VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDO #0152/01 0600849
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010849Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8807
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0727

UNCLAS DOHA 000152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OES/STC FOR EILEEN KANE 
AMMAN FOR MANU BHALLA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ESTH SENV TSPL TBIO ECON AMGT APER EPA QA
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (QATAR) 
 
REF: SECSTATE 10843 
 
¶1. Proposal for fellow: "Senior Advisor to the Qatari 
Ministry of Environment" 
 
-- Embassy Doha proposes placing a USG fellow for a minimum 
three month timeframe at the newly established Ministry of 
Environment in Qatar.  The fellow would advise the Minister 
and senior staff on all matters pertaining to establishment 
of a successful environmental ministry.  Specifically, he/she 
will assist in the development of a multi-year action plan 
for environmental management in the country.  Moreover, the 
fellow will advise the Embassy on, and help formulate a plan 
for, strengthening U.S.-Qatar environmental collaboration. 
 
-- Minister of Environment Abdullah Bin Mubarak Al-Midhadhi 
told Ambassador in January he would welcome such a fellow, 
and the Ministry's Technical Affairs Director Yousuf Al-Hamar 
confirmed to Econoff Fabrycky February 26 that the ministry 
is highly interested in having such a fellow, and willing to 
provide the financial resources to make it happen. 
 
-- The fellow would have an office at the Qatar Ministry of 
the Environment and spend most time there.  However, he/she 
would also have office space at the Embassy. 
 
-- Timeframe: Post proposes a three month (or more) 
assignment, starting September 27, 2009. (Note: This is after 
the summer and Ramadan/Eid holidays, and ensures that most 
staff will be present.) 
 
-- A successful fellow will possess a broad range of 
experience in environmental management, particularly the 
effective establishment and operation of bureaucracies to 
deal with the environment.  The candidate must be a 
self-starter, good at inter-personal communication, and able 
to work effectively while immersed in a cross-cultural 
environment.  Arabic language skills are useful, but not 
required. 
 
-- A senior manager from EPA with some international 
experience might be a good fit, though other agencies may 
have skilled candidates to offer as well. 
 
-- A security clearance is not required. 
 
¶2. Background and Description of Work Projects 
 
-- Embassy Doha has never hosted a fellow under this program. 
 Qatar is a member of the Organization of the Islamic 
Conference (per priority consideration noted in reftel). 
Placing a USG fellow with the Qatari Ministry of Environment 
would help support U.S. science diplomacy with the Muslim 
world and help to strengthen a key bilateral strategic 
partnership.  Qatar is the world's wealthiest country on a 
per capita basis, and the U.S. has strong interests in Qatar 
in the political, economic, military, and education fields. 
Furthering environmental cooperation through this fellowship 
would enhance U.S. soft power in Qatar.  Moreover, Qatar 
increasingly has the vision and resources to play a leading 
regional role, and establishing Qatar as a good model of 
environmental protection would have salutary regional 
benefits as well. 
 
-- The USG has already cooperated in some technical fields 
with the GOQ on the environment.  For example: 
 
A) National Park Service employees have advised the GOQ on 
the establishment and management of a major national park in 
the country's south (not yet implemented). 
 
B) In January 2009 Qatar hosted a State Department-sponsored 
workshop on Hazardous Waste Management which was led by EPA 
facilitators. 
 
C) NASA is in discussion with the ministry on placement of a 
ground monitoring station in Qatar. 
 
-- Protection of the environment, as a core government 
responsibility, is still in its infancy in Qatar.  However, 
the ruling family and Qatari elite are increasingly aware of 
the need for effective environmental management and 
protection as the country develops.  One of the four pillars 
of Qatar's recently released government strategy ("Qatar 
National Vision 2030") is "Environmental Development: 
Management of the Environment such that there is harmony 
between economic growth, social development and environmental 
protection."  The Qatar National Vision 2030 document can be 
viewed at www.gsdp.gov.qa. 
-- The Ministry was officially established on July 1, 2008 as 
part of a broader cabinet reorganization.  Before that it was 
a smaller organization known as the Supreme Council for the 
Environment and Natural Reserves (SCENR).  The Qatari Cabinet 
will (reportedly by April at the latest) task the Ministry 
with its official organizational chart and responsibilities. 
It is probably too late for the USG to influence the 
construction of such a line-and-block chart, but the major 
work of "putting flesh on the bones" of this structure 
remains to be done. 
 
-- Note: The former head of SCENR and 3 senior staff still 
with the ministry attended a USG/MEPI-sponsored Institutional 
Strengthening Workshop in Amman in May 2008.  The EPA-led 
workshop gave participants tools for the creation of a 
strategic vision and accompanying road-map and implementation 
plans.  The Qatari delegation found the workshop very useful 
and was interested in USG support for implementing such a 
process in Qatar.  The proposed fellow's work in Qatar is a 
natural follow-on to this workshop, to provide face-to-face 
advice and support as Qatar's Environment Ministry builds and 
implements a strategic vision and workplan. 
 
-- The fellow's specific program of work will be determined 
closer to the date of arrival, and in consultation between 
the fellow, Embassy, and Ministry.  However, responsibilities 
could cover review and advice on: legal and regulatory 
matters, staff recruitment and training, inter and 
intra-governmental strategies and procedures, local 
implementation of international commitments/treaties, hosting 
of conferences and workshops, etc.  Crucially, Post would 
like the fellow to lay the groundwork for signature of an 
effective Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or other 
agreement between the USG and GOQ which would facilitate 
full-spectrum environmental cooperation.  Bureaucratic and 
management experience, coupled with broad environmental 
management knowledge, are more important for this assignment 
than technical/scientific knowledge of any one area. 
 
-- While the fellow would be mostly working with the Ministry 
of Environment, the fellow should also spend time liaising 
with other environmental stakeholders in Qatar, including: 
international oil companies, the six U.S. universities at 
Qatar's Education City, Qatar University (which recently 
started an Environmental Department), UNESCO's regional 
office, and the handful of civil society organizations 
dealing with the environment. 
 
-- Minister of Environment Al-Midhadhi does not have a 
background in the environment, but he has high-level 
connections that ensure his ideas and ministry are listened 
to (he was the Heir Apparent's Chief of Staff before coming 
to the Ministry).  He is personally eager to establish his 
ministry and its work program, and would welcome official USG 
assistance and advice through this fellowship. 
 
¶3. Administrative Support 
 
-- Post is unable to provide housing to a fellow but the 
Ministry of Environment will provide (pay for) housing in 
either a corporate suite or 4-star or better hotel (e.g., the 
Movenpick Tower hotel is close to the ministry and has been 
used frequently by USG visitors). 
 
-- The nature of the proposal requires that the fellow will 
work full-time out of the Ministry. The Ministry will provide 
the fellow with dedicated office space.  However, post will 
provide office space where the fellow can periodically work 
at the Embassy. 
 
-- The Ministry could possibly provide a car/driver for 
residence to work transportation (unconfirmed).  Other 
transportation options would include long-term car rental by 
the fellow, paid for by the sending agency.  Transportation 
outside of Doha will probably not be required but if so 
(e.g., visit to potential national park sites), the ministry 
would provide transport. 
 
-- The Ministry can provide translators when needed (e.g., 
the Minister does not speak English and unless the fellow has 
good Arabic skills, translation would be needed in meetings 
with him).  This would usually take the form of one of the 
many bilingual ministry employees providing informal 
translation. 
 
¶4. RSO concurs with this assignment, and will make security 
approval of housing options as they are determined. 
 
¶5. Embassy Point of Contact 
-- (Primary) Economic Officer David Fabrycky; Tel: 
974-496-6731; Fax: 974-496-6709; Email: FabryckyDA@state.gov. 
-- Note: Fabrycky will leave post in July 2009. Successor is 
Erik Wahlstrom who will report in September 2009. 
-- (Backup) Political-Economic Chief Steve Rice; Tel: 
974-496-6715; Fax: 974-496-6709; Email: RiceSC@state.gov. 
 
LeBaron