envoy Roeland van de Geer on 
their programs in eastern Congo June 2 in Kinshasa.  UN programs 
include opening strategic road axes, extension of state authority, 
refugee return and agricultural development.  These are hampered by 
funding gaps and security and humanitarian problems.  Shortley and 
van de Geer called for additional donor funding to support the Goma 
and Nairobi processes.  Shortley noted a lack of coordination by 
donors, and said many of their activities in the east do not 
necessarily meet the needs of stabilization.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) A/S Frazer's Senior Adviser Tim Shortley and EU Great 
Lakes Special Envoy Roeland van de Geer met with the heads of UN 
agencies and representatives of major donors June 2 in Kinshasa. 
The UN agencies provided a briefing on their activities in eastern 
Congo.  Shortley and van de Geer stressed to donors the need for 
additional funding and coordination to support the Goma and Nairobi 
processes. 
 
Meeting with UN agencies 
------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is 
taking the lead on opening six priority road axes in the east.  The 
total estimated cost for this project is $70 million; however, with 
only $33 million available at the moment, UNOPS can only begin work 
to open three of the six axes.  In order of priority, these are: 
Sake-Masisi; Bukavu-Hombo; and Bunia-Boga.  UNOPS has the capacity 
to restore full access along the Sake-Masisi and Bukavu-Hombo axes 
by the end of the year if no major security constraint is 
encountered.  Aside from funding problems, a key challenge is the 
difficulty of drawing on overtaxed MONUC engineering assets. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is working 
on projects related to community development and reconciliation and 
extension of state authority.  They are planning to target donors 
which may have money available in the short-term. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 
is working on tripartite agreements between DRC and Uganda and DRC 
and Burundi.  The largest problems continue to relate to the UNHRC 
tripartite for Congolese refugees in Rwanda, of which there are 
approximately 45,000, and how to work out their return.  There is 
also a need to clarify the status of FDLR members. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The World Food Program (WFP) stressed the problem of the 
food pipeline break of 89,000 metric tons in the east.  People will 
be on half rations until October.  The problem has been compounded 
by the fact that Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania have all 
blocked food exports. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has the task 
of rehabilitating major agricultural production centers in the east, 
particularly in North Kivu.  Key challenges include access to 
markets and seed and the need to increase household income, which 
will free up more money for production. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) highlighted 
their work in assisting returnees get back on their feet.  However, 
they are faced with significant problems, particularly food security 
and the lack of infrastructure and legitimate state authority.  The 
UNICEF representative also noted that they are screening for child 
soldiers within the ranks of armed groups. 
 
Meeting with donors 
------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Shortley and van de Geer stressed the need for additional 
financing to support the Goma and Nairobi processes in their meeting 
with major donors.  Shortley cited a lack of coordination between 
donors funding the processes, and noted that there is a very narrow 
timeframe to ensure that both are fully successful. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) A key issue is to determine which projects need immediate 
implementation and those that are more long-term.  MONUC D/SRSG 
Mountain's chief of staff presented an overview of the UN 
stabilization plan for Eastern Congo, highlighting key items 
including brassage and transit centers.  USAID Mission Director 
noted that the donor group meets regularly and can work out a 
coordination plan to support the Goma and Nairobi processes.  Many 
donors highlighted their development and stabilization activities in 
the east.  Shortley pointed out that these activities do not 
necessarily meet the needs of stabilization. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Shortley and van de Geer also discussed with the group 
 
KINSHASA 00000534  002 OF 002 
 
 
the capacity of NGOs to increase their activities in the east, 
ensuring that people in North Kivu are involved in designing these 
projects, and the ability of donor countries to ensure additional 
funding in the short term. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) This message was cleared by Senior Advisor Shortley. 
 
GARVELINK