VZCZCXRO2577
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHNM #0591/01 2261136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141136Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5256
INFO RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NIAMEY 000591 
 
STATE FOR AF, AF/W, AF/RSA, AND DRL/AE 
PLS PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/W 
MCC FOR PIR/TP - M CHAKA 
 
FOR AF A/S JOHNNIE CARSON AND MCC THRESHOLD PROGRAMS DIRECTOR MALIK 
CHAKA FROM AMB BERNADETTE ALLEN 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV PHUM SOCI US NG
SUBJECT: Niger: Potential Suspension or Termination of USAID and MCC 
Girl's Education Projects 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  I am writing to urge continuation of two programs 
in Niger that promote girls education on the grounds of our national 
security interests and for humanitarian purposes.  I believe that 
cancelling the investment in the education of girls would send a 
message that we are abandoning important means of transitioning from 
widespread poverty, low health and education standards (including 
illiteracy).  I believe continuation of these two programs would 
send a message that the U.S. Government continues to stand with the 
people of Niger most in need of basic human services, despite the 
decline of democracy in Niger that negatively impacts our bilateral 
relationship.  Terminating these two programs will have little if 
any effect on the Government of Niger's leadership, as children of 
the elite do not rely on the girl's scholarship program or local 
public schools for educations, rather they can opt to send their 
children to private institutions or abroad for study.  We should 
continue to take a firm stance in support of health and education, 
as well as food security and other programs that directly support 
the well being of Niger's most vulnerable children and communities. 
End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) It is important that the degradation of democracy in Niger 
not go without a measured response that underscores the importance 
of democratic practices and institutions, as well as rule of law in 
anchoring long-term development, political inclusiveness, and 
respect for human rights.  That said, in light of the interagency 
discussions taking place to determine an appropriate U.S. Government 
response to the unconstitutional extension of President Tandja's 
term in office, I wish to weigh in on the side of continuing two 
programs in Niger in particular - the USAID-financed Ambassador's 
Girl Scholarship Program (AGSP) and the MCC Threshold Girls' 
Education Program (which uses the acronym "IMAGINE").  These 
projects target primary school girls and boys from the poorest areas 
of the country.  AGSP supports 420 girls through the provision of 
scholarships, learning materials, mentoring, uniforms, and HIV/AIDS 
prevention education.  IMAGINE supports approximately 40,000 primary 
school students (half of them girls) through the construction of 68 
school complexes, teacher training, books and material, school 
feeding programs, and community development activities for income 
generation, literacy, and good governance. 
 
¶3. (SBU) I strongly contend that these two programs should be 
continued for two reasons:  a) their continuation would benefit U.S. 
national interests, including our security interests; and b) on the 
humanitarian grounds that these two programs provide a better 
educated, healthier, wealthier, less fecund, and less aid-dependent 
citizenry - who often must rely on external assistance for food and 
other basic needs. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Cancelling these two programs would send a message to 
Niger's people that we are abandoning them due to the actions of 
their President.  The message we should be sending is a positive 
one:  that our displeasure is with President Tandja's regime, and 
not with Niger's most vulnerable children, families, and 
communities. 
 
¶5. (SBU) There is a broad and deep respect and affection for the 
United States and its people among the people of Niger.  Despite the 
messages of extremists in the sub-region, and some past negative 
perceptions of U.S. Government foreign policy, the United States 
continues to be held in high esteem.  This is due in large part to 
the long history of on-the-ground development and humanitarian 
programs the U.S. Government has implemented in Niger in good times 
and bad over the nation's five decades of independence.  This 
affection is even greater since our last Presidential election.  It 
is now common to see photos of President Obama and the flag on the 
walls of shops and kiosks and the windows of taxicabs, minivans, and 
trucks throughout Niger.  This good will translates into resistance 
to those radical imams and others who seek to promote violent 
extremism.  This reservoir of good will should not be jeopardized. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The belief that the continuation of the IMAGINE component 
of the MCC Threshold Program would be perceived as an indication 
that Niger may still become eligible for a Compact Program is false. 
 Over the past year Embassy team members (including me on a number 
of occasions), visiting USAID and MCC officials have made it clear 
to Niger's leaders that attempts to undermine the constitution would 
end any hope of a Compact for Niger.  This position can be restated 
with the suspension or termination of the other aspects of Niger's 
MCC Threshold Program (such as the Anti-corruption, Business 
Climate, and Land Reform components) as well as other programs that 
aid Niger's Government directly. 
 
¶7. (U) The AGSP and IMAGINE programs address key immediate, mid, and 
long-range issues that keep Niger poor and in constant need of 
 
NIAMEY 00000591  002 OF 002 
 
 
humanitarian aid: 
 
-- Niger has the highest rate of birth in Africa, if not the world. 
The girls in this program statistically will have significantly 
smaller families than those who do not benefit from a primary 
education; 
 
-- Niger has one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world, 
especially for women.  The vast majority of those who voted in the 
August constitutional referendum were from rural areas and were 
illiterate.  Most could not understand the proposed new constitution 
or even the ballot.  If they were literate, their ability to judge 
for themselves the merits of the real issues involved and 
consequences of their vote would have increased dramatically, rather 
than simply tending to obey village chiefs.  Those children learning 
to read and write will not only be able to better judge issues for 
themselves but, as research shows, their families are more likely to 
be literate.  By dropping these programs we will extend the period 
of illiteracy for the children we wish to support; and 
 
-- Moreover, the programs involve school feeding for most of the 
children, as well as family rations for many of the girls. 
Thousands more families will be healthier and less vulnerable to the 
health risks associated with malnutrition. 
 
¶8. (U) The correlation between a primary education for girls and 
improvements in family health, household income, and food security 
is well documented.  The two girls' education programs in Niger, 
together will provide primary education for approximately 40,000 
children (half of them girls), improved quality of learning through 
the provision of learning materials and vastly improved facilities) 
localized teacher training, HIV/AIDS prevention training, student 
mentoring, school feeding programs, improved local engagement in 
self-generated development activities, improved understanding of 
rights and democracy, and income generation activities for 
approximately 3,000 mothers. 
68 school complexes will be constructed comprising 200 school rooms, 
200 modest houses for new female teachers, wells or cisterns, 
latrines, and covered areas for day-care, canteens, or other 
community needs. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The U.S. Government can make a clear signal that President 
Tandja's grab for continued power violates our values and those of 
his people and their established political processes and 
constitution of 1999.  Due to his actions, however, the U.S. 
Government can no longer in good faith support programs of the 
Government of Niger, such as the various regional programs we have 
that promote trade, energy, and research, as well as the aspects of 
the MCC Threshold Program that deal with the national government - 
anti-corruption, business start ups, and land reform. 
 
¶10. (SBU) We should also make it clear that Niger will not be 
considered for an MCC Compact Program under the current political 
conditions.  We should not, however, "throw the baby out with the 
bath water," and forfeit the substantial good will the Nigerien 
people have for the United States and its government.  Our message 
will only be stronger if we show our continued concern for Niger's 
people while showing our deep displeasure with its head of state. 
In sum, I am urging continuation of the two programs that promote 
girls education. 
 
ALLEN