INFO  LOG-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  DS-00    EUR-00   
      UTED-00  VCI-00   H-00     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    MOFM-00  
      MOF-00   VCIE-00  NSAE-00  OIC-00   NIMA-00  PER-00   GIWI-00  
      SSO-00   SS-00    NCTC-00  FMP-00   SCRS-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   
      SAS-00   FA-00    SWCI-00  PESU-00  SANA-00    /000W
  
O 230649Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6273
INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 
USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002294 
 
 
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA 
PLEASE ALSO PASS TO USAID FOR AFR/DP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID AU
SUBJECT:  AU DONOR SUPPORT GROUP PLANS NOVEMBER 2009 MEETING 
 
¶1. (U) This Message contains an action request in para 9. 
 
¶2. (U) Summary: Members of the AUC, UNECA and donor countries met on 
September 17 to discuss an up-coming Donor Support Group meeting 
scheduled for the week of November 30.  The meeting will give 
high-level policymakers from donor countries a chance to hear from 
AUC and UNECA leaders on their plans and priorities.  Armed with 
this information, the group will discuss how donors can best support 
a cohesive, AUC/UNECA-driven program that promotes African 
priorities.  Meeting organizers are eager to know who will 
participate from Washington.  End Summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
HIGH-LEVEL MEETING PLANNED 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) On September 17, about 14 donor country representatives 
gathered to discuss preparations for a Donor Support Group 
consultative meeting in Addis Ababa the week of November 30. 
Anthony Okara, Deputy Chief of Staff for the Deputy Chairperson to 
the African Union Commission (AUC), chaired the meeting.  Viewed as 
an opportunity for high-level policymakers to engage with leaders 
from the AUC and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the 
November meeting is intended to give donors insight into AUC and 
UNECA objectives, and to enable them to coordinate support. 
 
¶4. (U) The June 2009 Diplomatic Note that proposed the establishment 
of a donor support group stated that, "Membership of the group will 
be based on commitment to a minimum specified level of support to 
the AU Strategic Plan and/or the ECA Business Plan."  However, the 
amount of such a commitment has yet to be agreed upon.  According to 
Mike McCarthy of the UK's Department for International Development 
(DFID), the U.S. "is a really important donor, even if they only 
give a dollar."  The threshold of support will be discussed at the 
November 2009 meeting. 
 
¶5. (U) Donors and the AUC and UNECA leadership hope to achieve 
several goals through this first Donor Support Group meeting.  To 
start, AUC Chairperson Jean Ping and UNECA Executive Secretary 
Abdoulie Janneh want to explain to donors their agenda and the 
AUC/ECA relationship.  By clarifying their strategies, priorities 
and management process, the AUC aims to get donors to buy into a 
cohesive program that promotes African priorities, rather than a 
piecemeal approach that reflects donor will.  The hope is that donor 
countries can channel their support more constructively and with 
less duplication of effort once they have a clear understanding of 
AUC/UNECA objectives.  Ideally, the AUC would like donors to move 
toward unearmarked, predictable budget support so that organization 
heads can align a set budget with agreed-upon priorities. 
 
---------------- 
PROPOSED AGENDA 
---------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Following is the proposed agenda for the Donor Support Group 
meeting.  AUC Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha confirmed that he 
is available the week of November 30.  Debate centered on whether 
the meeting should be two, three or four days long.  Tentatively, 
day one will take place at the African Union and day two at ECA with 
a third day reserved for wrap-up. 
 
(1) Discussion of the AU Strategic Plan (approved, abridged version 
in preparation) 
(2) Discussion of the ECA Business Plan (currently in review) 
(3) Strengthening of AUC and ECA collaboration 
(4) Functioning of the Donor Support Group 
(5) Donor Support Group funding modalities 
 
¶7. (U) The Donor Support Group also discussed the expected outcome 
of the November meeting.  Possible concrete deliverables included an 
agreed-upon framework, a signed agreement and a roadmap with 
benchmarks. 
 
------------------------ 
WASHINGTON PARTICIPATION 
------------------------ 
 
¶8. (U) Two questions arose regarding participation from capitals 
during the meeting.  First, the DFID representative, who coordinates 
Donor Support Group planning meetings, wanted to know whether the 
USG has responded to the Note Verbale on this topic.  On behalf of 
the USG, USAU conveyed its support on July 10, 2009 for the 
establishment of a Donor Support Group that will meet annually. 
 
¶9. (U) ACTION REQUEST:  Second, organizers would like to have an 
idea of who from headquarters will attend, as well as the name of a 
working-level contact in Washington with whom to coordinate prior to 
the November meeting.  Most missions plan to send Africa-division 
directors general or deputy directors.  Some will send 
director-level personnel from their development arms.  Please advise 
USAU of expected USG representation.  USAU Ambassador Battle will 
attend from Addis Ababa. 
 
MEECE