VZCZCXRO8677
RR RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM
DE RUEHAM #2783/01 2791102
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051102Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3614
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
RUEHDOI/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
RUFTNAB/COMUSNAVCENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 AMMAN 002783 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA (ARVIS), AND OES/PCI 
STATE PASS TO USAID 
STATE PASS TO EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
USDA FOR FOREST SERVICE/INTERNATIONAL 
INTERIOR FOR INTERNATIONAL/WASHBURNE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TSPL TBIO ETRD EAID PGOV JO
SUBJECT: FY09 PRIORITIES AND WORK-ITEMS FOR AMMAN ESTH HUB 
 
REF: STATE 97800 
 
¶1.  The Amman ESTH Hub for the NEA Bureau was established in 1997 
and supports 17 countries in the NEA region.  The current incumbent 
(Manu Bhalla) is the fourth Hub officer and is supported by a 
regional environmental specialist (currently vacant). The Amman Hub 
advances a wide range of regional priorities, services a broad 
geographical area, and interacts with a diverse array of USG and 
local interlocutors.  The Hub officer traveled to 9 NEA region 
countries (as well as Washington, Rome, and Istanbul) over the past 
12 months.  Over the past year, the Hub has supported 18 USG 
agencies in ESTH collaborations in the NEA region and directly 
supported almost a dozen visits by USG agencies to Jordan including 
several VIP visits. 
 
Key Priorities and Work Items 
------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  Hub priorities for 2009 are closely aligned with the 2008 OES 
Priorities for NEA (reftel).  The work items for the first quarter 
of FY09 are specified in detail, while longer-term work items do not 
necessarily have specific dates.  The Hub priorities support 
economic growth, sustainable development, public diplomacy/outreach, 
the Arab-Israeli peace process, and advancing capacity for improved 
environmental management.  Maintaining the strong information flow 
and supporting the broad array of USG agencies engaged in ESTH 
collaborations in NEA will continue to be a key priority - and use 
significant resources from the Amman Hub.  Traveling to NEA 
countries not visited during FY08 will also guide Hub travel plans. 
 
Priority 1:  Water Resource Management Issues 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3.  Access to water for municipal and agricultural use are critical 
issues in the Middle East as are trans-boundary water issues and 
appropriate water resource management policies.  Key work items 
include: 
 
-- Bolstering and promoting active Israeli/Jordanian/Palestinian 
participation in the EXACT Multilateral Working Group.  The 
short-term focus will be the U.S. supported regional training 
initiative which includes an October 2008 U.S. study tour for core 
party officials on wastewater reuse. Italy is the most recent donor 
to join the EXACT process.  The Hub will continue to promote EXACT 
with potential donors such as Sweden, Norway, and Japan who have 
signaled their interest in joining the forum.  The Hub will also 
support a presentation by the core parties at the March 2009 Fifth 
World Water Forum in Istanbul. 
-- Supporting regional organizations such as the Middle East 
Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) in research and capacity 
building.  Track the MEDRC Executive Committee's ambitious plan to 
reposition MEDRC with a new private sector and donor based funding 
mechanism and move away from the current country membership based 
framework. 
-- Supporting NEA bureau representatives, posts, and USAID on 
trans-boundary issues such as the Red Sea-Dead Sea feasibility 
study, the Nile Basin Initiative, and the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. 
-- Reporting on programs to improve access to safe drinking water, 
mobilization of private capital for related infrastructure, 
integrated water resources management, and trans-boundary water 
cooperation issues in the NEA region. 
 
Priority 2: Science Outreach in the Muslim World 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. U.S. science and technology (S&T) capabilities continue to be 
held in high regard, although in some cases, European project 
support seems to be displacing the U.S. from our interlocutors 
focus.  S&T collaborations in the Muslim world provide the U.S. with 
a natural entree for outreach and engagement.  The Amman Hub will 
continue to advance the Department's "Science and Technology 
Strategy for Outreach to Muslim Countries" through increased 
high-level engagement with S&T communities in the region; reaching 
out to youth (universities, high-schools), women, policy-makers, and 
technology-based entrepreneurs; and increasing collaborative 
activities.  Program elements include: 
 
-- Building upon the success of the July 2008 U.S.-Jordan S&T Joint 
Committee Meeting (JCM).  Six working groups in the areas of Water 
and Environment, Energy, Health, Education, Agriculture, and 
Innovation were formed.  The Hub will track (and nudge) these groups 
to convene regularly and develop viable projects. 
-- Holding outreach engagements at universities and high schools 
highlighting U.S. S&T collaborations. 
 
AMMAN 00002783  002 OF 004 
 
 
-- Participating and presenting USG collaborations at up to three 
regional conferences. 
-- Expanding Jordanian media coverage of Embassy ESTH activities and 
USG water resource management initiatives. 
-- Encouraging/supporting other posts in the region in increasing 
their ESTH issues media coverage. 
-- Supporting continued implementation of S&T agreements with Egypt, 
Libya, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. 
-- Assessing the feasibility of possible new agreements with other 
Gulf countries, particularly Qatar. 
-- Completing and presenting the proposal for the Year of U.S.-Arab 
Science Partnership.  A conceptual framework for this initiative 
which amplifies U.S. S&T support in the Arab world was presented in 
the Department in March 2008.  The next step is to develop a 
detailed business plan. 
 
Priority 3:  Environment and Energy 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  The Hub will also support the implementation of environmental 
cooperation agreements with Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain, and Oman in 
support of U.S. Free Trade Agreements (FTA) agreements.  Promoting 
the continued implementation of the Middle East Partnership 
Initiative (MEPI) environmental capacity building will also be a key 
focus.  Work items will include: 
 
-- Implementing MEPI regional courses on a range of environmental 
topics including Hazardous Waste Management (January 2009) and 
developing a MENA region pollution prevention and cleaner production 
network (starting in November 2008). 
-- Supporting implementation of the USAID-EPA interagency agreement 
for Jordan which includes extensive capacity building for the 
Environmental Rangers including a U.S. study tour, and training 
courses on investigations, inspections, and environmental 
prosecutions. 
-- Holding the next Joint Forum under the U.S.-Jordan FTA 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (late 2008). 
-- Supporting strong regional and U.S. participation in the 
Environmental Cities of the Mediterranean Forum (October 2008). 
-- Continuing outreach efforts to introduce Leadership in Energy and 
Environmental Design (LEED) principles for Green Buildings in the 
NEA region. 
-- Launching a Green Embassy initiative at Embassy Amman.  Promote 
some of the positive results with other NEA region Embassies. 
-- Supporting posts in monitoring key regional environmental issues 
including driftnet fishing (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia may 
be practicing large-scale driftnet fishing), coral reef preservation 
in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and oil-spill mitigation efforts in 
the Suez Canal and Arabian Gulf. 
-- Tracking renewable energy adoption and challenges in the NEA 
region as well as novel energy initiatives. 
-- Planning and participating in Earth Day related environmental 
outreach in at least two countries in the NEA region. 
 
Priority 4:  Pandemic Flu Preparedness and Public Health 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶6.  The threat of pandemic flu continues to be one of the highest 
priority public health issues in Egypt and its possible spread to 
nearby NEA posts also requires vigilance.  Key work items in the "H" 
part of the ESTH will include: 
 
-- Pandemic flu preparedness and avian influenza mitigation in Egypt 
and surrounding countries; 
-- Tracking and supporting the progress of the Middle East Breast 
Cancer Awareness and Research partnership (MEPI program), (Jordan, 
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and the Palestinian 
territories). 
 
Priority 5:  Support Middle East Peace Efforts 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶7.  The Amman Hub will support USG efforts related to the Middle 
East peace process through enhanced Israeli, Palestinian, and 
Jordanian cooperation on ESTH issues. 
 
-- Visit, monitor and report on success of Middle East Regional 
Cooperation (MERC) projects on fostering Israel-Arab collaboration. 
(Currently a record 38 active MERC projects are ongoing including 25 
in Jordan).  Review MERC pre-proposals and proposals.  Attend the 
MERC committee meetings in Washington to allocate project grants. 
-- Supporting successful Trilateral Research and Industrial 
Development (TRIDE) Governing Board meetings in the region to foster 
Israel-Jordan-U.S. collaboration with particular focus on water and 
 
AMMAN 00002783  003 OF 004 
 
 
renewable energy start-ups. 
-- Coordinating with NEA/RA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
to program regional environmental capacity building for Israeli, 
Jordanian, and Palestinian participants under the Multilateral 
Environmental working group. 
-- Encouraging increased Israeli-Arab nominations and participation 
in ESTH issues through the International Visitor program. 
-- Supporting EXACT Multilateral Water working group meetings 
(covered in Priority 1). 
 
Priority 6:  Hub operations and communications 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶8.  The Regional ESTH Officer will bolster the Hub operations and 
communications with posts, the inter-agency, and other Hubs. 
 
-- Supporting the preparation and delivery of the October 7-9 EST 
Officers conference for NEA/SCA in Cairo.  Foster a robust 
discussion on NEA regional ESTH issues. 
-- Designing a successful orientation and training plan for the new 
Regional Environmental Specialist (expected to start in November 
2008). 
-- Continuing bi-weekly updates on ongoing ESTH issues/activities in 
the region - sent to Washington inter-agency and regional posts (USG 
only). 
-- Launching an ESTH Hub website and interactive blog/chat sessions 
to start electronic outreach on ESTH issues with external 
interlocutors/contacts in NEA region. 
-- Encouraging ESTH officers at NEA posts to send regular updates on 
ESTH issues. 
-- Gleaning and sharing Hub best practices from Hub officers 
meetings. 
-- Meeting regularly with diplomatic corps members to track other 
ESTH activities in the region. 
-- Possibly convening a mini-ESTH conference for all NEA FSN/LES 
staff involved in ESTH work in May 2009.  OES funding support would 
increase the feasibility of this event. 
 
 
PROJECTED TRAVEL AND CALENDAR OF EVENTS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. The following is the rough calendar of events and projected 
travel.  Hub funding in FY08 was very tight with the marked 
increases in regional travel costs.  Given the additional 
training/orientation needs for a new LES Regional Environmental 
Specialist, an $8,000 increase in FY09 Hub travel funding is 
requested. 
 
Oct 5-10: Egypt, EST Officer Conference 
Oct 18-20: Dead-Sea, Eco-Cites of Mediterranean Forum 
Oct 20-28: U.S. study tour for core party officials on wastewater 
reuse (EXACT Water working group) 
Oct 20-29: U.S. study tour for Jordan's environmental rangers and 
Ministry of Environment (USAID/EPA organizing) 
Oct 25-27:  Jordan, National Energy Ratings System workshop with 
Department of Energy 
Oct 25-27:  Egypt International Partnership meeting on Avian and 
Pandemic Influenza 
Oct 31-Nov 2: Jordan MEPI Breast Cancer Partnership meeting 
Oct/Nov (tbd):  Signing of U.S.-Jordan 2008-2011 Environmental 
Work-plan under FTA. 
Nov - Feb (tbd): EPA Science fellow to support remediation planning 
at Russeifah landfill/phosphate mine in Jordan 
Nov 3-6: Kuwait ESTH meetings 
Nov (tbd):  Tunisia ESTH meetings 
Nov 23-25: Lebanon ESTH meetings 
December 7-10: Holiday:  Eid Al-Adha 
Dec 15-20: Oman - MEDRC Executive Council meeting + XXVII EXACT 
Water Working Group meeting of Core Parties 
Jan 19-28: Morocco/Qatar MEPI Workshop on Hazardous Waste Management 
+ Morocco ESTH meetings 
Feb (tbd): Washington: MERC Committee meetings + presentations 
regarding U.S.-Arab Science Partnership year. 
Feb (tbd): Algeria and Libya trips 
Feb (tbd): UAE trip + Bahrain - MEPI Pollution Prevention and 
Cleaner Production 
March (tbd):  Iraq and Yemen trips 
March 15-22: Turkey - Fifth World Water Forum including 
presentations by Core Parties on EXACT 
March/April (tbd):  American Jordanian Expo on Science and 
Technology (Water, Energy, Environment). 
April (5-14):  Washington: Hub Officers workshop, MERC Committee 
meetings, consultations 
 
AMMAN 00002783  004 OF 004 
 
 
April (20-22):  Syria/Riydah/other location: Earth Day Celebrations 
May (tbd): Aqaba and Israel meetings 
May (tbd): Regional Environmental Workshop for core parties (with 
USDA under Middle East Peace Process framework) 
May (tbd):  FSN mini-ESTH conference (location TBD) 
June (tbd): Oman - MEDRC Executive Council meeting + XXVIII EXACT 
Water Working Group meeting of Core Parties 
June/July (tbd): Washington training for Regional Environmental 
Specialist 
 
PROPOSED TRAINING: 
------------------ 
 
¶10.  The following training-related activities will be undertaken by 
the Hub.  The regional environmental specialist would visit 
Washington during FY09 to attend the ESTH Tradecraft course as well 
as other consultations.  He/she would also lead the organization of 
the mini-ESTH conference for LES staff in the region. 
 
-- ESTH Tradecraft course for new LES (December 08 or June 09). 
-- Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders - if it coincides with 
next Hub officer visit to Washington; 
-- Amman Hub - to host mini-FSN ESTH conference in April/May 2009. 
Location tbd. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
BEECROFT