VZCZCXRO6205
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHRN #0047/01 2181109
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 061109Z AUG 09
FM USMISSION UN ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1124
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0222
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0270
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0348
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0473
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME 1198

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 UN ROME 000047 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR DCHA, FFP, OFDA, AND AFRICA BUREAU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: WFP AORC EAID PREF EAGR EFIN UN
SUBJECT: SE GRATION MEETS WITH ROME-BASED FOOD AGENCIES 
 
UN ROME 00000047  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
-------------------- 
Summary 
-------------------- 
 
¶1. On June 30, U.S. Special Envoy (SE) to Sudan J. Scott Gration 
and his deputy, Tim Shortley, held introductory meetings with 
FAO Deputy Director General Jim Butler and WFP Executive 
Director Josette Sheeran as well as their respective Sudan 
Operations teams.  Gration expressed optimism for durable peace 
by year's end and informed both organizations of the Sudanese 
Government's increased focus on improving food security.  He 
encouraged FAO to work more closely with the government, and 
asked WFP to prepare possible concept notes aimed at supporting 
and sustaining IDPs/refugees as they return home. End Summary 
 
-------------------------- 
FAO: Need to Work Closely 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  At FAO, SE Gration held introductory meetings with Deputy 
Director General Jim Butler, Emergency Operations and 
Rehabilitation Division (TCE) Director Laurent Thomas and 
TCE/Sudan portfolio officers Werner Chakkalakal and Rodrigue 
Vinet.  TCE has over 300 staff working in Sudan in agriculture 
relief and recovery operations valued at $135 million and 
supported by the EC, the U.S., Italy, Switzerland and France. 
The multifaceted approach supported by OFDA - the largest TCE 
donor in the three Darfurs - was highlighted as extremely 
instrumental in sustaining the peace process. 
 
¶3.  SE Gration expressed concern about planting techniques and 
opined that the best way to increase yields is through education 
campaigns using extension workers.  TCE reported that, with EC 
funding, a successful extension worker program was initiated two 
years ago. This program coupled with farmer field schools are 
helping to educate farmers on conservation agriculture 
techniques.   TCE also highlighted that, as a technical agency, 
it does not experience problems with access faced by other 
humanitarian agencies and noted that the technical workshops it 
holds, for example, on detecting Rift Valley Fever early on, 
actually helps to bring both sides of conflict together. 
Lastly, FAO reported there is pressure from regional 
governments, e.g., Juba, to build capacity simultaneously for 
all states but success is impeded by the missing requisite 
bureaucratic structure. 
 
¶4.  SE Gration reported that the situation is changing quickly, 
with NGOs back in terms of capacity but not the desired coverage 
(of the 13 NGOs expelled, six were FAO implementing partners, 
carrying out livestock vaccination campaigns, among other 
projects).  With durable peace hoped for by the end of the year 
and the increasing interest of the Government toward improving 
food security, SE Gration encouraged FAO to work more closely 
with government counterparts. 
 
-------------------------- 
WFP: Synchronize Programs 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.   At WFP, SE Gration first held a lengthy discussion with the 
Sudan operations team, led by Deputy Chief Operating Officer 
Ramiro Lopes da Silva, about the ongoing emergency relief 
operation in Darfur and Southern Sudan, particularly since the 
NGO expulsion in Darfur and the increasingly volatile security 
conditions in Southern Sudan.  With regard to recovery 
activities, SE Gration asked WFP to review possible concept 
notes aimed at supporting and sustaining IDPs/refugees as they 
move out of camps to return home and rebuild their livelihoods. 
 
¶6.  In his meeting with WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran, 
he reiterated how he foresees peace by the end of the year due 
to the quickly evolving situation.  In light of this, he stated 
that programs should support IDP returns and rebuilding 
communities.  WFP staff stated that their support to help people 
resettle in urban areas with food in an affordable, sustainable 
and scalable manner will lead to market development and 
stability. 
 
¶7.  Executive Director Sheeran promoted the many ways to use 
WFP's massive interventions as well as micro-interventions to 
stabilize the land and begin building a social contract.  Among 
them, she advocated for massive public works projects and using 
local purchase, including through the Gates Foundation-funded 
Purchase for Progress Initiative.  She also briefly reported on 
WFP discussions with private sector companies to develop a gum 
 
UN ROME 00000047  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
arabic cooperative. 
 
¶8.      USSES has cleared this message. 
 
¶9.  Minimize considered. 
GLOVER